Project "AT tower renewal" is now FINISHED March 24

Thta is definetly my case. The floppy hole was filled up by power connectors, the big square was a fan...

 

If you're still having problems with the holes in the label, have you tried an exacto knife? For example, measure you drive cover (several times) and then do all of your cutting. Then stick on the label, and cut out the excess. You've probably already thought to try that, but maybe not.

 

Yes I've tried the exacto knife in many ways. Every thing from printing off a template and cutting out around it, to using the actual plexi panel as a cutting guide. Nothing worked to a satisfactory level.

 

Thats turning out pretty sweet man. My first case mod was on an AT case similar to that one, but not the same. Im actually remodding it. I made a custome plexiglass mobotray. Yours is turning out mass sweet though man and I dig the instrument panel massively too. Can't wait to see the final product!

 

What about cutting before you peel? It would make application more difficult, but if there's no other way... I would think a nice, sharp (brand new) hobby knife would be able to handle it.

 

-> your case is really looking sweet!

-> love that intrument panel

-> the microphone jack is going to be connected to your sound card, right?
-> are you sure the sound card and speakers can handle your bass?

 

diggin the panel!

 

1) Yes, my sound card has a "MIC2" jumper on it, that acts like a second microphone connection. That way, I can still use the regular one for my headset.

2) Well, technically my sound card can't. It's a prissy AC97 onboard thingy, and when I hook my bass up to it, the sound comes in really distorted. The plus side however, is that the distortion is wicked awesome sounding, so I don't really mind. Alternately, I can just pass through my bass-amp, and then there's no distortion or anything. I can also hook up a microphone to my bass amp and record other things/

There's no peeling involved. Remeber the bit tech guide called Lian Li, GOO style? Well I'm using the same things as he did.

As far as I could tell, the best way to get a hole into this stuff was to use a hole punch. The downside of course is that the hole punch was too small for most of the controls.

 

Gideontech did a beer storage thing with one of these cases, only it was a Dell Dimension XPS 450 (But still like your Gateway and my nameless tower)

 

Very nice.

AoD

 

It's looking great! In fact you've given me a few ideas for my own case, thanks!

I'm looking forward to seeing more!


DDK

 

If your running out of ideas, here is what I did with a similar case:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1624591&uid=777343&members=1

 

Today's update is a tale of one window. Now, this window won't be totally conventional, but you'll learn more about that later on.

The window, as I envision it, will be a long, thin strip up the side of the case. Why would I want something like this? Well, first of all, there's an enormous amount of surface area on the side of the case, and a window that occupies most of it, would look kind of silly. Also, the window is designed so that I can mount a fan in it, to deliver air to the graphics card - so it doesn't need to be much wider than that.



Now, to anyone who's ever modded, or considered modding an AT case, one of the biggest problems is the 1 piece U shell. Especially on a case of this size. I had to figure out how I was going to cut a very long window, in an incredibly floppy and akward piece of metal. I needed a way to support the side I was working on, and keep the edges around the cut from bending under the pressure of the jigsaw. For this, I built a wooden addon to my workbench. I screwed in a series of wooden boards that were designed to support the side of the case, while letting the other side stay comfortably out of the way underneath.



To ensure the line I cut was perfectly straight, I used a piece of scrapwood (word to the wise, if you do this, use metal, because wood can bow in and cause unstraight cuts) as a sortof jig. I actually bolted this piece to the case (where the window was being cut) so it wouldn't move around.



You can see how this keeps the saw in line.

Finally, after a lot of cutting, the window is complete




Stay tuned for the next update, where I tackle a top blow hole. I'm truly dreading this, because I know my jigsaw circle cutting skills are less than spectacular.

 

These cases are harder than rocks.

 

Nice Job on that window!

AoD

 

wow, the window looks good. Might do with a slight angle outwards on the right side to let u see a bit more of the case inside. Seems u have ure ATX mobo mounting problems solved also?

 

Turning out solid bro The U-window is a pain but I just cut off the one side that I was going to have ass the windowed one. This also makes it easier in the future when messing with the guts.

 

->nice work on the window!

 

Yeah I hate my U shaped case as well. Awefull things for when you need to get the cover off. Well done on managing to cut a window.

 

It makes quite a noise when you try to put it on.