Scratch Build – In Progress HDJ Project: DGame -- 31/12 FINAL SHOTS --

Hi all,
I want to present you my new mod, a scratch build called DGame

The mod consists to building a case for an "old" laptop motherboard (not really old considering that it mount an i7 processor) with some problems such as the monitor not working very well, there is no keyboard, etc... so, it lived better days

To replace the old laptop case, i have decided to build this



So, i start to build the frame



To build the frame i have decided to use a piece of aluminium thick 3mm and large 4cm





So, it's time to work!
By the drill press I start to work on this aluminium piece making the air intakes.



At the bottom there are 6 holes of 25mm. Starting with little holes:



And then i do the 25mm holes





On top, there are other air intakes but little bit different



To make these i do some little holes



Work of file...



and that's the result





Finishing the intakes, i'm going to bend the aluminium with hammer... i'm happy for the result







to finish... 2 random pics





So, that's all for the first day of work.

I hope you like this. Tomorrow i hope to upload other pics

Bye bye,
HeroDJ

 

Awesome start.
That's an impressive drill press too. I'd give that sooo much grease if it was mine.

 

Thanks Cheapskate!
Yeah, it's an industrial drill press, but unfortunately isn't mine but the laboratory of a company where i work

 

So, 2nd up!

After finishing the aluminium frame, today i'm dedicated to the creation of the case's sides and the backside.

Let's start with these metal sheets 1mm thick



On the first one there will be engraved the DGame logo.
Preparing the first metal sheet with sandpaper





a little bit of paper tape to mark the logo





Now i can cut out the logo











That's the result.. tomorrow i'm gonna continue the inside of the engraving



I've also finished the other metal sheet





To fix the sides of the case i'm gonne use these metal hinges



Hinges are welded to the sheets






...continue!

 

After completing sides of the case, it's ttime to build the backside of the case. Another metal sheet there:



With a bender i'm going to bend this sheet to form an U channel







This backside piece will be installed into case like this



To fix the sides of the case on it, i've modified it... I shortened the flaps and created the predisposition for the hinges







Completed sheets looking like this



After this, i need to fix the backside to the aluminium frame, so i create two holes each side to fix it





Finally, i will also attach the bunkhealds with some screws (Screws are temporary, before finish the mod i'm going to improve them)



Now, there are final photos of the day











That's all guys!

I hope you like it.
Good evening,
HeroDJ

 

nice framework

what are the dimensions ? (other than 4cm wide?)

keep up the good work

 

Thanks a lot

I forgot to mention the dimension of the case. The case measures 30cm x 30cm x 4cm

 

You are a Master with the file

Great work so far!!

 

Thanks Kappa!

 

Nice! Everytime I see someone manufacture the case themselves I get so jealous!

 

Thanks Rogergamer
You haven't already seen nothing, intresting things will comes early

 

Very good Hero

 

Thanks MPC

PS Tomorrow probably UP

 

Now thats some awesome craftsmanship!

Defiantly want to keep an eye on this!

 

Thanks a lot Concept!

So guys, sorry for the delay of the up but i'm into an exams period at university and i can't do many things.
Now, let's starting recycle the hardware for the mod, that comes from... a notebook!





It's an intel notebook with these features:
- CPU: Intel i7 2630QM @2.90Ghz
- Ram: 1x So-DIMM DDR3 4gb @1333Mhz (in the future i'm going to upgrade to 8GB)
- VGA: Nvidia Geforce GT540M 1Gb GDDR3



Let's start disassembly!
First the keyboard





on the back, i removing the under cover



After removing cover screws i have access to the motherboard



Easily now i can remove all components



For the mod, i only need the motherboard, the hard drive (i forgot to show it ), front usb/audio jacks and power button
This is the motherboard



I can't use the notebook screws (M2) so i'm going to use M3 thread the existing holes with an M3 threader



6 holes threaded without damages



For the motherboard, i need to create a tray. On the 1mm metal sheet, i reporting holes and openings



On the little side behind i've done some holes to weld easily the tray to the backside of the case



Meanwhile, on the backside face i draw the motherboard ports


These are other 2 boards (usb/audio and power)



The usb/audio card will be placed on the top of the case



For this, i'm going to draw the holes of this card... at next up i'm going to do them



but, there is a problem with the power board... it has this little button



The only one solution is to recycle the old power button




For today, that's all

I hope to upload other photos as soon as possible!

Bye guys,
HeroDJ

 

I like this a lot - I'm amazed the notebook only has really that one main board inside.

 

sub

 

Switch: Solder tiny wires to dots on each corner and add new switch to wires.
Coming along great.

 

Thanks Mockingbird, modding a notebook is very easy, only one board with a flat heatsink

Tranks Arduum

Thanks Cheapskate
i have considered this option but i like the old button and i think that going to look good on the mod... then we will see how it's look

 

And another one UP!

Today I've cutted all of motherboard's openings on the backside sheet. That's the result







Meanwhile i've done cuts and holes on the motherboard tray



After couple of hours, i've finished and welded the motherboard tray to the backside sheet of the case



Remember the holes that i've done to the little side of the motherboard tray?? I have used them to create little gaps on the backside to weld the metal sheets





And the motherboard tray it's now completed!

Next i've get the aluminium frame to create gaps for the power button on the front of the case and the usb/audio holes on the top. Starting from the front of the case making some holes and joining them with files







and next on the top













Now i can do the first attempt to join all pieces (except the sides of the case)





Fits perfectly!!

That's all. Tomorrow a little up before Christmas!

Bye,
HeroDJ