Scratch Build – In Progress My first project here: DarthBeavis' Away Team

Don't think I ever posted a worklog here so time to pop the cherry . . .I can't log in under DarthBeavis but I am unfortunately that sorry excuse for a modder.

This project will be themed on the utility case a Star Trek Engineering away team might take on a mission. Technology featured in this build will include Nvidia's 3d Stereo graphics for the most immerse gaming short of a holodeck. The build will contain two mini-itx based systems for true head-to-head gaming. The project is a join venture between BoxGods (a.k.a. Geno) and Out of the Box Mods (a.k.a. me). Our goal is to have it premier at QuakeCon (Nvidia has booth space reserved for it) then next travel to PAX.

Sponsors:
- Nvidia (3d monitors, glasses)
- Danger Den (CNC, laser, design services, I think I bought all the water-cooling parts retail for this project except GPU blocks)
- Crucial (Ballistix Tracer ram and SSD hard drives)
- Performance PCs (tons of stuff)
- Bitspower (still using sponsored parts from Daywalker)
- Mountain Mods (thanks for helping get materials on short notice Ben!!!)
- BoxGods (aluminum boxes and tons of design services)
- Asus (motherboards? and GPUS - two 260s)
- I wanted to fit FrozenQ reservoirs in but the space is so small he would have to make really small ones. I do not know if he will have time. Anyway, he still deserves a shout out.

Geno, after months of work and more than one sleepless night and shower less day has the drawings finished. I received the aluminum boxes Friday, then traveled to Danger Den Saturday. Jeremy, the CEO of DD, was kind enough to give up his entire day to draw the holes for the case where I needed them and then use one of their CNC mills to cut the holes. This week they will laser cut the acrylic parts as well. Today I ground the slag off the boxes and radiused the edges (Geno already has some of it done so I would know what result to shoot for). This is my FIRST time working with metal so please keep that in mind when commenting. I still have to do use the Scotch Bright finishing sander attachment (this round was with a number 80 flap attachment). Tomorrow I will start the polishing . . .w00t

Drawing (not complete):



CNC Mill:



After mill:


Grinding (Geno I do listen to your safety nagging):






Guess I have a date with a file and sandpaper tomorrow as well . . . .maybe polishing on Tuesday?

 

Here is a different perspective with more details drawn in:

Did what I could metal-working on teh boxes, but got some pros to help get it rightly polished up. here is the center box. The other two are already at the painter who will paint the inside metallic teal then clearcoat the inside and outside of the boxes. I might also have them paint the PSU





Brian from Primochill came though in a pinch with laser cutting.




Moar Shiney . . .also filed the corners of the reservoir hole so it will sit flush. It will have one of the new billeted aluminum face plates polished to match the case




Thanks to Asus and Crucial for sponsoring hardware:




Decided to get some painting done. The pump and rads really will not be visible but I wanted to at least have them reflect some light to maybe help light up the 'nacelles' or laminated acrylic layers between the boxes




Geno says I will have some sanding and polishing of the edges of the acrylic pieces when they get here so I stocked up on compounds (also need to polish the knobs . . .errr, that did not sound right . . .uh handles for adjusting the monitors)

Got the PSU put together after painting (finally a silver Silverstone) . . .then started violating my diet by consuming a steady stream of gin and tonics . . .

 

DB, you finally made it!

Been looking for ya, nice to see you here.

This looks excellent, you're gonna make me post my new project tonight just to piss ya off...

 

Hey, nice to see your project here! I'm going to enjoy watching this!

 

Could i have have some links to past projects, i feel my life with in bit-tech is limited...

 

Clinic Skulltrail Server: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7861
Stars And Stripes: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7837
DayWalker: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2524
Terra: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5534
Cherry X: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4466
Autopsy: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=953
Clinic Server V3.0: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1076

Other builds as well but these have some good reading

 

What is the case in the background? Buffy? Vampire?

Whatever it is it looks cool, any chance of some pictures of that?

Also who is the lovely redhead?

 

Red Head: Cherry X: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4466
Buffy Rig: DayWalker: http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2524


First version of it: http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_rotm_april07.html

Nice pics in these galleries with many rigs at PDXLANs: http://mikedeal.smugmug.com/LAN Partys
My PDXLAN 10 Build:
My PDXLAN 12 builds: This one was also my PDXLAN 11 build . . . rebuilt it and did not do the wire management

my PDXLAN 13 build:
My PDXLAN 14 Builds:

 

Great start Darth! I can't wait to see how this is going to end up - you had some great stuff going on in the DangerDen forums.

 

aye, i thank ye sir!

 

cool concept, and a very good surface finsihing.

 

+rep

they all look bloody brilliant.

Im looking forward to seeing more of your work.

 

thanks everyone for the kind words! next week will be insane trying to get this thing done.

 

These are ALL very nice works.

I'm afraid I will have to retire from modding. Geriatrics can't compete on this level.

Welcome to Bit-Tech!

john

 

yay, DarthBeavis on bit-tech I've been watching your work on [H] and I'm must say that it is awesome !
and this build looks really insane, can't wait to see the final product ! +rep for you

 

looking sick alreadY!!!!

welcome to bit tech.

 

Glad to finally see you over here DB. I am loving this concept, very unique, you should be able to full it off with flying colours, can't wait for more.

 

finally you came here DB!! wELCOME, and the beginning looks sick.

Can't wait to see moar!

 

So this is where the party is!

Awesome stuff DB!


Hey, if you're over here now, I guess I should join the fun too!

 

Definately!