Scratch Build – In Progress Project: Large Wooden Tower - Finished!

I am lovin this case! If I love the end product, I may have to order one as well!

 

Coming together rather nicely

 

Pretty much finished the "false" back.





All that's left to do is route some slots along the edges of the motherboard tray and maybe another slot for the wiring for the optical drives.

 

Are you going to route a hole behind the motherboard tray so the CPU socket area is accessible?

 

i think the false back is to conceal the back, while being removable

 

The panel behind the motherboard tray is removable. Do you think I also need to route a hole?

 

Er - the reason you have a hole is usually to get at the mounting points for the CPU cooler. If that plate is removable you can get at them anyway; I think you'll be fine.

 

No, if it's removable then it servces the same purpose

 

External Drive Cage Completed

I completed the the external drive cage. I used a couple of drill bits to align everything, just to make sure both pieces were identical.




Yet another feature of this case is that each one of the drive rails can be removed for easy modding or for a custom configuration.

 

Two new 5.2mm router bits arrived yesterday afternoon. In an attempt to reduce bit breakage, I "pre-grooved" the 3/4-inch oak on the table saw, cutting an 8mm deep saw kerf. Then it was two passes on the router table, one pass at 5mm deep and another at 10mm. The end result was I only broke one bit.

Right side panel is done:


As soon as the 120x4 radiators arrive, I'll route out holes in the panels and apply some aluminum mesh, as modeled here:

 

Fastening the Top

I decided to fasten the top to the case with some 'T'-nuts, but I didn't have any lying around the shop so I fabricated a simple "plate"-nut. A plate-nut is just a 1/8-inch thick piece of aluminum flat bar, taped for 6-32 bolts. The nut was bolted to a dual layer of 1/4-inch plywood which was then glued to the top. Hard to describe, but very simple to make.







In order to accurately determine where to drill the corresponding holes in the front frame, I made some pointy marking thingies from a couple of bolts.




The top with the pointy thingies were then pressed down onto the case, indicating where to drill.



Perfect alignment!

 

Looking really cool duder

 

Side Panels Fastened

The side panels are held onto the case via four magnetic catches.



I'm quite pleased with the holding power of these babies. They will eventually get a coating of black paint.

 

I'm a couple of days behind but could you explain how you used your "plate-nuts"? I get the theory but where are they in the case?

 

The nut is in (on?) the top, here:

 

A very cool idea to connect both parts, I like your wooden case. If I see it, I think about to make my own.

 

Very nice construction and design, but just like with the Obsidian 800D, I just wish you also made a bit smaller model in the near future

 

What size case would you prefer? Examples?

 

Front Panel

I glued-up the front panel. It still needs a bit of work, but it looks so darn pretty:

 

I love it, it's a really nice finish

I might order myself one of these at some point in the future (not now, I severely lack funds )