Planning New cabinet in wood, any tips? [sketch inside]

Hi,

I will build a new cabinet in wood and wonder if you have any tips?

Here is a sketch:

 

Are you covering an existing case in wood?

 

No, I will build the cabinet from scratch. Here's an I've built before:

http://www.diskusjon.no/index.php?showtopic=902260&hl=

I need help with the design for the new case.

 

Seems to me that the whole point of building an enclosure from an alternative material- in your case, wood- should be to exploit some property that regular metal doesn't have.

Things like design elements (mouldings, joinery, curves, etc.) or surface finish (grain, color)...difficult, if not impossible with metal, but not utilized at all in your design.

Basically, it appears you intend to replicate a fairly standard box in a less suitable material so I have to ask, why?

 

Have built various cases before that have not been optimal. Given the space and cooling.

So I want to build me a pretty standard box, but will also allow it to be a little spesiel.
Here I need tips from you.


Some tips to good solutions inside and out?

 

Heat chambers?

Have an enclosure with a int/exh fan or two for the PSU, HDD and main area seperately... it's been done before but I assume it'll help with cooling issues

EDIT: another thought... stealth any drives using offcuts from your wood, it'll help with the appearance (even if it means moving the drive back and restricting airflow a little)

 

Good idea!

Thinking maybe to have some black Plexi inside also.

Someone who can draw a pattern I can wear outside the box?

 

Could you describe the case you're using now and specifically how it isn't "optimal"?

 

The biggest problem is the cable clutter, and I might like me a cooler case.
The case I use now I have made myself.

Link: http://www.diskusjon.no/index.php?showtopic=902260&hl= [NOR]

 

Might think to have black plexi in the bottom and a little on the walls inside.

Can someone who is good at drawing to create a sketch of me?

 

Someone who can help me with a new sketch?

 

Here is a new front, what do you think? (right)

 

have you looked at the antec P180, P182 cases, they implement two heat chambers, one for the PSU, the other for the mobo.

if your biggest problem is cable clutter, you could build the motherboard tray so it is a few centimetres from the side panel, leaving you space to hide cables

 

Thought to create two chambers. One of the PSU and the mobo.

But do you have any tips for how to get air up there where the mobo is?

 

because you have two individual chambers, the cooling has to be independent from each other. in your design the front bottom fan will act as an intake for the lower chamber, the PSU acting as the exhaust. the intake for the mobo chamber could be a fan located at the top of the case.

 

Yes, must be to fans.

Some tips to design?

 

if only i could get sketchup to work on my computer i would show you.

 

You need my Sketchup file?

Sketchup can you download here

 

What front should I choose?

 

Personally 3 looks interesting.