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Scratch Build – In Progress octTower - Completed - Final photos round II

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by craig - toyoracer, 25 Aug 2011.

  1. craig - toyoracer

    craig - toyoracer Minimodder

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    Hello Bit-Tech, my name is Craig, -toyoracer on some other sites. I am from Canada, and have come here to share in the modding spirit and fun you all have created.

    So how did I get here. It all started back in '91 when my kids were given a 8088 to play with, so smart dad took charge (oh no) ended up changing some system files (logical naming is not in the computer world) Computer no longer worked, friend from work took hours to solve and then said to me Never,Never touch a computer again, back to the couch I went.

    Fast-forward '06 new wife and 16 year old son, who is into Computers. Well he gives me his old one and tells me the basics (I forget) tells me again, next day I forget, what, "old dog learns slow" I don't have time to teach an old slow dog, use "google" and read and learn. Tough lovin, smart kid.


    2010 I am ready to build my first PC.

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    Goal: Design and build a nice looking case, that pushes my skills upward.

    Design : Unique theme that is more than just a rectangle box. Clean lines with no fasteners showing. Black (goes with any livingroom the wife might come up with) chrome (can't do that) polished aluminum, I can.

    I began construction June 2010. Using steel 20AWG for base panel and 22AWG for the rest. Bending is done with bench-top 700mm brake. All joining will be done by soldering frame panels.

    Lets start with holes made first and then bent up forming front panels

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    top panel

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    channel formed

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    and soldered, with motherboard mounting inserts

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    formed base plate with rolled edge

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    intake holes and formed fan mount

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    lower front intake blank, then bent up

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    test fitting
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    Last edited: 28 Dec 2011
    NoobNeb and peteski like this.
  2. Attila

    Attila still thinking....

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    Nice start Craig. :thumb: The photos also show a nice work space. I'll be following. :)
     
  3. sparkyboy22

    sparkyboy22 Web Tinkerer

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    Only a years worth of photo's to catch up on!

    Looking good so far.
     
  4. craig - toyoracer

    craig - toyoracer Minimodder

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    Attila thank you :) fitting for you to have first post since your suggestion led me here.
    The shop is at dad's, we built it for us to play in, woodworking upstairs, metal, auto downstairs :D

    :lol: thanks sparkyboy, yes what was I thinking. Pick out the best looking, re-size, touch-up the early ones (started with cheap point and shoot) Wish I found BT a lot sooner :lol:


    on with the catch up show

    Making of the back plate

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    fan test fit

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    Making rolled edge for motherboard tray

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    5.25 bay enclosure

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    I/O housing

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    and all soldered up, not just a rectangle box :clap:

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    HDD mounting plate

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    tools of the build, and first side panel with rolled edges. I later changed to "u" edges :duh: should have left them, but thought to narrow, would have worked out.

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    cleaned up with a few extras attached

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    Hope you all like the show. more tomorrow :)
     
  5. craig - toyoracer

    craig - toyoracer Minimodder

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    Continuing the update

    this is my favorite part made, design wise it improves on the original and the fitting is awesome. I/O module is screwed on from the inside.

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    here both side panels,, octagon window cut-out and 5.25 bay stealth door latch parts

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    the inner door panel with piano hinge

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    how the latch is made

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    the last time inner workings will be seen

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    door paint job

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    optical drive sled

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    all together now

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    un-latched

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    top exhaust is contained in a mesh housing. For those that noticed, I started with 2 fan holes and then opened up to rectangle opening. This is to accommodate the summer/winter fan plates (2 more updates) the mesh was bent up and edges filled with epoxy and mounted on aluminum plate, like so

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    you know what this is

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    motherboard tray is polished and fitted

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    close-up, SSD rack hangs on right side, holds 2

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    some side panel reflections

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  6. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Wow! That moved fast. I like.:D
     
  7. craig - toyoracer

    craig - toyoracer Minimodder

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    -shiny update -Aug27


    Thank you very much. Fast, :hehe: started June 2010 :lol:



    Now for the shiny stuff

    Aluminum angle cut and polished

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    the brazing starts

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    all cleaned up

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    here Little Bull checks out the parts to attach the drives

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    and checks to make sure the wild drives are safely caged

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    after a few attempts, I have power cable just right, some work to do on those data cables :rolleyes:

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    For the front air intake, and what started this whole design, Was a special fan grill by Bill from MNPCtech, for HardwareCanucks build he did.
    I am Canadian and like hardware, so I needed one.

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    polished up and how it would be mounted

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    but it was not quite right, needed some modding, now it looks right for my case

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    You may be asking where did the name octTower come from. Let me show you :clap:

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    The build-log is here. A great big thank you to mvagusta for helping me make a vision into reality :clap:


    The case feet are just wrong so new shoes made. :D

    The fast catch up is almost done. I know some of the photos are not the best, so thanks for wading through them :)
     
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  8. AnG3L

    AnG3L Ultimate Modder

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    Simply..... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!! The design rocks, the execution is flawless, everything screams SUCCESS in this mod/worklog!! My friend I am in love with your mod!!! More pics pl0x!!! :) :)
     
  9. Attila

    Attila still thinking....

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    I agree. The i/o door is really nice, but so is the drive cage. Very nice work. :thumb:
     
  10. Guest-56605

    Guest-56605 Guest

    Stunning Craig :thumb:

    Superb metal working skills :thumb:

    I like it, I like it a lot!!! :D

    + rep
     
  11. craig - toyoracer

    craig - toyoracer Minimodder

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    Alex thank you very much, I am speechless. :) more pics for sure :D:D

    Thank you Attila, yes the cage took some thinking and I like the out come a lot :D

    Thanks man, glad you like it. :D Taking my time on each step.

    A few pictures of the power on lights

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    I had a hard time getting a good photo of HDD activity light, so much reflection

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    This is close to real life brightness, pro photographer I am not

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    the shoes look just right I think, not to big and are rubber mounted

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    After a couple of trial runs, this is what the Sata power cable became

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    My first sleeving attempt

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    now it looks good but, problem with the bend radius meant I needed to do something different to get the right look. The bends needed to be 90˚ off the motherboard and the PSU. So I made molded plugs to fit.
    First a mold to hold the sleeve in place

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    un-molding

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    mistake made in length for radius, cut adjust length and mod the mold :hehe: use what you have to make it work

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    next mold for the 90˚ bend, now using fast setting epoxy is good, it is not always smooth going

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    but you can file, sand add more epoxy, file, sand

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    repeat 2 more times since PSU is a double plug.

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    One custom 24 pin cable, time and effort I think worth it, to get what you need or want :D
     
    Angel OD likes this.
  12. y0gi

    y0gi What's a Dremel?

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    Awesome work going on here Craig.:thumb: Absolutely love that 24 pin. My first post just for you.;)
     
  13. Angel OD

    Angel OD Pump Killer

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    Very nice build!! :thumb:

    And that octo tower thingy is just a work of WIN!

    Really amazing sir! +rep!
     
  14. Zorndar

    Zorndar What's a Dremel?

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    Awesome workmanship and a nice clean look. Did I mention that it was frigging fast?
     
  15. craig - toyoracer

    craig - toyoracer Minimodder

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    Welcome to BT y0gi, hope you have some fun and join in with your modding too.
    Thanks, I am having fun trying out new things on my first build. :)

    Thank you very much. octo thingy :lol::lol: I like it
    what is +rep ?

    Thanks - little take on Mr.Spock - if hours were weeks from the first post till now would be close :naughty:


    So I need some spacer nuts and no sense looking for some, so using 1/2" rod cut to 35mm drill and tap both ends

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    then file down ends like so

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    into my ghetto lathe and turn them down - .275"
    (sorry this will drive you crazy Imp.&Metric)

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    handy parting tool

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    some more filing, Repeat 8 times, and you have

    Mushroom Nuts :D:D

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    Now being the middle of summer needed some ice-cubes

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    :naughty: no they are the spacers, and where does all this go

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    :duh: not there, :confused: here :D

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    some reflections

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    Now for some hardware mods, the copper had to go

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    and a nice clean smooth top

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    XFX 5770HD needed some refinements

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    blue is my accent color

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    someone may spot the changes made

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    so just 2 items left to show, that brings us up to-date

    more than happy to answer all questions :D
     
    kelmannen likes this.
  16. Guest-56605

    Guest-56605 Guest

    Damn ain't you full of surprises Craig!!! :dremel:

    Looking sweet bud :thumb: :D


    The green boxes next to your Avatar indicate your reputation

    When someone awards you reputation they normally abbreviate it as +rep = Reputation :thumb:
     
  17. craig - toyoracer

    craig - toyoracer Minimodder

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    Surprises me :D thank you


    Well here are the last 2 items of this catch game :clap:

    I have no idea if this will improve cooling but the idea makes sense.

    Out of the oven onto the mold

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    when cooled

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    all together, Little Bull likes it, no wire to look through :)

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    test fitting, looks okay

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    this week mounted the top exhaust fans

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    these are the summer ones

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    here under the mesh

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    there is still a few things to do, hopefully it cools down a little, the lazy days of summer :hehe:
     
  18. talladega

    talladega I'm Squidward

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    i like this :thumb:
     
  19. benjjamin

    benjjamin needs MORE POWER!

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    Nice work you have there :)
     
  20. kelmannen

    kelmannen What's a Dremel?

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    ..... wow! incredible workmanship!
     

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