Planning Project: Helios - Concept, Planning and Design

[Langer]

Hello everyone, Langer here.
I'm close to wrapping up my last mod - some of you may know about it, PrometheusCU.

Being that I'm all excited about modding again I spend yesterday planning out my next build; Helios.

Some of the more unique design considerations:
- Helios will be made entirely from plated 6mm thick aluminum
- The entire chassis construction will use no screws/nuts/bots/glue/fasteners/etc
- 90degree motherboard mounting format
- The motherboard will be exposed as the entire chassis is 'doughnut' shaped
- 2-watercooling loops with 4 radiators
- Extreme minimalist design will hide ALL non-essentials


I'll leave the rest to more-or-less speak for itself:

ISO View:


Exploded View:


Open side view with cooling loops and airflow:


Open side view with cooling loops:


Open side view:


Open top view:


Bottom view:


Parts schematic PDF:



One thing that I learned this past year, and a major focus in my life at the moment, is project management. What that means is that unlike PrometheusCU this project will be planned to the T before commencement, and it will have an incredibly rapid timeline... I'll also be building 3 of them.


All the drawings were done in illustrator.
The isometric view and the exploded view were created using a projection technique as old as time itself used in perspective drawing.


Please leave your comments, suggestions and considerations.

I'm still trying to decide what exotic material to plate this beast with - if anyone has any suggestions let me know.

There's a small chance that I may bite the bullet and build it out of pure Titanium. I've been speaking around, and would be able to aquire the necessary Titanium plates for only ~10% of retail.... unfortunately that's still about $2800 in raw metal costs alone.

Speak your minds, let me know what you think.

*j

[Langer]

Here's the part's list so-far. Some ordered, some not:

3xGigabyte GeForce GTX 470
1xGigabyte X58A-UD3R
1xIntel Core i7-960
1xCorsair Dominator CMD12GX3M6A1600C8
1xCorsair HX1000W
4xCorsair Force Series 120GB
3xAsus VW266H 25.5IN
1xEK-Supreme HF
3xEK-FC470
1xEK-FB GA X58
2xEK-Multioption Res100 v2.0
2xWatercool Dual DDC Top
4xLaing DDC-1Plus
1xMips RAM Kühler6
4xSwiftech MCR320-QP Stackable
7xDelta EFB1212SHE
20'xTygon AS600038
25xBitspower BP-MBWP-C13
20xBitspower BP-MALRIIM
10xBitspower BP-MBWP-C09
2xBitspower BP-CLTAC-S2
2xBitspower BP-MBWP-C47
6x2024T3 Aluminum Plate 0.36” x 28” x 28”
8xDisk Magnet 0.138” x 0.118”OD
8xDrill Bushing 3/8” x 3/32”ID x 3/16”OD
1xSS Dowel Pin 1/2” x 3/32”OD
1xSS Dowel Pin 1/2” x 1/8”OD
1xSS Socket Head Screw 4-40 3/16"
1xSS Flat Head Socket Screw 4-40 1/2”
4xSS Knurled Thumb Screw 1/4-20 x 1/2”
1xHinge / Lid Support 1.744” x 5.313”

[stonedsurd]

How are you going to get it together without nuts/bolts and stuff?

[forester joe]

where is the storage?

[The boy 4rm oz]

Looks awesome Langer, love the design.

[skreenname]

To the flippin' T!

The design is great, I can't wait to see you start work on it.

[Cheapskate]

I like the idea, but it's a bit TOO minimal for me. -'specially since you have access to that cnc.
I'm worried the radiators will be starved too. *Just saw what fans you are using...I know the intake is too restrictive now.
-The list of magnets and dowel rods have me intrigued...

[Jux_Zeil]

With a title like that I can see a ton of peeps re-installing Dues ex again, and it's all your fault you know.

Anyway, will keep an eye on this one as well.

[Editor22]

Originally Posted by Langer

Here's the part's list so-far. Some ordered, some not:

3xGigabyte GeForce GTX 470
1xGigabyte X58A-UD3R
1xIntel Core i7-960
1xCorsair Dominator CMD12GX3M6A1600C8
1xCorsair HX1000W
4xCorsair Force Series 120GB
3xAsus VW266H 25.5IN
1xEK-Supreme HF
3xEK-FC470
1xEK-FB GA X58
2xEK-Multioption Res100 v2.0
2xWatercool Dual DDC Top
4xLaing DDC-1Plus
1xMips RAM Kühler6
4xSwiftech MCR320-QP Stackable
7xDelta EFB1212SHE
20'xTygon AS600038
25xBitspower BP-MBWP-C13
20xBitspower BP-MALRIIM
10xBitspower BP-MBWP-C09
2xBitspower BP-CLTAC-S2
2xBitspower BP-MBWP-C47
6x2024T3 Aluminum Plate 0.36” x 28” x 28”
8xDisk Magnet 0.138” x 0.118”OD
8xDrill Bushing 3/8” x 3/32”ID x 3/16”OD
1xSS Dowel Pin 1/2” x 3/32”OD
1xSS Dowel Pin 1/2” x 1/8”OD
1xSS Socket Head Screw 4-40 3/16"
1xSS Flat Head Socket Screw 4-40 1/2”
4xSS Knurled Thumb Screw 1/4-20 x 1/2”
1xHinge / Lid Support 1.744” x 5.313”

I read this and then had to get a cloth to wipe the drool off my desk. Cant wait to see how you pull off a case with no fixings... going to be awesome!

[nlancaster]

How will you be building it with no fasterners of any kind?

[motas]

im gonna take a stab and say the magnets. Sorry for noob question and hijacking thread but ive seen in movies electromagnets wiping computers. Does that actually happen or can you use electromagnets to hold doors and stuff on?

[Stormtrooper]

I'm curious. Why are you building 3 of these?

[Langer]

Here's a preview of how it will be assembled.

Some parts fit together like a puzzle, while others will be fit together with steel dowel pins, press-fit and stealthed:



And here are the dimensions:

[Langer]

@stormtrooper - Because 3 is better than 1 of course.
I like consistency, and populating my office space with identical setups pleases my inner compulsive side. Here's a little insight about me from my website:

Originally Posted by My Website About Page

I only wear white shirts because I love all colour and white reflects each and every one of them. After I made the transition I realized that it also simplified getting ready in the morning in ways I never could have imagined.

In actuality I have a wardrobe much like superman, it's just the same thing everyday. Many pairs of the same shirts/pants/socks/sweaters; and everything but the pants are white - I'm attempting to carry my brand through to my person.

[nlancaster]

sort of like Monk then?

[Burnout21]

Why you using 3x 470 GPU's? Not still for cuda acceleration, because you may as well save some cash and buy a fecking Quadro FX, i sure as hell love my Quadro.

Also 3 cases, does this mean you've got your own company starting up?

[The boy 4rm oz]

A very ingenious method of assembly, very cool .

[The_Beast]

Nice design



Minimal cheesecake!!!

[Attila]

Hi langer I always like to watch your work but looking at the
fixing methods, a few things stand out. Where you have fixed
panels that are held with press fit steel pins, no adhesive is
necessary, in fact, given the small area in contact with the glue,
very little adhesion will be gained.
The same goes for the magnet. If the stainless bush is of smaller
diameter than the magnet, then no adhesive will be needed here,
especially as the hold power of the magnet on such a small area
will be minimal. The pin is not going to pull the magnet and the bush
out when the panel is removed.
Looking at the diagram, if the material is 6mm thick then the pins are
about, well less than 2mm DIA if to scale, so you can see the very
small surface area on the end of the pins. My suggestion would be to
skip the magnets and the stainless bushing. get a good quality industrial
plastic bush to press fit into the panel, one with an inside diameter to
give a good grip on the removable panels pins. This will act on the whole
length and surface area of the pin, and will hold better. Another plus is
then you can use stainless pins here and not have to worry about them
rusting, expanding and making it impossible to get the panels off.

Just my 2c.

[asura]

Was wandering if you have seen this post but there's some testing you may find intersting. Probably the bigest point for you at this stage is that having rad-rad-fan rather than rad-fan-rad gives better results. You're using much more powerfull fans than he was so it might not be so much of a consern, however I just thought I'd point it out.

p.s. I'm with oldnewboy, I've used 1, 1.5, and 2mm neodymium magnets in jewellery making. For holding togeather delicate necklaces etc they work a treat; for holding togeather a PC case made of 6mm Al, I see no way and no benefit, friction is your strong friend.

p.p.s. also agree with burnout21 I love my FX4600 but could never afford a new card (250smackers of ebay)

p.p.p.s. Nice homepage Langer!