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Case Mod - In Progress Project: Lumière Noire by E.E.L. Ambiense - Completed

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by E.E.L. Ambiense, 8 Apr 2008.

  1. Evenge

    Evenge Minimodder

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    Oops! Sorry about that... :duh:
     
  2. E.E.L. Ambiense

    E.E.L. Ambiense Acrylic Heretic

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    July 13th Update!

    It's that time again. Another update. I have some more stuff to take care of, and I'm not in the best of moods because this is my last night of freedom before having to go back to the slaving daily grind of my dead-end job. But enough funny stuff. On to the update!

    Okay, today I did some more marking out and drilling. I marked out and drilled the top rad holes for eventual placement of the rad, fillports and handles.

    [​IMG]

    I needed to concentrate on making sure I get even cuts, so I have no pics. Sorry.

    But here it is...

    [​IMG]

    And some minor cleanup and final touches on the cuts.

    [​IMG]

    I needed to tweak the holes a bit for the fillports, because it kept snagging on one side so I went insane with a sanding disc. But it's fine now. :D Contrary to what others who know me may say, I'm actually not that white. Exposure is odd; sorry I look almost ethereal or something, lol.

    [​IMG]

    Great. Doesn't have to look perfect, because it gets covered up anyways.

    [​IMG]

    And placement of the radgrill and fillport trim to see where everything is. Nice!

    [​IMG]

    I also marked out and drilled for the front stealth bay cover.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I also disassembled the front lower grill to clean up a piece of metal that is sticking out slightly below the top acrylic. it looked fine, but I'm a perfectionist so it bothered me. It's gone now after I c-clamped it to the bloody table and hit it with a cutoff disc and flat file. ;) I knew I could talk some sense into it!

    First I drilled out the mounting holes for the bay cover, then I marked out for the switches to go through the front piece proper. Needed to get it right, because there's not much tolerance there for mistakes.

    [​IMG]

    And drilled out switch holes. I cleaned them up with a sanding disc afterwards because the test switches had small issues getting in the hole straight, but now they're fine.

    [​IMG]

    Alright, that's all I have for the evening. Time to grocery shopping so I can grow up big and strong like a good little modder!

    Aluminum shavings: It does a body good!

    -------------
    Until the next update, I got nuthin'. :thumb:
     
  3. Guest-23315

    Guest-23315 Guest

    Yes, updates.


    Looks very nice EEl. Lovelly and clean!
     
  4. ComputerKing

    ComputerKing <img src="http://forums.bit-tech.net/images/smilie

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    OH YEAH an Update!! I really love this " Piece F " !! Awesome work :) well done my buddy ROCK IT ON
     
  5. jhanlon303

    jhanlon303 The Keeper of History

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    Still jawdropped from the updates:jawdrop: but I do have a question. Do you keep like a notebook or some sort of system that keeps track of Part A, Part B, etc. I only ask because I am organizationally challenged and would lose my A$$ if it wasn't hooked on. They say memory is the second thing to go!
    John
     
  6. Aceanuu

    Aceanuu Will-Mod-for-Food

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    I'm in awe. This case is amazing. I love the planning you did on the monitor before constructing it, its fantastic. I'm speechless.

    *claps*
     
  7. E.E.L. Ambiense

    E.E.L. Ambiense Acrylic Heretic

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    Hahaha, thanks Mankz.

    Thanks, CK!

    Actually, I like to refer to my method as 'organized chaos'; I don't have any way to organize things in the traditional sense, I just file it away mentally as to what goes where. Hard to explain I suppose, lol. :hehe: It looks like a computer store vomited its innards all over my work area!

    Thanks, man!
     
  8. jhanlon303

    jhanlon303 The Keeper of History

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    I figured that you would keep it in the memory banks, young pup. I am trying to do use the camera to remember for me. No picture, it didn't happen mentality. I'm ready to upgrade photobucket, let them remember for me. Stupid prescription drugs.
    John
     
  9. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    You're not alone there, John. I'm a huge fan of those $1 bait organizers. One of them is just for all the custom cut screws. The lid has what each thing goes to written on it.

    Oops. -hijacking...
    like the little etch job on the face. Is it almost time for an 'everything together' pic? hint
     
  10. MrWizard

    MrWizard What's a Dremel?

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    As always, I'm in awe of how awesome this is turning out.
     
  11. E.E.L. Ambiense

    E.E.L. Ambiense Acrylic Heretic

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    Oh, don't get me wrong! I'm always running around blind and po'ed prying to find something that I just set down 5 mins. before! :lol:

    Trust me... I got something planned for the payoff. ;)

    Thanks, bro!
     
  12. Farmboy UK

    Farmboy UK Hungry for knowledge

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    Incredible attention to detail. Awesome
     
  13. E.E.L. Ambiense

    E.E.L. Ambiense Acrylic Heretic

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    July 14th Small Update!

    Update time! Yeah, weird huh? I've updated, like, a lot, and stuff. It's a small one though. Just wanted to get this stuff off the digital cam and get the mess cleaned up before the evidence is found-- er, I mean, yeah. :worried:

    In all serious, a while back I had sanded down and put a few coats of paint on my PA 120.2 rad. Let's face it; Thermochill's paint dept. is probably run by blind monkeys if you were to judge the work on it. Granted, those of us 'in the know' understand that paint is merely an aesthetic thing and it would drive the cost up more for the rads. I personally don't care about it, because I'll gladly shoot a few layers of paint onto it and be done with it. After a month and a half of sitting in my darkroom on a top shelf, the rad's paintjob is pretty much cured. :lol: So, I'm going to assemble it now to get it ready for mount in the system soon--er....or later.... ;)

    Here's the fresh rad. Need to remove my 'custom' masking job, lol.

    [​IMG]

    It's probably not needed nor will probably result in much of a difference in temps, but I decided I'd add a shroud to the rad up front. Why not, right? Generally, I don't use shrouds at all because I'm usually not loading rads up with a massive heat load. Everyone has their own method or methods for rads, and it's probably a personal and spiritual thing too, so I don't think there's actually a fully right and fully wrong way of doing things. My view on it is, do what works for you. 'Nuff said. I use certain screws for mounting fans to rads depending on if they're open or closed-corner fans, and certain sizes too. Being a dumb American, I tap my rads for 6-32 threads. Mostly because the screws are so common and easy to find around town in case I'm in a bind. But that's usually not the case because McMaster Carr's fast on shipping and I'm a packrat!

    Shrouds. Shrouds. Yeah. No, to answer the burning q, I'm not using the normal shroud with the PA simply because I don't have it, but mostly because it's too deep for use where it's going in the case. So, the answer is simple. Gut some fans. :D

    So, I had 5 extra 120mm cheapy fans that weren't being used at all, nor have ever been used, so I decided I'd clean up the inventory a bit and hack on them. Again, they're probably not needed, but what the hell, right? Actually, the top rad will need it for clearance issues and the barbs I'm using on it, but I'll get to that when I get to it.

    Simple easy work with a cutoff wheel and sanding disc on the :dremel:

    [​IMG]

    These were open-corner fans, so I use 6-32 x 3/8" screws to make sure I don't drill right into the fins on the rad and kill it.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I didn't have any more black ones, but it doesn't matter. You won't see them anyways unless you're looking for them.

    The fans themselves are mounted with a rubber silencer in between the frames to seal them off a bit more and silence any possible rattling. I used 6-32 x 1/2" socket cap screws and nuts to secure them to the fan shrouds.

    The fans are Zalman ZM-F3 red led fans, which are used on all rads. I had removed the branding on them quite a while back.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    And to finish it off I threaded in some of my favs; EK G3/8 barbs onto the rad.

    [​IMG]

    Alright, I'm outta here. Catch ya on the flip-side!

    -------------
    Until the next update, I got nuthin'. :thumb:
     
  14. ComputerKing

    ComputerKing <img src="http://forums.bit-tech.net/images/smilie

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    Dam buddy, that fan work KICKS ASS, You are creative really. I don't have any thing to say more than keep going and ROCK ON !
     
  15. MrWizard

    MrWizard What's a Dremel?

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    That's one super thick setup, but it looks killer. Mod on Jeremy!
     
  16. E.E.L. Ambiense

    E.E.L. Ambiense Acrylic Heretic

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    Thanks, CK!

    Thanks, man! I will!
     
  17. mnpctech

    mnpctech bit-tech sponsor

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    I feel like I should be eating popcorn while watching this worklog transpire. All of the details have my eyes glued on the screen :hip:
     
  18. craigbru

    craigbru Cramming big things in small boxes since 2006

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    Man, at his pace, that would be a hell of a lot of popcorn... :lol:




    Seriously though, this is looking outstanding! :thumb:
     
  19. TapperSwe

    TapperSwe What's a Dremel?

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    I have been away for a while but i can see that you have done some realy nice progres on your mod since last time i checked, that bay stealth cover is going to look awesome.

    Regards.
     
  20. skullen

    skullen Minimodder

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    Nice one E.E.L,looking good :thumb:
     
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