Case Mod - In Progress Project: (insert name here) Updated September 22, 2007

That actually sounds much better. But maybe like this: ThemeLess , for the logo

 

I like themeless

I really did like the outcome of the plate. Only problem is my fan controller doesn't fit (easy fix with a file)

I am getting a couple more plates made to match

 

Is this thread still alive???

Don't give up dude!

 

haha I promise it isn't dead

It has been redesigned in my head over and over but I was busy all summer and nothing got done (and to think, a 17 year old is supposed to have nothign to do all summer)

I have done some small work. The fan controller fits in the plate. I have to change the LED's still. Also the top of the case is getting a new design, one that includes some metal, jb weld, body filler, and tons of hard work. But I think it would be worth it.

 

Nice to hear your back on the mod. Will start keeping an eye out for this one, subscribed

 

Amazing, That speed control with that new panel amazing! Dude the idea is nice. Can't wait to see you doing more.

Good luck.

 

Work Update! August 27, 2007:

Ok this is attempt 2 at this. I was typing up this in the quick reply and I accidentally pressed the back button on my mouse. Talk about frustrating.

Anyways.

The original plan for this case was going to be a simple case for a LAN. Simple design, tons of quiet fans for cooling, and portable. While this still holds true, I decided I wanted to work in water cooling, and this case, although a “server” case, just wouldn’t cut it.

I had planned for 2 handles from MNPCTECH and a 120mm fan, which thanks to Bill from MNPCTECH, I got punched out. Now I had never installed the handles right. I holes were too small, and too close to the edge. Making it bigger was easy, it was getting them attached, and getting the case back together. Also due to some poor planning, and not thinking, the case was really flimsy. So I have 2 things to do.

First I had to fix the case handles. To do this I had to cut some aluminum to fill the holes. In hindsight (which is ALWAYS 20/20), I should have used steel that I could have taken from the side panel (and make a window), and a combination of magnets to keep the pieces level with each other (more on this in a second). So have some careful (quick) shaping, taping, and JB Welding, I got this.



Not a pretty sight. The top wasn’t much better. So I grabbed my trusty dremel, flex attachment, and a grinding stone. After about an hour of work I was able to finish the grinding on top, and half of the inside. I still have to finish one of the hole repairs with the grinder, then sand the whole thing inside and out.



Inside



Top

Now there is a slight problem with the top. The aluminum wasn’t flush. The aluminum itself was thinner then the steel to start with. Because of this, I have a little lip on some parts of the top. To fix this I need some strong body filler and some sanding. This isn’t terribly important because well, I have a plan for the top. But before I can get too far ahead, I have to fix my other problem.

The case has a ton of flex in it from my poor start. I have to fix this. I have to fix what was the PSU bracket and drive bay. Ric from themodnation suggested smoke black acrylic, to stay in the theme. I think that is probably what I will do, it is easier to work with, and I can work it into more of the idea I have for the inside, stealthing the parts.

I also have some minor repair to make to the back panel, but that should be an easy fix. I am planning to make a PSU and fan bracket (like Lian Li’s) out of aluminum that will match the fan controller piece I already have.

Now to the fan controller. I have sanded the piece from the controller and it will now fit into the front piece. I have taken 2 of the 5 LED’s out. I need to get a solder pump before I finish the rest because the wick isn’t working, and the coating over the copper is peeling up from the heat. Hopefully this won’t affect the board, because you can’t get them anymore from where I have looked.

I have to finish the final design of the top of the case. I hope to finish this soon, but my graph paper is at my sisters house (drawing something for her) and I no longer have autocad.

That is it for now. I will be getting back to work on the panels as soon as I get something to eat. I can’t promise when the next update will be. I start school in a week and I have to finish up some projects up around the house. Also I have to figure out how to finance more of this mod.

Also am going to go threw the whole worklog and clean it up, and eventually rehost the pictures on to my webserver. Also, I hope you like the pictures. I took them on my new phone. It has a 2 mega pixel camera that I will be using for pics now on.

 

Mini Update September 1, 2007:

So I had to repair the repairs I did to the top because I didn’t have the proper pressure on the piece and they didn’t sit flush. So after the hours of grinding, I starting cutting with a reinforced wheel. Here is what it looked like when it was mostly done. I was going to clamp the whole thing, but I decided against it because it wasn’t going to be flush (the clamps weren’t holding it right).



I did do some more cutting after that picture to really get it right.

Then I duct taped the other side to hold in the piece level, and to keep the JB weld from sticking on the table. To make sure the patch was now even I set it on my table (which is level enough for it) and put 2 bicycle pegs on it, with 2 pieces of aluminum (which I got from my shop class from the foundry) on top of it to hold the patch down. I was going to clamp, but to get it smooth, it took too many clamps and they would have ended up welded to the metal.


See you next update!

 

Looks like you got off to a ruff start, but as we can see, it appears to be coming together much better this time.

Looks good. Mod on.

 

So nice Can't wait to see more. Go on Good luck. Very nice.

 

September 22, 2007
Major Work Update

Foreword
I recently read bit-tech’s article on doing a project log. I learned tons of things that will hopefully be done sooner or later, but I don’t have time to upload to my webserver. Also, I know it said no cell pictures, but again, I would rather work a day then spend a day trying to dig up a digital camera in this house, then finding batteries for it, then the cord. I hope they aren’t too fuzzy, because I twitch a lot.

The Work
Last time I left you with the patches being held in. Since then I have done some shopping.

First:

Mouse sander, extra paper, sanding sponge, rivet gun, rivets, and body filler

Second:

(taken from website)
I bought 4 of these that will be drilled and glued to screws to make some custom thumbscrews. They are from Advancing Hordes. They will be drilled on a mill to insure they are centered.

So I made a spilt decision to reuse the old bezel. Its ugly though.


So I grabbed the body filler and filled it up.


I also repeated the process for the top part, inside and out. No pics of the out before.


While I was waiting, I decided to finish removing the OLD LEDs from the Fan controller.


It was hard, because I had nothing to hold on to the bezel, pliers (to pull out), and soldering iron without burning myself.

Soldering Irons: 2 Me: 0 (one burn from last year)

Now came the thinking. I didn’t plan to reuse the LEDs, so I used a vice to hold them, then I can heat leads, and pull the pcb out.


By the time everything was cool and put away, the filler had cured. Time to start sanding, and sanding, and sanding. My shop is a MESS. Anyways I didn’t get as far as I hoped because I got interrupted because we are going out to eat for my sisters birthday. Here is the current status of the bezel and top.


Hope to get back at it some tonight, Just finishing up the top if possible (should be easiest). I also riveted the front, back, bottom, and middle pieces back together, along with the 5.25 bay drive (which I also decided to use).

I hopped this was going to be some great mod and all, but since I have new hardware hopefully coming soon, I need another case for a computer. So depending on how things go, I will be “wrapping” the paint and moving on. This does sadden me, but I have another 2 cases I can move on to, and they can use some help.

 

Nice build Sparky...

Atleast we know you're not reliving "That 70's Show" re-runs in the basement..