1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Scratch Build – In Progress Dark Vortex - 11th May - Drive Rack, Lettering

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by GuardianStorm, 11 Sep 2006.

  1. GuardianStorm

    GuardianStorm Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1
    thanks :) i hope to do some more work on it this weekend :)
     
  2. davidm71

    davidm71 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    28 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Sorry.

    Up too late and I guess I forgot my manners. If a moderator here will edit my post
    out of this thread thats cool... humbly appologize.


    Sorry guys.:blush:
     
  3. NysoO

    NysoO Handcrafted

    Joined:
    2 Nov 2006
    Posts:
    260
    Likes Received:
    2
    Wow man, that slide out mobo thingy is really nice. Would you mind if I might lend that idea? Also is the tray de-attachable?
     
  4. GuardianStorm

    GuardianStorm Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1
    I think my problem with updating is I do a little work often, but always think “That’s not really enough to merit an update”... in now have 30 something photos to update with...

    The Back Panel

    To go with the Slide out Tray, I had to cut an opening for the tray to come out of. I also included the fan on the tray’s backplate (rather than the cases) as I can still slide out the tray even with a bit heat sink attached.

    [​IMG]

    And shots of the outside with tray:
    [​IMG]

    And the inside, also with tray:
    [​IMG]

    A few days later a large heavy box arrived for me:
    [​IMG]

    I wonder what that could be?
    [​IMG]

    A bending brake :), from NorthernTool (also in the states here):
    [​IMG]

    The Case Front

    I cut out two large pieces of Aluminium, to make the front bars:
    [​IMG]

    Which were bent using said break:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    It has to be said, although hitting metal with a hammer is fun and works to bend, the bends on with the brake are much tighter, less rounded (guide to hitting metal with a hammer to bend it here

    Random Changes
    I decided that I really dislike the countersunk screws I have; they shear their heads instantly, and thus are a pain to remove from the case, so all holes that require counter sunk screws in the frame are being modified.

    To let me use the cap head hex screws I'm using elsewhere, I am drilling halfway through the frame with a 6.5mm drill bit:
    [​IMG]

    Which allows the bolts to sit flush, like so:
    [​IMG]

    5.25” Drive Bays
    To make the CD Drive bays, I took a large sheet of 3mm (clear) acrylic:
    [​IMG]

    And squared it up using my sanding jig:
    [​IMG]

    The finished Edge:
    [​IMG]

    I then chopped it in half, and made sure both pieces were the exact same size:
    [​IMG]

    And tapped some holes in it for mounting it to the chassis:
    [​IMG]

    To support the drive cages from the chassis top, I needed another cross beam, which would need to have holes in the end of it. Not being able to give the bars to my dad to do at work (they have an auto centring 4-jaw chuck on their lathe), I had to do it on the lathe at home, which has a 4-jaw chuck, but independent, not auto centring:
    [​IMG]

    I also couldn’t find the clock-gauge either, so I had to centre the job using a centring bit, which takes far longer. It took me most of the afternoon (3 hours maybe?) to centre and drill four end holes, but it was worth it!
    [​IMG]

    The resulting beam and counter sunk hole:
    [​IMG]

    And the whole front support:
    [​IMG]

    I also moved the front beam from here:
    [​IMG]

    To here:
    [​IMG]

    As the L section was stopping the drive cage from being flat with the top of the chassis.

    The cage waiting to be attached to the chassis:
    [​IMG]

    Clamped in place for final measuring:
    [​IMG]

    And after a little more drilling and tapping:
    [​IMG]

    All done :)

    That’s all for this week (month, lol), but I do work for about an hour a night on it now, so hopefully some more regular updates will follow!

    Questions, Comments and Suggestions are always welcome :)
     
  5. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

    Joined:
    13 May 2007
    Posts:
    12,411
    Likes Received:
    1,968
    You make it sound like having a lathe is a bad thing.:hehe: I would run down Teyber to get a lathe like that.:D
    It's coming along nicely. How do you plan to mount up the front bars?
    Edit: Never mind. I see the end of the screw sticking through now.
     
  6. GuardianStorm

    GuardianStorm Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1
    Having a lathe is by no means a bad thing, quite the contrary :), having to centre a 4 jaw chuck is a pain, but you cant put square section into the 3 jaw chuck (which is auto-centring).

    I will be making custom buttons for the case bezel, and i will use the lathe for that, and as they will either be circular or hexagonal, i can use the 3 jaw chuck :)
     
  7. E.E.L. Ambiense

    E.E.L. Ambiense Acrylic Heretic

    Joined:
    26 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    2,957
    Likes Received:
    68
    Nice! I love the edging for the front panels. Reminds me of the G70. It adds some personality to the build as well as have a bit of functionality too. I love the work!
     
  8. craigbru

    craigbru Cramming big things in small boxes since 2006

    Joined:
    28 Feb 2008
    Posts:
    1,498
    Likes Received:
    99
    Very nice metalworking! :thumb:
     
  9. Ending Credits

    Ending Credits Bunned

    Joined:
    4 Jan 2008
    Posts:
    5,322
    Likes Received:
    245
    Can the rails support the motherboard like that? Should be fine although soem GPUs can get quite heavy and I wouldn't use a big copper heatsink. Also if it's holding the PSU as well you'll have to get a lighter one (which are usually lower quality)
     
  10. The boy 4rm oz

    The boy 4rm oz Project: Elegant-Li

    Joined:
    10 Apr 2008
    Posts:
    5,297
    Likes Received:
    54
    This is a really nice piece of work. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
     
  11. GuardianStorm

    GuardianStorm Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1
    Thanks :)

    Thank you :)

    I cannot remember what the exact spec is, but the rails can hold a lot of weight, and im going to add a 'catch' of some sort as a just-in-case-it-comes off :)

    Me too :hehe:
     
  12. GuardianStorm

    GuardianStorm Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1
    I started work on the drive cage itself this week.

    First, I created a cutting template (using Adobe Illustrator) for the drives, printed it and stuck it together:
    [​IMG]

    The two sheets of acrylic we then tapped together all around (to stop them moving), and had the template stuck to them. I used a sheet of wood to form a back stop on the pillar drill, and the proceded to drill the ends of the slots:
    [​IMG]

    All done:
    [​IMG]

    Now to cut the slots between them! I experimented with the dremel cut-off wheels, but decided the likelihood of me cutting past the ends and thus making a mess was too high, and the router-bit was a little too keen to wander, so I drilled more holes, like so:
    [​IMG]
    4 down, 26 to go...

    [​IMG]

    I then used the dremels router-bit in the pillar drill, which allowed me to lock the drill head down, and use both hands to move the job. Having the extra holes between the ends made things a lot easier too! Now just a ton of filing to do:
    [​IMG]

    Filing mostly done on both sheets, with just a little repair work where the drill slipped :doh: left to be done:
    [​IMG]

    Now on to the other part of the cage...The Text :)

    I used the Batman Forever font for this:
    [​IMG]

    This was then printed and glued to a sheet of aluminium, and I went round it with a drill:
    [​IMG]

    I again used the dremel router-bit in the pillar drill to do the join-the-dots on the letters:
    [​IMG]

    Choose Your Weapon:
    [​IMG]

    Roughly filed to the outlines:
    [​IMG]

    Next the tape came off both sides and I carefully tidied up all the letters (making the verticals actually vertical, going into all the corners):
    [​IMG]

    After doing all this I was quite bored of filing...So I washed my car:
    [​IMG]

    Any questions and comments are good :)
     
  13. Farmboy UK

    Farmboy UK Hungry for knowledge

    Joined:
    19 Apr 2008
    Posts:
    196
    Likes Received:
    0
    Nice work on the lettering. I'm enjoying watching this mod, I feel i should buy a bending brake now though....
     
  14. The boy 4rm oz

    The boy 4rm oz Project: Elegant-Li

    Joined:
    10 Apr 2008
    Posts:
    5,297
    Likes Received:
    54
    Nice work on the drive racks and logo.
     
  15. p3ri0d

    p3ri0d What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    9 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    245
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah, great work ;).
    Good luck! hehe
     
  16. GuardianStorm

    GuardianStorm Minimodder

    Joined:
    26 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    1
    Thanks :)

    This project is not dead...just on hold until more inspiration hits :) I'm not rushing this at all :eek:
     
  17. _-..zKiLLA..-_

    _-..zKiLLA..-_ What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    8 Jan 2008
    Posts:
    95
    Likes Received:
    0
    lookin real nice man
     

Share This Page