Scratch Build – In Progress Tribal HTPC - UPDATE 12: SPONSORS!! Koolance and DangerDen

so how do you go about creating the grill or at least what is your method for it?

 

Well for starters I use different methods for different things.

I'll explain the radiator first thought because I assume it will be the most useful.

When I start out I first sketch out my max dimensions. (fan holes, how far I can go out before it isn't neting anything, anything I want to cover)
Then I think about what is doable. In sketchup, for instance, I haven't figured out how to make flames and free hand stuff yet so I am stuck with basic shapes (circles and boxes).
Using shapes is easy. For the sketchup design I decided to follow the fan lines which were just two big circles. I played with sizes of holes until I decided to use 8th inch gaps as my cut outs. After I decided that I began tp make the shape more oval. Then I had to break up the design to add strength back into it. As I did that more idea's came to mind and I ended up with the design you see as the rad grill.

For the HDD's I really just played with shapes. It's all trial and error. If you try to do something too hard you'll probably fail but if you do something too easy it will probably be boring. You have to test your limits without making a mess of things. You'll notice that I am now using 1/4inch holes instead of 1/8th. With my tool capabilities it would be foolish to think I could do 1/8th. There simply is not enough tolerance for me to do it by hand.

 

Nice to see you working again Fozzy! Some of those blurred pics makes me feel that you are working in the middle of World War 2

 

Haha. Maybe I should cut it out then lol.

 

Well I was referring more to how you cut your parts and got such clean lines, Im aware of how you would do them in sketchup

 

Naah, If you like it, then keep it!

 

Is it possible to import a eps or dxf into sketchup? whenever I hit a wall like that, I try to find a way to do it outside the program.

 

Nice little Update, I can't wait to see the next update. Well done. Good job.

Good luck.

 

I mark out the lines with a knife and a ruler. Then I scroll saw close to the line. Then I file. It's pretty simple

 

Ok I will : )

 

You know I have no Idea but I bet if it was you would have to have the pro version.

 

Thanks. I've done some work but I want the grill to be finished with the next update so maybe tomorrow?

 

Alright. I put another 3 hours into the grill and got everything cut and ready for Filing. It's pretty ugly but this is what you would call "perfect" cutting. You won't be able to see this because all of the scribe lines are on the reverse side of the sheet but every single cut is inside the lines which means when I am done filing, everything should be 100% perfect.








It's all pretty ugly right now but I can already tell it'll turn out real nice. I'll update it tonight or tomorrow when it's filed.

 

not bad not bad, keep it up

 

Will do. There is a TON of filing to do on the grill. Then I'll move on to the PSU section

 

oh ya soo much filling lol been there done that, and ya it sucks lol

 

Awsome grill work!! What did you use to do all those cut outs. Did you use that scroll saw?

 

Yea It's hard but I kinda think it's fun. I enjoy watching it get perfect

 

Yes. It takes a lot longer than a dremel but you never have slips like you do with a cutting disk and you'll want to throw away your dremel when you get one.

 

I don't have a dremel yet (not many tools at all realy, well none) so I was looking at getting a dremel soon as they seem to be a pretty good multi-purpose tool.

What do you think?