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Planning Project: Helios - Concept, Planning and Design

Discussion in 'Modding' started by Langer, 30 May 2010.

  1. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    @nlancaster - Something like that, more of a Warhol meets Jobs kinda thing.

    @burnout - The plan now is to only run 2x470s - regardless this systems innards as lists is just for a showpiece. As for the quadros, my work workstation runs a couple quadros and they are brilliant. The reasoning and intent behind the additional cases is still eyes only.

    @boyfromoz - Cheers man.

    @oldnewby - Thanks a lot man - Cygnus is just awe inspiring! About the pins - I like that plan a lot actually and will be following suit with something very similar with rev2.0 soon.

    @asura - Thank you, I've already been told about the rads and am revising that for the next revision. I use quadros for work and they are just great - especially for rendering in AE. I still need to replace the image on the homepage with a proper video, thanks for the props.
     
  2. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    I'd like to invite everyone who is interested to follow me on my Facebook page.

    The JLI Facebook page will be the best source for up-to the minute updates on my projects (new and old), exclusive info, and prize details.

    JLI Facebook Page

    *j
     
  3. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    Greetings one and all!

    I present, for your viewing pleasure, revision 2.0 of project Helios

    As per the suggestions of the community, this revision, although almost identical to the original is actually a complete redraw taking into account many oversights in the first design.

    This revision see's the following changes:
    - new, smaller, custom reservoirs made from 0.25" acrylic
    - revised construction material from 6mm aluminum to 0.25" titanium
    - altered dimensions to accommodate 420mm radiators
    - completed the PSU installation and wiring configuration (not shown below)
    - adjusted loop orientation for cleanliness
    - altered air-flow direction
    - augmented fastener design (not sown below)
    - new space for SSDs, eight in total
    - the motherboard try no-longer 'slots' into the bottom as it did in the first revision, instead it there is a space accentuating how it hangs from the top
    - more are was taken into removing the motherboard tray, it will now easily slide out the top
    - whereas before only the left side panel was removable, now they will both be totally removable (in seconds without any fasteners or latches)

    *click for huge*
    [​IMG]
    Here you can note the new size to allow for the 2x 420mm Rads (Hardware Labs GTX420)
    The fans will be Noiseblocker PK3's (7 of them)
    The new reservoirs will need to be custom made, I'm leaning towards having them mill from solid acrylic
    I've also added 4x SSD racks, to-be mounted directly to the radiators, this will allow for a total of 8xSSDs to be installed.
    There is exactly enough room in the bottom section to mount a stripped down and modified Corsair HX1000


    *click for huge*
    [​IMG]
    Apart from the rads, and the reservoirs the design is pretty much the same as it was.
    All the dimensions are completely different however


    *click for huge*
    [​IMG]
    The airflow is now pulled from both the front ad the back.
    Since there is no side window, and the components are totally exposed the air will simply vent out the bottom and the sides.

    *click for PDF download*
    [​IMG]
    Take a closer look, download the PDF and give the parts a once, over.

    I'm really looking for constructive feed-back.
    Please leave your comments or suggestions, help me improve this design and consider the unconsidered.

    Don't forget to become a participating fan of JLI on Facebook for all kinds of insider information, prize opportunities, and special treats. JLI Facebook Page

    *j

    Thanks again, and tune in soon.
     
  4. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    Please take note - THERE ARE NO WINDOWS.... THE CASE HAS A 13" SQUARE PUNCHED RIGHT THOUGH THE MIDDLE; A GIANT OPEN HOLE WITH A MOBO FLOATING IN THE MIDDLE.

    There is a actually a box with a PSU inside above the bottom fan, it receives it's air from the front and back and pushes it out the bottom; however the vast majority of the air gets pushed out the sides over the motherboard and into the ethos of our atmosphere.
     
  5. asura

    asura jack of all trades

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    Looking good, I love the idea of being able to pull the guts of the system out the top (after unpluging everything of corse) 1 biger rad in push/pull rather than the sandwitch you had before looks good, you look like you may even have space for one or both sets of fans to be 38mm, that'd give you a higher static presure for lower rpm/noise.

    What's going in the void above the mainbord etc? It appears to be just a large cavity running the full legenth of the case, I'm sure you have something planned and it's not just an oversite; so spill. Or is it just for balancing the form; a square cylinder with a square cut out of the middle for aesthetics?

    You could alwase do what I'm doing (slowly, very slowly) pop a M-ITX in there with half a dozen 2Tb drives and have it as a dedicated alwase on file server, though that would put a stop to your plan of pulling out the mainbord et all... Dump in a KVM and you login to your fileserver/low-power box for when you just want to browse the net/word-process/whatever and use it to WOL your main system for when you've got heavy stuff to do.

    If I'm reading your drawings correctly you have the ress under the pumps, my understanding is that all the lc pumps out there ar gravity feed, so how (will) will that work for priming the loops?
     
  6. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    Thanks for the verbose post mate.

    The top cavity is a special place...
    -where all the wires will be hidden and run out the back (note the slit in the top of the rear panel to accommodate the wires)
    -where the power switch and such will all be internally mounted
    -if it wasn't clear enough, the top actually hinges open to the right
    -it needs to stay vacant to allow the motherboard tray to be lifted out
    -its a space to bundle your cords and clean up your desk area.
    -its also a storage area for a mouse and KB when in transport
    -visually, it sets the '13"x13" hole' in the middle of the side panels

    I still may integrate something cool in the top, I know that lighting to make late-night port swapping easier is on the list.

    On another note:
    The motherboard will actually be able to be removed without disconnect, I plan on spooling an extra 24" length of wire and tubes to allow it to be lifted and set on an adjacent table.

    Priming the loops will be interesting, but also the least of my concerns ATM... I don't think it'll be a huge issue. Thanks for pointing that out.


    Thanks for the comments. KEEP 'EM COMING. I see a lot of views on this thread, and not very many comments. Please, be it large or small... point out the errors of my ways.

    *j
     
    Last edited: 7 Jun 2010
  7. The boy 4rm oz

    The boy 4rm oz Project: Elegant-Li

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    I really do like the design but the airflow bothers me, Drawing hot air out of the bottom of a case while the heat rises wouldn't be my ideal way of doing things but I presume that top void will be vented? It shouldn't matter much as you are water cooling.
     
  8. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    @Boy From Oz - check post 24....
     
  9. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    A couple of really quick mock-ups to make some of the details and the airflow more apparent.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  10. The boy 4rm oz

    The boy 4rm oz Project: Elegant-Li

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    Ah I missed that, makes much more sense now :D.
     
  11. MikeMania

    MikeMania What's a Dremel?

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    Is the case open on both sides? If it is, you could position the mobo PCB in the center and place the SSDs on the other side to give it symmetry with the PCI cards and tubes. But your design might not be wide enough for this idea. Anyways, I cannot wait for this project to get started.
     
  12. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    Thanks for the suggestion mike, but I think I'll need to leave the back of the tray barren to make sliding it out easier - I'll certainly take it into account however - great idea.

    ======
    Hello all once again - and hopefully this will be the last of these planning installments.

    I'd like to share with you the third and final (for now) revision before this plan hits 3D mock-ups.

    A quick overview of the features and design details presented thus far:
    - Room enough for and easy access to 2x420mm Radiators
    - Integrated reservoirs and 4xPumps
    - Constructed from 0.25" Grade 38 Titanium plate
    - Motherboard can be removed without disconnect from tubing or wire harness
    - All wires are run out the top and back of the chassis, which also creates a storage cavity
    - Absolutely no visible fasteners on the chassis
    - The case will be held together without the use of screws, fasteners, bolts, or adhesives
    - Will features 2 independent cooling loops
    - Blacked-out and filtered air intakes in the chassis
    - Side panels will be removable in seconds without any latch, fastener, or tool
    - All bolts, fittings, and hardware will made from be stainless steel
    - All bushed and nickel plated cooling gear
    - All tubes and wires will be sleeved in milspec quality nylon multifilament sleeving
    - There will be no side windows, instead the components will be exposed to the elements
    - The entire chassis will feature some type of exotic coating, such as a rubberizing perhaps

    ======
    Here's change-log for revision3.0:
    1) Pumps have been flipped and are now side mounted - pumping upwards
    2) Custom reservoirs replaced with EK (possible IandH) options mounted directly to pump-top
    3) Tubing layout redesigned to consider a more efficient routing
    4) Much more finite consideration of power and data wire routing
    5) Altered position and orientation of modified PSU, fan now blows up and wires run out the front/back of the PSU
    6) Moved location of chassis USB ports and power switch to the motherboard tray backplane

    ======
    Revision 3.0 Side and Top views with cooling loops:
    [​IMG]

    Side and Top views with parts only:
    [​IMG]

    Side and Top views of empty chassis:
    [​IMG]

    Side view detailing roughly how the wires will be routed, note how the wires are fed out both the front and back of the PSU:
    [​IMG]

    Here's a very rough perspective view of the bottom most cavity, showing how the pumps, PSU, and reservoirs are oriented:
    [​IMG]

    Here's a perspective side view to add a bit of depth, this just details some of the design features:
    [​IMG]

    Taking into the account the vast array of suggestions on the latching/fastener method I made a revision. This particular design was suggested by Oldnewby - thanks mate:
    [​IMG]

    ======
    Don't forget to follow me over on Facebook:
    Tune in on the JLI Facebook page for exclusive info, and prize opportunities.
    BECOME A FAN OF JLI

    ======
    Thanks for the suggestions and help everyone - watch this space in the coming weeks as this design unfolds to become a reality.



    *j
     
  13. The boy 4rm oz

    The boy 4rm oz Project: Elegant-Li

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    You have obviously put a lot of thought and effort into this design and it has really paid off, the cads look amazing. The compartments will make a big difference when it comes to cable management, air flow and overall neatness. I hope you can pull it off, not that I have any doubt that you wont :D.
     
  14. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    Thank you for the vote of confidence and the kind words man. It's a pleasure to have your support. ;)

    Tiny update - I met with my 3D artist/animator a couple days ago and were under-way to begin the 3D mock-ups + sexy motion graphics videos

    I've also begin the branding of this case - I've been working on the feel, logo, colour scheme, and mythology behind the design.

    *j
     
  15. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    A user by the name of NFC over on the XS forums presented a very interesting point to me this afternoon. I think it would be a good opportunity to share the concern, and express by beliefs and intentions.

    ======
    NFC put this concern before me:
    ======
    Here's my response:
    You present an interesting point, however the mass publication of this project across about 35forums, the 6000+ image views per day, and the collaboration with sponsors (coming soon) is a pretty big deterrent. It would be very easy to defend this in an IP battle, considering that there is clear evidence that I published it first technically I'd have rights.

    Regardless of all that, absolute worst case scenario (pun intended): I have dozens of other designs floating around up in the old noggin, I'll just move onto a new one. I plan on releasing my own line of cases in the coming future - this project is merely a bloated prequel.

    I do this because I absolutely love doing it. Moreover I love to share, get feedback and work collaboratively with the community - if I get shafted by some manufacturer of cases then sobeit. In the long-run it would better benefit everyone if the idea was ripped off - it's about time we saw someone rethinking this sh*t on mass scale (key word being think... there's alot of useless plastic bullsh*t cases out there that put 0 thought into enthusiast usage)

    Truth be told - I conceived the entire concept in an afternoon, with the exception of maintaining the threads that go along with it I have only about 30 or so hours invested so-far.



    The following is quoted from my website's about-me page:
    If I were to fully consider the issue you have presented I would be breaking my core principal.
    If I stop sharing, then I stop getting critical feedback, and I don't get to potentially inspire others (a deep honor in my opinion)
    If I patent the design I become the very evil I try to contradict.




    On an up-note: I'll continue to share me ideas on a finite level - with the intention to have the community guide my decisions.
    There will be mock-ups and 3D visualizations to come soon.

    I love little mental paradoxes, and I tend to over think things. As I sit here contemplating this situation I keep thinking about the barber paradox:
     
  16. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    I've scratched my head at this dilemma all day now... and here's what I've done for the modder's everywhere:

    [​IMG] <--click for details

    I've put a creative commons licence on the design

    You are free:
    to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
    to Remix — to adapt the work

    Under the following conditions:
    Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
    Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
    Share Alike — If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.

    With the understanding that:
    Waiver — Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder.
    Other Rights — In no way are any of the following rights affected by the license:

    Your fair dealing or fair use rights;
    Apart from the remix rights granted under this license, the author's moral rights;
    Rights other persons may have either in the work itself or in how the work is used, such as publicity or privacy rights.
     
  17. Burnout21

    Burnout21 Mmmm biscuits

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    I would like to point out in that paradox, the barber has a beard! lol!
     
  18. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    The paradox is also a fallacy, it's not possible, which is even more profound if you think about it.

    I recommend reading into it, its an interesting theory.

    ;)
     
  19. AnG3L

    AnG3L Ultimate Modder

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    OMG buddy this is so complicated and unique at the same time. I ve been watching this for a while though but I was waiting to see changes on the plans etc.

    In my humble experience, before 4 years, I was studying and experimenting on airflow dynamics, heat dissipation ( different materials, temperature spot points and variations) etc.
    The most important thing I ve learned so far is to schedule and guide the route of the air through the the various "hot" spots and also to take in consideration the various temperature differences(when a component is hotter that another and his position inside a case).
    Also the most important thing is to route the air to exhaust on the top IF your case is designed horizontal, ventilation is not enough without routing the air.
    If the hot air is somehow trapped or "delayed" on the top part, then the circulation is going to get hotter and hotter.
    We are always talking though about 2-3-5 degrees Celsius hotter in a case where everything is cooled properly, but if the components are really hot somehow(more than usual), then the temperature ratio will increase in time, so we will have to increase the flow of air(fans, rpm, cfm etc)

    This is my 2 cents I am not a crazy scientist from Nasa ;p

    I really love the plans and designs and the way you work buddy, everything is so scheduled
    and professional. Keep the updates rollin'. :)
     
  20. Langer

    Langer Jesse Lang

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    Thanks a lot man, if you look at revision3.0 you'll see the 'bottom' fan points up into the center chamber. And there is no airflow in the upper most chamber if you take a close look. I didn't feel it necessary to illustrate the subtle change, but I tried to explain it in the post.

    *there will be some fancy ducting around the mobo... there are yet many unrevealed plans that I've not been able to illustrate without 3D modeling or actual components in-hand.

    Air goes through the rads, into the psu, and out into the center chassis cavity.

    Also the motherboard is to be thermally adhered to it's tray.
     
    Last edited: 12 Jun 2010

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