Update Well this is going on a EVGA 780i board. The part really isn't that big. Just to make sure tho I make a bunch of drawings in Rhino and tested the mounting holes directly on the board. I spent a lot of time on it so as long as I am close to the drawings this thing should fit. I finished the channeling then I started to sand and file most of the rough spots out. I couldn't get all of them so I eventually gave up. But this is the result: Also I still have to go over the whole thing with some finer sandpaper which will hopefully produce a smoother finish. Then while I was waiting on our band saw to get fixed, I started plaining the aluminum. Do to chatter in the mill the two passes are at a difference of .002"-.004". But this is on because I can fix it later so it will mount flush. Finally we got the band saw to work and I cut out the copper: The scrap: I now have the plans mirrored onto the aluminum: However my instructor needed the vertical mill I was using to help an auto student. But here are a couple really fast renderings of the case I am planning to build. This is the internal structure, the bottom part of it will hold the 4 x 120mm radiator. Let me know what ya think.
That isn't good, if both the copper and the alu will be touching the coolant. I strongly advise against using both alu and copper in a water loop, very bad corrosion, no matter the coating. The CADs look really cool, I love the first pic of the case, nice design.
Yeah, before you waste your time on milling the aluminium, switch it out for some delrin (acetal). Mixing them will result in pain, only for a few months down the line you'll find all your hard work wasted!
Yep, My Swiftech Apogee GTX started to corrode after 2 months of use, lucky my mobo blew and I stripped down the loop otherwise I would be in trouble.
Here is a link to the discussion on my water block just to reinforce my position lol: http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17770 Copper, aluminum and coolant +BAD lol.
Thanks for the info! Shoot we thought there my be problems if they are touching directly but we failed to realize the coolant would ruin it to. Thanks for the help! I will go talk to my instructor tonight and see what he wants to do, the corrosion thing probably just slipped his mind.
I agree with Burnout21, delrin is some awesome stuff if you wanna try that. I've worked with it and machining it is a dream. Looks great too.
Material So we have decide to use some acrylic instead of delrin. My instructors figure it should take about the same amount of time to machine and we have a ton just laying around that I can use. Also I only have about 2 weeks before summer break and I have to have this block done, a mosfet heat sink, and the case. Since delrin his hard to get in this area that mean we would have to order it which would set me back about week on the block which can't happen at this point. Is there any advice you guys have on using acrylic versus delrin?
From what I hear Delrin or Acetel is much stronger than standard acrylic/perspex, it's also less prone to cracking.
Can we get a scale picture of the res? maybe with a pop/beer can or something else we'd have lying around in the house?
Hydros Core Update! Yeah I looked into all the advantages of delrin but the bad thing is I can't get any here within the time frame I need. I have to be done with the whole project by the 12th so the next best thing is acrylic. I did decide to move up to 1/4" thickness which should help. Machining the channels I accidently got carried away with the power feed and cut too far but we already found a way to fix it. Here is the acrylic cut out: I am using the sand paper to make sure that the copper surface is completely flat so that way it seals properly. Will this work for a size comparison? So that is it for now. I am going in tonight so I should have another update pretty soon. My water jet parts will be done by Tuesday so hopefully I can get the case done by the end of next week.