ok. after breaking my ankle snowboarding and bein on my ass for along time, i have to do something major to make up for my time lost. now, i know alot about computers, and modding, i can make holes, make them disappear, i know SOME about electronics( basic soldering ok, nothing with pcb's tho :/) any ways here is basically what im trying to do and i would appreciate any help! i want to make a normal rectangular case, have it be made from aluminum, i might have it sent off to a anondizing company, if not i will have it air brushed by bonzia or some one else who is top notch...should have ~4 visiable cd-rom bays, and i like black... no windows, 80mm fan in front and back, 120mm fan on side, and 4 hdd things, and 3 wider hdd things( suspend my hdd's..) so any ways, i got a couple basic questions, and then i can start making some drawings, and figure how to move on. 1) what progam can i use to make pictures to scale, and later send off to a cutting company and have them cut right? 2) how can i attach panels? i want to screw them on, but i dunno how the hell i could do that.. 3) how could i do the drive cages and stuff. thats really where i get lost im not gona be doing much cutting my self prolly, because im just a 15 yr. old, dont have acess to 5040320415$ milling machines or anything... i will be posting more when i make some basic drawing and get home to my scanner please help me out tho!
First off sorry to hear about your accident. These things happen though I can answer the first two questions you have asked: 1 - http://www.sketchup.com/ - download the free 8-hour trial and look at some tutorials on how to make 3d models. Very good program, recommended by most members here 2 - The best way of attaching panels is probably riveting them together. That's what case manufacturers do and it's nice and secure and requires little effort. Just drill the right sized hole and use a riveting tool to punch the rivets in. Good luck! -Sam
Tutorial I made: Custom Case Building 101 I've built 7 custom enclosures so far and can probably answer any questions or concerns you may have. 1) what progam can i use to make pictures to scale, and later send off to a cutting company and have them cut right? If you want something affordable I recommend Milkshape 3D. 2) how can i attach panels? i want to screw them on, but i dunno how the hell i could do that.. There are a number of methods for accomplishing this, but here are the easiest ones. a. Buy corner braces or machine some cubes that could be threaded for screw holes. b. Purposefully make two of the sides out of 1/4" or higher thickness, which will allow you to drill and thread screw hole into the edges of the sheets. c. Use thinner sheets and have their edged bent down to facilitate the addition of threaded holes 3) how could i do the drive cages and stuff. thats really where i get lost Simply photo-copy what it is you want to mount, and you'll have a fairly accurate template to work with. Or use a drive case from another case as a measurement guide. If you have the space for it, I recommend getting your own tools. In the end, having a machinist do the work for you will become comparable to simply buying the tools you need. Unless of course you can get a really charitable machinist...
right on, that shall keep me busy... i think that what shastings said about riveting is what i shall do..do i need some parts?( i know i need rivets, but anything else?) and get some L shaped things and rivet them onto that..right now i am on a trip with this ****ty lap top, so no CAD or anythign, when i get back ill plug my drawings into a program.... how much does a cheap miling machine cost? i might even be able to cut with my jig saw, as i do for my blow holes...
To rivet you'll need some kind of riveting tool, no idea what they look like tbh, but go to a hardware/diy shop and ask there -Sam
i live in a tiny tiny tiny town, anything i get will most likely be ordered on line... about 6k ppl in fall-spring then 10k in summer...sucks for computers EDIT: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000DINBV/104-3920377-9774310?v=glance that work? how big should the rivets be? 1/8"
That looks perfect. I think 1/8" will be fine (tries to remember how big an inch is, bloody imperial measurements!!!) -Sam
lol, i just had to convert MM to inches, it blows!! ARG why can't we just get along? 1/8"=~3.175 MM that good?
awesome...now i was lookin on amazon.com more, and there were other rivet guns for like $10...is there a quality issue here? should i spend the extra dough to get a nicer one? looks like for $4 i can get a 100 pack of 1/8" rivets, and for $10 i can get a gun, so thats $14..then aluminum for case..that ill try to get local, cuz shipping would suck ass... hmmm, this just might work drew up some sketches, will scan and post when i get home, then work up on one of those programs
I think that a more expensive rivet gun would only be built better and last longer. I don't think the price and the quality of riveting are really related. Just one thing...do you have a drill? Because you'll need to make holes in the metal to put the rivets through Anyway I look forward to seeing what you're going to build. Make sure you post loads of photos here for everyone to see -Sam
lol, yea, i got a drill i got the basic tools, a cicular saw, table saw(get metal cutting blade and use that as aluminum cutter?) jig saw, drill, random screw drivers, and junk like that... ill be sure to post some pics, probably wont be till the 15th or so... getting back from trip late on the 12th, so wont get working till the 13th(have to finish putting computer into new case tho..) and i got a HUGE paper due, and i am pretty far behind on..****..i got alot to do...owell
You do know that Google now has a very good calculator for these things. Just type in the sum and it'll work it out. Like: 1/8 inch in millimeters See? Wasn't that easy? Google really is your friend.
