Scratch Build – In Progress Mr3D - Project Tatami (mATX computercase from scratch)

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

About the magnets. Well, that won't happen on this project, the panels will be screwed to the case.

Some color? Hmmmm... I'll promise you to think about it, but don't get your hopes up.

Just give me a few days and I'll promise to check it out!



So... The panels weren't custom enough for you, how about this then?





Some kind of box thingy... Well, that box will house the start-button and 2 USBs!






A custom made button! I'll only use one of those, but it's always good to have a spare!

We all know how great I am at planning, the previous button(the round one), well, let's just say I won't use that...




And a custom-made PCB! This is the first milled PCB I've ever made; It's not finished tho. Have to add a solder mask to it.

I made the text too small, so it wasn't visible. Oh well.




Everything assembled! (Only test assemble, tho.) Still need to add the solder mask to the PCB and solder the actual cables.


That's all for this time!

 

USB 2.0 or 3.0?, unsure if all 3.0 are in blue.

Very nice though, like a solid tactile switch.

 

Yeah, it's USB 2.0, 3.0 actually got 9 connections. 4 for the regular 2.0 backwards comparability, and 5 for 3.0.

 

this is monster

 

I'll have some Tatami mats going down in the bedroom once the loft conversion is finished. I'm looking forward to it more than I probably should be. The back problems that come with above-average height and balancing mattress hardness with someone 8" shorter and several stone lighter are always fun.

I really like the patterned side - it's simple, pleasantly geometric and not gaudy or over the top. As others have said a flush side panel would have been sexy as hell. As others have said, the darker sides definitely give it a nicer look than the monotone if you're going for that model. Time for a trip to the anodiser?

I guess the other option would be to add some slots in the front uprights so you can slot the side panels in flush and then use a couple of customised screws at the back (for the top and side panels, and at the bottom for the front panel) to hold it tight. That wouldn't require as much modification, though you may need to consider something around the edges to reduce vibration. It would also mean adding something to stop it falling into the case, so it's not a trivial change.

I gave some thought to magnets when I was trying to design a build and the real problem is balancing strong enough to hold it in place with easy to get off (given a suitably magnetic material, which means the side panel weighs a kilo or so depending on size and thickness), which means a mechanism to get one of the panels off when it's all closed up so you can get at the rest of them. (which should just pop off when pressed from inside) It's not something you can throw in at late notice, really, but something you need to consider from the start in terms of design, material choice, magnet shape, etc.

 

Love the button setup. If anyone gives you any more trouble, you can brain them with it.

 

Wow, there's some great stuff going on in here!

 

this keeps getting better and better

 

I can't be the only one thinking of The Cable Guy…

Nice work on the case.

 

This is incredible just read through and wow!!!! keep up the good work

 

This looks absolutely amazing!

 

Wow! Really amazing work with this one. Looking forward to following you Good luck with the project!

 

Thanks for all the positive feedback, guys! This really keeps me going!

Is it just me that don't know what "The Cable Guy" is? *Lifts the rock that I live under.*
(Well, until about 10min ago. When I searched the net.)

Yeah, I figured magnets would be too problematic, especially to add them later - that is unless I want to rebuild 99,99% of the case...



How about a small update?

Time to announce another sponsor, Intel!



Empty socket...




...loaded socket! With a i7-5960X!












While I was at it, took some better pictures of the motherboard GIGABYTE sent me a while ago.




This will be the end card for this update. All I'm missing now is some RAM before I can try the new platform out!



Sorry about this, but I won't give you another update this weekend. Why, you ask? Well, It's Dreamhack in Sweden and I'm visiting over the weekend. I've planned an update for next week-end tho, like finishing the CPU/VRM waterblock.

 

That is one sick sponsorship man. Enjoy it!

 

Nice sponsor. Congratulations. I have AMD backing me, does that make us rivals?
Dreamhack: I guess you could need a break from all the picturesque coastlines and mountains.

-Can't wait to see how a skilled machinist handles plumbing. It should be awesome.

 

that's a total beauty bro. awesome looking case

 

Great job, super detailed! Can't wait to see more.

 

Nah, were cool. BUT, I won't share any business plans with you!

Plumbing? Me neither! Planning, what it that?

Thanks guys!

Details? Well, here. Have some more in this update!


Let's start off with some modifications to the side-panels.




We all know that I wasn't that happy with the non-existant chamfers on the plates. So I rigged them up in the NC and chamfered them. I didn't chamfer some of the edges tho, this was planned, more about this another day.

After looking at the chamfered edges, the matte surface of the water-jet doesn't really go hand in hand with my milled chamfer, that was easily fixed by milling all the edges.




This was the plates I milled this weekend, didn't have time to finish them all, tho. But I need something to do another day!






I wanted just a little tatami pattern on the front, did this so I could hide the start button in the pattern. Later I'll try to match the surface of the plates to the button as good as possible.

You see a play between the button and the plate as it is now, it doesn't matter tho. Because later I'll water-jet a thin stainless steel plate with the same thickness of the depth I milled and insert there. What way I'll get the tatami pattern, and also get it flush with the panel.




Muuuuuch better! Tho I still need to countersunk the screws, but that's for another day.




Might be hard so see in this pic, but chaaaaamfers!






On to the water block!

So, because I now have the CPU I could take some measurements between CPU and mosfet, and therefore finish the milling on the underside.






Need some extra stuff with the block tho. How about a backplate for the mosfet?

I'll need it so the PCB doesn't bend because of the pressure between WB and mosfet, I'll use thermal pads for heat transfer, so the pressure will bend the PCB.






These pics will be the end cards.

I'm dead tired now, going straight to bed! (aka might be some mis-spelling and weird sentences)

 

That is sheer waterblock porn.......... wowzers. Good job. Like all the chamfers too

 

Chamfers are good.