Scratch Build – In Progress Pressure.Can by ATL

I saw the files. You have to straighten your cuts now.
Also, Is that a air bleed valve on the reservoir? Easy with that. The US standard taper can tweak the threads.
Also, also: 3/4" copper pipe compression fitting? I think you might be up to something crazy, and I like it.

 

Well at the bottom it's a temperature sensor for a gauge ment to go on the front. At the top is currently a 1/4 to 15mm pipe coupler. I just got one to see if it fits. Thinking about using copper pipe or chrome one. Just exploring the possibilities

 

So today was the day of the front panel. Did I mention I hate filing?
First I drilled some holes.

The two on the right for the USB ports, the other two for the headphone+ microphone jacks.

Almost straight after half an hour of filing with a needle file


And the final size. Need a bit of a touch up on the sides to make it pretty and need to deal with the fixing, but I'm pretty happy with the results.

 

That's better!
Copper pipe would be awesome. I've used soldered copper on several of my rigs. -Just oil any files you use to clean up the tin, otherwise it plugs up the teeth.

 

A bit of a progress today.
Finished the front I/O mounting, unfortunately due to the placement of the bracket, had to drill the screws a bit off center and I'm not really happy with it, doesn't look symmetrical. Plus need to get new screws as I don't like these.


Originally I was planning on using soft tubing, and for that the reservoir's place was not that important, but with copper I am much more restricted.

So first I've cut some pipes and tried to arrange things, then realized that the front pipe would completely cover the reservoir.
Shuffled up everything and moved things around:

Now the pump is straight under the reservoir.(I didn't see it as a problem until I had to swap around. Did I mention this is my first water cooling )
Nothing is fixed yet as I'm waiting for the delivery of the copper radiator I finally ordered.
I also have to find a way to mount the reservoir. The original brackets are too big to attach the the perspex, they would push it straight into the fans so I have to figure something out.
I finished the mobo tray cut at the back, now it's straight and the right size.

 

With such a small res you could probably get away with just mounting the pump. Treat it like a fat spot in the line.
I would turn it over, though.

 

Is it upside down? damn that's a problem I have a temp gauge there as well and if I turn around, then the liquid won't reach it... I don't think any of my original ideas still intact and proven good

 

It looks like the tube extension in the res was connected to the pump inlet. That tube is for water coming into the res so any air doesn't get sucked right back in the pump inlet. If it's on the pump inlet, it's more likely to run the pump dry during filling and bleeding.

 

Now it all make sense I guess the other hole is for filling then. We'll, I will figure out what to do. I came up with a great way to support the reservoir, already got the bits for it, just have to do the work. It will look great

 

Finally my new copper radiator arrived! I can start and measure and cut pipes now as they will now the right sizes


So as I mentioned I came up with the idea to support the reservoir. I know it's not necessary but I think it will look great.
Gonna have some threaded rods going through and a small mounting platform for the reservoir and probably the pump under it too.
The first prototype I made from an alu sheet :



Then I realized that I need something thicker and did my second ever cad design :



Nothing sophisticated but can be easily 3d printed and has a rim around the middle to keep the reservoir in place and mounting for the rods.
It might take some time to get it done as I don't have a printer.

Started also working on the On-off switch, might be able to integrate the original switching mechanism into the new one, so I could keep the look and make it work.(The switch was there to switch where the air goes so no electronics was used.) All I would need is one spot of welding at the end, but due to covid and stuff it's not that easy....
That's it for now. As I'm getting closer to the end, I have a stronger and stronger feeling that I want some decent hardware inside the case but unfortunately it's on the bottom of the financial priority list ;/ Maybe bit by bit

 

That's a bit heavy-handed. Perhaps only two threaded rods, hanging from the top ?
You can make a mount out of that plexi. Two layers, fused together with acetone, one with only space for ports, and one with a hole to hold the reservoir edge.

 

I like your idea of plexi, might use it later but a bit differently

Went with 3D printing and thanks to J-Tech Design Solutions, got the part perfectly as I imagined!
Anyone need a part printed get in touch and mention that you've seen them on the forum and they will look after you!



Did the first try and I really like it, I think it will look great in the build:




Hopefully next week I will have some time to drill it in the final place and do the plumbing work too

 

Well, no actual work done in the garage, but the reservoir mount gave me an idea, so I designed a new part and J-Tech Design Solutions already printed and posted, should arrive any time now!
Can you guess what it is? So far I ordered two, but can install many more

 

hard drive mount?

 

I love the character this build has, a real story behind it!
Makes me want to use copper tubing on my next build as well, there's something industrial and powerful about it.

 

Yes, they are hdd mounts, as I tend to have loads of them in my PC and felt the current variant with only 4 drive bays was too small
Also someone labeled it ghetto drive bay so had to find a better version

 

While waiting for the postman had a bit of time so decided to work on the power switch.
I want to keep it as original as possible but as it used to be a switch for airflow I have to do a lot of legwork.
There are 2 problems, firstly the hole is much bigger than the switch mounting so have to make an adaptor. I managed to drill down the original one and put a thread in it so the new switch can just nicely go in. Except for the different threads certainly didn't check before and don't even have any other tap and die set at hand. Have to find different way now.
The other job is to cut a thread on the new switch shaft. The problem is that it's cone shaped and small. So had to file a lot until its just a rod and cut thread. Managed to get around two or three times and now I need a smaller pliers to hold it so I can do some more.
The strange thing is I still enjoy working on this

 

The nerve of some people... Oh wait. It was me?

 

When you think you will have some spare time and then life throws you everything
But finally yesterday had a couple of hours, so did some work on the mounts:

First had to drill some holes on the top which was a risky business with my track record on measuring distances. Managed to do it fairly good, seem to fit just fine:


Then I've drilled some more holes for the hard drives holding rods. They were much easier as didn't really matter where they are as long as they are next to the side wall. On the picture the mounts just hanging there for trial, didn't bother putting nuts on yet. It takes ages to do






Originally I was planning to drill them through the bottom part as well, but the pump wouldn't fit,so at the end I had to shorten the rods for the reservoir.
I will probably get one more hdd mount and one more for an ssd which I might have to design from scratch.
Also have a plan to hide cables from the PSU but that will need a lot of work

 

:/ I still think your compression fittings are more than enough to hold the reservoir. Some people have used copper pipe for their case frames.