„Project Zen“ This Project was done in the time from September till X-mas 2008 it was specially built for a customer and friend of us. He is one of the Editors from PC Games Hardware Extreme ( a big german Hardware Print Magazine) and he wanted that case as a gift for someone special. Beside that we wrote a Full Coverage about the building process which is published in his Magazine in 2 Big Articles. He really liked our Projects Zen and „J“ and wanted a Case in that special asian style. Some of the requirements were: A big Watercooling System (4x120mm+ fans + shrouds) must fit inside (radiator placed under the Top) a full Size eATX Board with full Size GFX Card no visible Drives / switches big PSU Metal Motherboard Tray silcence easy to handle So with that in our Minds we made the first sketches so that we could start the building process. The first steps were quiet easy....just some measuring and cutting of some wood parts so that we could build the first and Basic Frame out of it. The parts which will be used to get the height, also get a smooth curve cutted in, so that the complete frame gets a more dynamic and natural look. After the cutting there is always the sanding....... The next step then was to start the building process for the bottom part. For that we cutted some struts which will help to strengthen the complete construction. They were placed inside the bottom frame under the bottom of the case. Then we drilled a some holes to connect all pieces which each other....afterwards we build the first basic frames....
thx m8´s The next part we prepared was the Mainbase, we organised a Coolermaster Mistyque Mainboard Tray which was custom painted in a dark wood grain so that it will fit to the rest of the case. As next step we prepared the first layer of the Top of the Case. For that we take a big wood plate and made 4 big holes for the Radiator Fans in it. With that in our Hand we could start to build all needed mounting points so that we could fit the radiator in. On Top of the Case we made some small struts which are also used as small spacers between the Layers of the Top part. In the Frontpart of the top we integrated a small cover which is mounted on a hinge. In closed position it covers the Front IO Panel, and the Power Button.
thx!! today the last part: After preparing the First Layer of the Top Part, we integrated a Drive Bay into the case.... after doing that we started the first side panel, therefor we took a bunch of wood pieces, a thin sheet of Plexiglas, a sheet of rice paper and a saw and started the building process.... beside that we build the Front using the same technique..... Then we build the first second sidepanel.....the first wish was a custom bamboo wood... to give the sidepanel a bit of strength we thought the best way to make it, would be a big sheet of wood from which we cut the complete theme....afterwards we put a sheet of plexiglass with rice paper on it behind that and the sidepanel was done....(but only the first one) The last things we build were the last Layer of the Top Part.... and a custom reservoir after that the Case was done.... we send it out to our friend so that he could shoot all needed pics for the magazine and the first Article about the building process..........but then there was the shipping service....when it arrives the complete Mainboard Tray was loose and the Top part totally destroyed... A few phone Calls later we made a date with our friend so that we could replace everything what was damaged and get that mod done right in time before Christmas.... So the last weekend before Christmas arrives together with our Friend and the Damaged Case.....he also carried all the hardware with him so that we could finish the complete build.... The first thing we started with was to replace one of the sidepanels (it wasn´t damaged...but he liked the other side much more) then we build a small box for the Pump so that the pump isn´t visible.... added a fillport for the watercooling loop and finally we added the hardware....
