Project: Hutch, a Qmicra v2 gets naked...

[craigbru]

Another project begins... In a change of pace however, this one isn't for me. It's for friend of mine, and since we couldn't come up with anything more creative, we'll be using his nickname "Hutch" as the project title. In true L.O.S.I.A.S. (http://losias.net/category/project-losias/) fashion, this project will fit in with everything else I've done. It won't be as extreme as my prior endeavors, but I'll still make very efficient use of space.

This time around, I'll be working with a PC Design Lab Qmicra v2 (http://www.pcdesignlab.com). Hutch managed to procure one of these beauties after speaking with Dave Lalopa of PCDLAB. He requested one that had not yet been painted, and that's exactly what I received.

I took delivery of a surprising light and compact box...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-008.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-009.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-010.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-011.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-013.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-012.jpg

After looking over the case inside and out, I've got to say that I'm impressed with it's engineering and build quality. The all aluminum case is also shockingly light. That doesn't mean it's flimsy, there just aren't any extraneous bits on it. Everything has a purpose... and that's exactly what I love in a case.

With the case probed and disassembled... the fun stuff is about to begin.

[craigbru]

Now that we've had a little preview of the case, it's time to go over my design goals for this case. The case comes ready for fitment of a 120mm dual radiator. That's quite a nice feature for a small form factor case. However, what do you do if you want more cooling power? Well, you add another radiator of course. That's exactly what I will be doing here. Now, this would be the first Qmicra with a pair of dual 120mm radiators, but it will be the first (to my knowledge) that doesn't make a sacrifice in doing so. Every other attempt has put a second radiator on the left side of the case, and in doing so, has sacrificed at least one slot on the motherboard. Also, when taking that approach, you immediately lose the hard drive caddy. Actually, you lose at least one caddy when adding to a radiator to the right side as well. So. you would then have lost both caddy's (4 drives), and a slot on the motherboard. That's completely unacceptable. I believe that the whole point in modding, is to add function or features, without compromising others.

So, with my inability to compromise, I've made a few basic decisions about the direction of this mod. I'm not going to lose any slots on the motherboard, I'm going to have room for 4 hard drives, there will be room for a pump and reservoir, and the interior well be kept clean and organized.

When you look at the interior of this case, there's really only one other good option for radiator placement. The front... However, in order to put a radiator there, I need to make a few changes. The stock location for the power switch simply won't do. It's time to break out the dremel...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-001.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-002.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-003.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-004.jpg

Now that we've got the old center section and mesh out of the way, it's time to get some new mesh cut and put in place.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-005.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-006.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-007.jpg

There we have it! We now have the area completely opened up, and can get the radiator placement figured out.

[Jabyaeye]

No fair...you had me at "naked" :D

Definitely looks like a solid start. Will love to see what you do with this.

[AMD Killa]

Glad you decided to change the mesh, as the meshplate you made looks much better than the original.

What colour are you going to paint it afterwards? I think black would look awesome, but it's up to you :D

[The boy 4rm oz]

Dude a very nice case. I can't wait to see what you have in store for it ;).

[KiLLERMAN21]

That case looks pretty awesome to start with! the new mesh plate looks very good, nice man.

[pcclan]

nice starting point

[SXRguyinMA]

lookin nice so far, keep it up :up:

[The boy 4rm oz]

Dude did you forget to update lol. Show em all the awesome rad mount ;).

[craigbru]

No fair...you had me at "naked" :D

Definitely looks like a solid start. Will love to see what you do with this.

Thanks man! I thought that "naked" would get a little attention...


Glad you decided to change the mesh, as the meshplate you made looks much better than the original.

What colour are you going to paint it afterwards? I think black would look awesome, but it's up to you :D

Thanks! It's going to be a Ferrari yellow, at Hutch's request.


Dude a very nice case. I can't wait to see what you have in store for it ;).

Thank you!


That case looks pretty awesome to start with! the new mesh plate looks very good, nice man.

Thanks man. The mesh is definitely better than the original.


nice starting point


lookin nice so far, keep it up :up:

Thanks guys! I'll try not to disappoint. :D


Dude did you forget to update lol. Show em all the awesome rad mount ;).


Nah, update is coming in a minute. For some reason I can't access this site when I'm at work... Lol.

[craigbru]

With the front of the case newly revised, it's time to get a radiator mounted behind it. Looking at the area below the drive bays, you'll see that there are no provisions for mounting fans, let alone a radiator. That means we need to make a custom mount.

There are many different to ways to fabricate a mount, but I wanted something completely unobtrusive, and undeniably simple. Sometimes taking this approach is actually a little harder to plan out, than if I would simply cut out a mount and bolt it in place. However, I decided I didn't want to work around any mount, and to use what was already existing in the case to hold the radiator. So, what does that actually mean? The following pictures will tell the story...

We'll start with this. I used an extra drive bay cover to fabricate a lower radiator mount.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-014.jpg

The radiator nicely cradled...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-015.jpg

The mount sitting in the case.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-016.jpg

The radiator sitting in position.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-017.jpg

Okay, now at this point I've got a couple of issues I need to address. The radiator is sitting in place, but how do I keep it from sliding left to right? Also, after time, the mounts would wear in to the radiator casing and cause damage. Oh, and let's not forget about any possible vibration caused by the fans on the radiator... Well, we can't have any of that, can we? So, I decided to address all of the above issues with a decidedly simple solution.

These are silicon bumpers...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-018.jpg

I cut a small slit in each one, and mounted them to the radiator.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-019.jpg

With the bumpers in place, the radiator is mounted securely, and it's vibration is isolated from the rest of the case.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-020.jpg

That takes care of the bottom of the radiator, but what about the top? I still need a similar method for attaching it as well. So, I break out the dremel again and cut notches in to the drive bay support.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-021.jpg

Like a glove!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-022.jpg

Finally, here is a shot with the radiator fully mounted. It looks like it belongs there. It's also isolated, yet completely secure. It also can be removed completely at a later date, and the case remains almost completely stock.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-023.jpg

With the radiator out of the way, I'll work on mounting the pump next. Well, actually, I do have something else to finish up first... Look for the return of a little basement modding. I'm getting a new workshop!

[The boy 4rm oz]

The rad fits perfectly. Amazing innovation.

[SXRguyinMA]

awesome idea! nice work too :up:

[x88x]

nice work. I've always loved the Qmicra design...just never been able to justify the cost :) If this turns out anywhere as awesome as your L.O.S.AI.S. work, it should be amazing.
+rep, +sub

[msmrx57]

Very ingenius solution, results in super clean installation. :up: Definitely watching this mo. +rep/sub

[craigbru]

The rad fits perfectly. Amazing innovation.


awesome idea! nice work too :up:


nice work. I've always loved the Qmicra design...just never been able to justify the cost :) If this turns out anywhere as awesome as your L.O.S.AI.S. work, it should be amazing.
+rep, +sub


Very ingenius solution, results in super clean installation. :up: Definitely watching this mo. +rep/sub

Thanks to all of you! I initially wasn't sure how I was going to mount the rad. After sitting it in place, it just all made sense.

For any of you that read my Rogue worklog, you might recall the basement modding derail. Well, I'm about to take one here as well. I'm in the middle of finishing my new workshop, and can't continue on the case until I get my workspace back... :D

[DonT-FeaR]

very nice start mate.. this will be good :P

[Kumo]

Nice case and interesting project.

[craigbru]

very nice start mate.. this will be good :P


Nice case and interesting project.

Thanks guys!

[chaksq]

Looking sweet so far, and with your track record this is going to be amazing by the time you finish. I love the radiator mounting, very innovative.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Some one is trying to rain on your parade lol:
http://www.techpowerup.com/85574/Shuttle_Unveils_Liquid-Cooled_SDXi_Carbon_SFF_PC.html

P.S I think your look better ;) however that does have a cool honey comb paint job.

[craigbru]

Some one is trying to rain on your parade lol:
http://www.techpowerup.com/85574/Shuttle_Unveils_Liquid-Cooled_SDXi_Carbon_SFF_PC.html

P.S I think your look better ;) however that does have a cool honey comb paint job.

Bah, I am a Shuttle fan, but just because it's watercooled, doesn't mean the temps will be reasonable. Cooling power simply takes up some space, there's no way around it. More cooling, more space.

I'll agree that that paint is kinda cool though.



Okay guys, I've got a big non-update update for you. In case you are wondering why there's been no real mod updates, this is it. I've been trying to get some more work done in my basement. A new bathroom is part of it, but of more importance to me, is my new workshop. I'll finally have a decent place to get my work done!

So, here is a pic of my work area before construction started. Classy, isn't it?

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20024.jpg

I've started some framing work...

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20026.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20027.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20029.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20028.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20030.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20032.jpg

Starting to hang some sheetrock...

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20033.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20034.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20035.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20036.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/Project%20Hutch%20037.jpg

This weekend I think I'll be ready for primer and paint. Then I can concentrate on getting some workbenches in place. Stay tuned!

[The boy 4rm oz]

Ah plenty of room for modding.

[chaksq]

Workshops are win, I might be setting up a workshop myself soon. But it wont compare to yours by a long shot.

[DonT-FeaR]

:O wow

[craigbru]

Time flies when you're having fun, right? If that's true, then I've been having the time of my life. I finally have an update to show you, and it's been a long time coming. Although construction is finished, I still have some major organization to do in the new workshop. That will come soon enough, but the most important thing, is that I'm able get some modding done!

So, without another moments delay, let's get to those pics.

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/p3190006.jpg

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/p3190007.jpg

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/p3190008.jpg

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/p3190012.jpg

Now for a few pics of the workshop itself. I've got a nice big area for parts layout and cutting, but I'm only getting started with the details. I'll have plenty of storage, and everything will finally have a place. I've definitely taken a step up from the card table I was working on...

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/p3190009.jpg

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/p3190009.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/basement/pictures/p3190011.jpg

Finally, here are a few pictures of the new bathroom. I never did show any progress pics from the start, but I thought I'd show it to you anyway.

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/house-005.jpg

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/house-006.jpg

http://losias.net/projects//basement/pictures/house-007.jpg

So, pending some final details with the shop, I'm finally back on track. Stay tuned!

[jdbnsn]

Dude, that basement came out magnificently!

[darthperil]

That is one Awesome workshop. All you need is a dorm style fridge for the cold drinks and you are set. What brand benchtop drill press you have there and do you like it?

[The boy 4rm oz]

Dude, that basement came out magnificently!

I second that, it looks amazing. Nice workshop, perfect for modding ;).

[DonT-FeaR]

yeah looks sweet nice work...

[craigbru]

Dude, that basement came out magnificently!

Thank you! The wife and kids are happy, and I'm finally done. It will leave me time to mod!


That is one Awesome workshop. All you need is a dorm style fridge for the cold drinks and you are set. What brand benchtop drill press you have there and do you like it?

Thanks man! It will be much nicer once it is all organized. I'm heading down in a few minutes to make some drawers for storage. You are right though, a fridge would be perfect! The drill press is a Master Force. The wife bought it for me to dedicate the shop. It may not be a big name brand, but it's got a good warranty, and it's a very solid unit. I've not used it a lot, but I like it so far.


I second that, it looks amazing. Nice workshop, perfect for modding ;).

Thanks you. I can't wait to get some real work done. ;)


yeah looks sweet nice work...


Thanks mate! I think I officially ran out of reasons for procrastinating...

[DonT-FeaR]

Thanks mate! I think I officially ran out of reasons for procrastinating...


haha sucked in ... now make the case :P

[craigbru]

Thanks mate! I think I officially ran out of reasons for procrastinating...


haha sucked in ... now make the case :P


I'll get right on it! :D

The last update left off with the mounting of the front radiator. The second radiator will be covered in a bit, but I need to get the pump mounting figured out first. The picture below represents the location where the pump will be mounted. It's up and out of the way, and should allow easy filling and maintenance. Just because the case is small, doesn't mean it needs to be difficult to work on. I'll be fabricating a new aluminum mount in the next day or two...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch1-004.jpg

Next up... I've got to get placement of the second radiator figured out. The stock location won't work as it is. The case was never meant to have a radiator mounted up front, so a little revision is needed. I've got to move the mount about 2cm to the rear. Here you can see the tight clearances.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-1002.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-1003.jpg

Now finally, as part of getting my shop in order, I've dug a little something out of retirement. It's my old Fisher stereo receiver. Granted, it may be 20 years old, but when purchased, it was an amazing piece of equipment. In fact, if you could judge an items worth by the number of buttons alone, then this thing is a king! I've got it attached to some cheap Philips speakers from an old home-theater-in-a-box, and wow... they never sounded so good. Certainly not audiophile quality, but dang nice for a shop. I can now listen to podcasts and watch Hulu loudly enough to drown out a dremel...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/project-hutch-1001.jpg

There's much more to come, including actual construction, so check back soon...

[The boy 4rm oz]

You do like working is small spaces don't you lol. Coming along very nice mate, rad mounting is looking very clean.

[craigbru]

You do like working is small spaces don't you lol. Coming along very nice mate, rad mounting is looking very clean.

Lol, I guess I do. Kind of funny since I'm 6'5". :)

[KiLLERMAN21]

I totally want a basement like that :/

[DonT-FeaR]

/\ yeah... same :P looking good.... 6 foot 5... bah!!! runs and hides... im like 5 9

[The boy 4rm oz]

I'm 6"3 lol.

[craigbru]

I totally want a basement like that :/

Yeah, it's going to be used quite a bit. More than the upstairs I'm sure. :D


/\ yeah... same :P looking good.... 6 foot 5... bah!!! runs and hides... im like 5 9

Haha, it's okay, not everyone can measure up... :rolleyes::D


I'm 6"3 lol.

Hey, that's awesome. Although being tall has it's disadvantages... I'm always asked to get things off of high shelves... When my wife does that, I ask her to tie my shoes (since she's down there anyway.) :D

[DonT-FeaR]

ROFL!!! hehehe

[craigbru]

Um... pay no attention to the amount of time that has passed between now and my last post... The date's are a lie, or the cake is, or something like that... :D

Part of the goal in modding this case was to ensure plenty of airflow. The radiators are only as good as the amount of airflow that moves through them. Once that air moves through them, it needs to have someplace to go. That led me to what you are about to see next. I'm going to cut out the sides of the case, and prepare to put mesh in it's place.

I'll be using the same mesh as the front, and have even copied the front's pattern for a fairly consistent look and feel.

Here is the first side taped out and ready for the dremel. The stock mesh will soon be history...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5070223.jpg


A little bit later, I'm left with the rough opening in the side of the case.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5070224.jpg

Here is the same side after being filed and sanded.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5160281.jpg

With one side cut, I can begin marking out the second side. Notice it's slightly different in layout than the first. The protrusion on the far side, will have a cut out for power and reset switches, as well as a USB port. The preceding items will be mounted to a panel on the case itself. That will allow the cover to be removed without the need to disconnect any cabling.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5160282.jpg

Up next will be the finished cutting on the second side, and some mesh placement. That also means I'm about to bring a new technique to the table. Stay tuned for the debut of the 'torch'...

[craigbru]

The last update left off with me about to cut the second side of the case cover. So, that's where we'll pick up now. In the following picture, I've cut the hole, filed, and sanded it to a finished state. You can see the cutout behind which the power and reset buttons will find their new home.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5210293.jpg

Next up is to get the AC Ryan mesh cut down to size. Let the sparks fly!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5210304.jpg

All we need now is a little filing... I thought I'd show you something else as well. These slots are cut in to the top of my workbench with a few specific purposes in mind. It makes cutting and filing a breeze. All work is well supported, and there's even a tray underneath to catch all the filings and cuttings. This has made a world of difference compared to hanging work off the side of a bench.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5210310.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5210313.jpg

With the mesh cut to shape, I now need to bend it to match the angles in the case cover. So, I pull out my little bending brake that proved it's worth during Project: Rogue's construction.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5210315.jpg

Finally I've got the mesh sitting in place. It fits well, so no further modifying is needed.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5210317.jpg

With the mesh all ready to go, the next update will find it attached to the cover a little more permanently...

[x88x]

Looking good. I can completely understand about the date's lying :D I lost about 2-3 months in mine too...

[The boy 4rm oz]

Excellent work Craig, looks much better than the stock.

[billygoat333]

thats a great idea with the workbench cutouts! +rep just for that. clean looking cut this is gonna be a sweet case once finished.

[pcclan]

looks a lot better then what it started off as

[DonT-FeaR]

smarty pants... lol those grooves are definitely going in my workbench :P

and also great progress for the case looks fantastic

[sloppyc]

Where do you get that mesh? I was thinking about using some of that stuff for a mod of my own.

Looking good by the way, and some good tips for a new modder like myself. +rep.

[The boy 4rm oz]

The mesh is called A.C Ryan MeshX, I dunno where you can get it in the US though.

[madd0ct0r]

nice idea with the grooves.

home made press brake?

[sloppyc]

The mesh is called A.C Ryan MeshX, I dunno where you can get it in the US though.

Thanks, I'll look around.

[craigbru]

Looking good. I can completely understand about the date's lying :D I lost about 2-3 months in mine too...

Thank you! Yeah, it seems that time slips away from you when you're not paying attention.


Excellent work Craig, looks much better than the stock.

True enough. The stock case was engineered nicely, but there was some definite room for improvement.


thats a great idea with the workbench cutouts! +rep just for that. clean looking cut this is gonna be a sweet case once finished.

Thanks! The cutouts have performed better than expected. I'd recommend it to any one that has a chance to try it for themselves.


looks a lot better then what it started off as

Thank you. It sure does!


smarty pants... lol those grooves are definitely going in my workbench :P

and also great progress for the case looks fantastic

Haha, you'll be glad you did it.


Where do you get that mesh? I was thinking about using some of that stuff for a mod of my own.

Looking good by the way, and some good tips for a new modder like myself. +rep.


The mesh is called A.C Ryan MeshX, I dunno where you can get it in the US though.

Thanks! It is indeed MeshX, and I got it from Performance-PC's.


nice idea with the grooves.

home made press brake?

Thank you! It's not homemade, but it may appear so because of the way I mounted it. I needed it to be on something solid for leverage.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_34995_34995

[craigbru]

Brazing... A sound idea, with execution caveats. I've talked about the technique in past posts, and have been really looking forward to putting it to use in my modding. So, with a few sticks of HTS-2000 (http://www.aluminumrepair.com/aluminum_repair.asp) and my torch, I made a few practice runs with great success. However, with the reality of using the actual case cover, things turned out a little differently...

I was having problems with getting the aluminum hot enough without causing warping. Originally, I didn't think this would have been an issue, as the HTS-2000's melting temperature is 500 degrees below that of the aluminum. Well, there's a big difference between melting point and the metal simply becoming more flexible as heat was applied. Not one to give up, I thought it might be a mounting and support issue. I tried several different methods, before ultimately deciding that maybe brazing wasn't the best course of action at the moment.

So what went wrong? It was really quite simple in the end. The area I was trying to braze was a relatively narrow piece of aluminum. It was a little over 16 mm in width. The torch was applying a lot of heat in small area, and with insufficient supporting material, it was softening the metal before getting hot enough to melt the rod. It's something that I didn't come across in all my practice, as I was using larger pieces of aluminum. There was more metal to dissipate the heat, prevent warping, and still allow the aluminum to reach the HTS-2000's melting temperature.

While I may not have been able to use the brazing technique in this particular instance, the method still has it's place. I'll definitely use it again in the future, under more ideal conditions.

Now that brazing is off the table, I fall back to good ol' JB Weld. It will still do an outstanding job, and that brings us to the following pics...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6030324.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6030325.jpg

Up next will be the the finished cover, and then I'm back to case details...

[The boy 4rm oz]

What can I say? PURE WIN!!!

[DonT-FeaR]

yeah man.. looks great

[craigbru]

What can I say? PURE WIN!!!


yeah man.. looks great

You guys are too kind! :D

Sorry for my delay in updating the log. The summer has been much busier than I had hoped. I'll have an update this weekend though!

[The boy 4rm oz]

Sounds good mate. I know what it feels like to have no time to mod lol. I finished my last exam yesterday so now I really want to get LEXA all finished again before I go away on holidays.

[craigbru]

Finally, after a few delays, and a much busier than anticipated summer, I've got the case cover finished. It just needs a little finish sanding, and it's ready for primer and paint.

Here I've got the mesh marked out and ready for cutting. I always mark my cut lines with masking tape. It makes it much easier to see during cutting. It also makes it pretty easy to file straight after the cutting is done. I just file right up to the edge of the tape, pull it off, and then sand the edges.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6290331.jpg

After a little JB Weld, the mesh is in place.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6300342.jpg

Let's get it on the case!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6300343.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6300344.jpg

With the case cover done, I'm moving on to the PSU extension...

[The boy 4rm oz]

More awesome mesh work Craig, I love that case, really cool shape.

[craigbru]

Thanks man!

Update time already!

Of all the things I really like about the Qmicra case, there is one thing I don't... If you want to use a higher wattage power supply, you are limited to around 18 cm in length. Unfortunately, at that length, you run the risk of interference with any optical devices put in the bays. Well, that's exactly what has happened here. One quick fix would be to drop the drive to the lowest bay, but it's not an option I have with the radiator placed where it is. So, the decision was made to add an extension to the case.

Here is a quick idea of where the extension will be placed.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p5270323.jpg

After a little bit of filing, I clamped the extension in place, and drilled the holes.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6300345.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6300346.jpg

Once drilled, it will be held in place with socket cap screws.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p6300347.jpg

With the extension done, I'll be moving on to the fan controller. Stay tuned!

[Liquid_Scope_99]

I rellu like how tjis is headed also i think the psu extension is a great idea i coudld have used that idea a few months ago . +rep

[The boy 4rm oz]

Those Lian Li PSU extensions are very well made, they are also a great idea.

[madd0ct0r]

How do PSU's interfere with optical drives? you've got me feeling very paranoid.


oh. hangon. interfere as in try and take the same space. not magnets. ok.

[The boy 4rm oz]

oh. hangon. interfere as in try and take the same space. not magnets. ok.

Yep that's the one, high wattage PSUs can be quite long and in a case with the PSU/ODD orientation like this it can be quite tricky to get them both to agree with each other. A PSU extension bracket is the easiest no fuss way of doing it.

[craigbru]

I rellu like how tjis is headed also i think the psu extension is a great idea i coudld have used that idea a few months ago . +rep

Thanks mate!


Those Lian Li PSU extensions are very well made, they are also a great idea.

It's actually a leftover from my Rogue build. However, the Lian Li extensions are top notch and I almost bought one until I remembered I had this laying around.


How do PSU's interfere with optical drives? you've got me feeling very paranoid.


oh. hangon. interfere as in try and take the same space. not magnets. ok.

You got it. It's simply a length thing. It's not always a problem, but in this case it was.


Yep that's the one, high wattage PSUs can be quite long and in a case with the PSU/ODD orientation like this it can be quite tricky to get them both to agree with each other. A PSU extension bracket is the easiest no fuss way of doing it.

Yes, most higher wattage PSU's start at 18cm or so. The PSU components necessary for all that wattage simply take up a lot of room. All modular PSU's also take up a little more space. If you've got a 1200 watt PSU and it's only 15cm long, you've likely made a poor purchase...

[chaksq]

Wow, very nice case. A lot of good progress since I last checked in on this log. Nice work on the workshop too.

[craigbru]

Wow, very nice case. A lot of good progress since I last checked in on this log. Nice work on the workshop too.

Thank you very much!

[craigbru]

Despite the delay in updating this log, work has been slow but continually progressing for this project. This is the first of many small updates that I've got backlogged, and will get posted as time allows.

After the last update, I began working on finishing the fan controller. Hutch wanted something simple, and out of the way. He prefers a clean look, and putting the the controller on the front of the case, wasn't something he was interested in. So, I looked for alternatives. One of the best places I found, was on the rear of the case. Being placed in the upper and side location like it is, still leaves it fairly accessible when needed. With the holes drilled, it was just a matter of finding an easy way to mount the controller.

Two more holes, and I was able to fasten the controller to the case with a pair of socket cap bolts. It really couldn't have been a much simpler solution...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p8150119.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p8150121.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p8150122.jpg

Up next... pump mounting!

[The boy 4rm oz]

Nice placement of the fan controller, looks really clean.

[DonT-FeaR]

/\ agreed

[craigbru]

Nice placement of the fan controller, looks really clean.


/\ agreed

Thanks guys!

[craigbru]

Believe it or not, finding a location to mount the pump, was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make. I tried multiple locations, but none of them really felt right. It didn't help that the pump location was entirely dependent on where I was going to mount the hard drives. In fact, one of the biggest requirements for modding this case, was that I have room to hold four 3.5" hard drives. While that alone left me several options, not all of them were ideal. I had to be aware of airflow, ease of access, and aesthetics. Much thought was put in to a workable solution, and I'm happy to say that I've found one.

So, where does that leave the pump? Well, this case will only have one optical drive. That left the lower two drive bays empty. This provided the perfect spot to place a pump. In this location it will make for clean routing of the tubing, and thanks to a planned shroud over the center section of the case, invisible as well.

Here is the planned pump mounting location.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130332.JPG

Next, I needed to slightly modify the existing slots to match the mounting holes.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130333.JPG

All bolted up!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130334.JPG

With the mount in place, it's obvious that I need to do a little more modification to provide clearance for the Bitspower fitting.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130335.JPG

A little quick work with the dremel.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130336.JPG

All mounted!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130337.JPG

Up next, the hard drive mounts...

[x88x]

Nice to see another update :D

Looks good, and seamless, as usual. I love how you always manage to merge your designs with the original in such a way that it almost looks stock laser-cut when you're done. I'm interested what you're gonna do with the HDD mounts, since it looks like right now the hose is gonna be running through two of the original mounts.

+rep because your work deserves far more

[The boy 4rm oz]

Nice work on the pump mount mate, excellent use of space.

[craigbru]

Nice to see another update :D

Looks good, and seamless, as usual. I love how you always manage to merge your designs with the original in such a way that it almost looks stock laser-cut when you're done. I'm interested what you're gonna do with the HDD mounts, since it looks like right now the hose is gonna be running through two of the original mounts.

+rep because your work deserves far more

Thanks mate! Clean and fairly stock are the goals here! I want the case to be modded, without looking completely modded.

The post covering the hard drives is inbound...


Nice work on the pump mount mate, excellent use of space.

Thanks man. Besides being one of the best spots for a pump, it just works with the layout very well too.

[craigbru]

As I mentioned in my previous post, finding a great spot for the pump and multiple hard drives was a challenge. I manged to get it worked out, and with the pump mounted, I could move on to the hard drive mounts.

There will be room for 4 hard drives total, in two different locations. What you are about to see, are the drives that will be mounted below the center support section in the case.

I decided to use a channel type mount. What you see here is a piece of aluminum channel cut and bent. You'll have to forgive the lack of few pictures here. When I was live streaming this part, I forgot to grab the camera...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9120323.JPG

In each of the channels, I've placed some rubber 'U' molding. This will act to dampen vibration.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p9120324.jpg

Here are the approximate locations for the channels. Due to the way I wanted to mount these, bolts or rivets wasn't going to cut it. I decided to break out the torch and HTS-2000. The channels were brazed in to place. I was live streaming during this portion as well, hence the lack of in progress pictures.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p9120325.jpg

The braze..

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p9120326.jpg

Next up, I needed to make brackets to mount to the hard drives. These brackets will slide in to the channels.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130328.JPG

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130329.JPG

I drilled a few holes, and mounted the drive...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130330.JPG

And finally, the drive mounted in place.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/P9130331.JPG

Next I'll be working on the remaining two hard drive mounts, as well as a custom shroud to cover the center section of the case. Stay tuned!

[mDust]

You're a pro.
Stay tuned!You don't have to tell me twice.:up:

[The boy 4rm oz]

Really like the HDD bracket mounting, really well thought out.

[x88x]

Very nice. I like the HDD mounts...I might just have to steal that idea... :whistler:

[DonT-FeaR]

looks great man! i like it :P

[craigbru]

You're a pro. You don't have to tell me twice.:up:

Lol, you are too kind! Thanks!


Really like the HDD bracket mounting, really well thought out.

Thanks mate!


Very nice. I like the HDD mounts...I might just have to steal that idea... :whistler:

Steal away! :)


looks great man! i like it :P

Thank you!

[Raceface]

Nice idea´s......
Look´s very good....

Go, go, go....:)

[rithunder916]

Looks awesome! Can't wait to see more!


Mike

[craigbru]

Nice idea´s......
Look´s very good....

Go, go, go....:)


Looks awesome! Can't wait to see more!


Mike

Thanks guys! More coming this weekend!

[craigbru]

Who's ready for another update?

With the completion of the first two hard drive mounts, it was time to move on to the second pair. In order to mount them, I needed to have something to mount them to... This came in the form of a new shroud for the center of the case. This shroud will cover all components there, and provide for a streamlined look.

Here I've got the panel marked out and ready to cut.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p9190347.jpg

The panel all cut...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa170555.jpg

After cutting, it was time to bring out my trusty brake. It hasn't really had a good workout since the completion of the Rogue. That's about to change though...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa170557.jpg

Now, before I can give the shroud a test mount, I've got to get these studs gone.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa170556.jpg

Let's see how it fits...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa170558.jpg

Like a glove!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa170559.jpg

Okay, now that we know it fits, I need to get the holes cut for the hard drive mounts. I'll be modifying and reusing the original mounts. Their modification is soon to come, but it won't change the way that they mount. I'll be duplicating PCDL's original method, as it's so simple and elegant.

Here I've got the holes marked out.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa180561.jpg

The first two holes cut...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa180562.jpg

One down, one to go!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa180563.jpg

The second one is done!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa180564.jpg

Now all the drives have a home. I just need to add new mounting studs like the ones I cut off earlier. A also have some other detail work to finish up on the shroud, and that will be in the next update.

Before I wrap up this post, I've got one more additional thing to show you. For anyone that may have clicked on the 'Losias Live' tab on my site, you'll see that I'm working on doing some live modding broadcasts. I've done a few test runs, and came to the conclusion early on that the picture was a little dark. As of today, I took care of that little issue. Needless to say my worktable is no longer dark...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa180560.jpg

[Liquid_Scope_99]

Man awesome work on the basment and the mod great job very clean like th enew mesh as well +rep

[x88x]

Oooh, Rogue updates!
:banana::banana::banana:

Very nice work. Looks like you got some scratches on the shroud from the brake though :( Are you gonna be painting the case when everything's done?

[The boy 4rm oz]

Really nice work on everything mate. Mod is coming together really well and the basement turned out great :D.

[craigbru]

Man awesome work on the basment and the mod great job very clean like th enew mesh as well +rep

Thanks man!


Oooh, Rogue updates!
:banana::banana::banana:

Very nice work. Looks like you got some scratches on the shroud from the brake though :( Are you gonna be painting the case when everything's done?

The aluminum was scratched before I started. It's been sitting in the shop for a while, and I'm just reusing it here. No worries though, it will be sanded and painted.


Really nice work on everything mate. Mod is coming together really well and the basement turned out great :D.

Thanks mate! I'm finally able to find a little time to work on it. The SFF forums at losias.net have been taking a lot of my time lately, but things are smooth there now. Updates should hopefully be regular.

[craigbru]

Who's ready for another update? The last post left off with a half finished center shroud, and newly installed lights in the shop, and that's where we will pick up now. As you're about to see, the new lights are bright. They are surface of the sun bright. They are so bright I couldn't see quite right for a day after I first turned them on. So, what better way to explain the results, than with a pic? I can say with certainty that this picture doesn't do reality justice...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa210568.jpg?281203982

With all the newly found glow, I needed a way to tone things down a bit, so I put in a dimmer switch.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa240569.jpg?1925847273

Since the lighting was taken care of, it was time to get back to finishing the center shroud. The first task at hand was to modify the OEM hard drive mounts. There isn't room in the case to use the mounts as they were. While they could originally hold two drives apiece, I only needed them to hold one. So, they were marked for a date with the Dremel.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa250570.jpg?1426673813

After they were cut and sanded...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa250571.jpg?692861363

I thought now as a good time for a test fit.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pa250572.jpg?880689461

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb010593.jpg?1539420028

With the left side looking good, I thought I should check things out on the right side as well. First I need to get the fans mounted to the side radiator.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb010591.jpg?508155822

Now I drop the radiator on it's mount, and put it in place. All looks well!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb010592.jpg?1562042362

Almost there! I just need to find a way to secure the side hard drive mounts in place. These bolts will do nicely...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb070602.jpg?355229778

Done!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb070603.jpg?412768817

Up next is the switch plate, stay tuned!

[x88x]

Niiice. I love how you make things so simplistic and functional, and yet also make them look so good! +rep

[craigbru]

Haha, thanks man!

[The boy 4rm oz]

The HDD rack turned out perfectly, fits like a glove. The radiator mount also fit very well, I can't wait to see more of this.

[craigbru]

Thanks!



Two updates in one day? Crazy, isn't it? Well, as promised, I'm moving on to the switch plate. For any of you that remember when I was putting the mesh in the case cover, you'll have noticed that the switches were in a non-traditional location. They are on the right side of the case, and to facilitate their placement, a custom bracket was needed.

So, I marked out the pattern I needed in a piece of aluminum, and I was ready to cut.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb010594.jpg?1039271830

A little quick Dremel work, and then some time on the metal brake resulted in this...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb010595.jpg?1063653091

A quick test fit indicated I could move on to the next step. It fit exactly as it should.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb010596.jpg?2137088233

Next I had to mark out the switch locations.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb010597.jpg?432484066

Once drilled and Dremeled, I was left with dropping the switch and an USB port in place. Like a glove!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb070600.jpg?1798957618

With a high strength epoxy applied, the bracket was clamped in place.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb070601.jpg?782051854

One day later, and the epoxy was cured. The clamps were removed, and believe me when I say, that bracket won't be coming off anytime soon... okay, ever...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb100604.jpg?1519767497

So, what's next at this point? Well, good question. All major pieces are now in place. I've got no real fabrication left. Hutch and I are still contemplating a good reservoir idea, but other than that, it's all down to details now. I've got wire sleeving to do, as well as hose routing. Also, who could forget the paint? Colors aren't definite, but the interior will be black, while the outside will be a complementing color. Sure, we'll also likely slip in some other small details here and there, but this is really the bulk of it. Of course I'll continue to post as work progresses, but for now, we've got the clean and solid foundation we were looking for. There's no bling, or extraneous fluff here. So, for anyone expecting Project: Rogue (http://losias.net/category/project-rogue/) type insanity, stick around for the official start of OSIDIAS (http://losias.net/category/project-osidias/) soon!

[The boy 4rm oz]

2 updates in one day, WOW. Must be my lucky day hahaha. Switch panel looks very good, nice design.

[x88x]

Very nice; I'm looking forward to seeing it finally all come together :D

[craigbru]

2 updates in one day, WOW. Must be my lucky day hahaha. Switch panel looks very good, nice design.

Thanks mate! It's simple and functional.


Very nice; I'm looking forward to seeing it finally all come together :D

Thank you. It's been a long time coming!

[craigbru]

One of the biggest ongoing, yet unresolved issues with this project, was the placement of a reservoir. It's been debated for much to long, and I wasn't sure we would find a solution we really liked. Well, that has now changed...

Hutch will be getting a custom reservoir that due to it's placement, will be a huge focal point for this case. If every mod has at least one aspect that could be considered it's 'showpiece' item, then this is it.

So, to get ready for the reservoir, it was decided to bring a new look to the top of the case. The cuts should highlight the res, and the fluid flowing through it. I took a piece of transparent sheet of adhesive mailing label paper, and printed out the pattern I wanted.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pc130625.jpg

I peeled the backing off of it, and stuck it in place.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pc130626.jpg

Now, anyone that has followed one of my logs, knows that I love using masking tape to guide my cuts. I find it much easier than following a regular line, and it makes for very accurate filing. With this in mind, I applied tape on the sheet to match the lines.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pc130627.jpg

Finally, after a little time spent with the jigsaw and Dremel, I'm left with the following...

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pc190632.jpg

With the cuts out of the way, it's time to start on the reservoir itself, and that will be covered in the next update. Until then, I've got a high tech paint image of the reservoir placement. Who needs CAD? Haha!

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pb0105931.jpg

One other thing... Most of the work in this post was streamed live as it happened. Thanks to my http://losias.net/losias-live/ page, I can now stream, and archive those streams for later viewing. I'm hoping that this will become a huge feature on this site, although I'm still getting the bugs worked out. Anyone interested in knowing when I stream live should follow me on twitter @craigbru. I always send out notice when I'm live. For those not on twitter, or if you miss the live streaming, the videos are archived on the Live page as well. Until the next update!

[OvRiDe]

Sweet update.. I was on your live cam this morning. I watched you cut the bars in the side of the case. I am not sure.. was it live? Because it was really early in my neck of the woods. :)


Great work as usual.

[x88x]

Nice. I like how the cut-outs aren't quite evenly sized (probably more noticeable from a different angle). I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks with the res under there :D

[craigbru]

Sweet update.. I was on your live cam this morning. I watched you cut the bars in the side of the case. I am not sure.. was it live? Because it was really early in my neck of the woods. :)


Great work as usual.

Thanks! I wasn't live yesterday, you were watching a recording of a live broadcast. Everything that is done live, gets archived so nothing is lost.


Nice. I like how the cut-outs aren't quite evenly sized (probably more noticeable from a different angle). I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks with the res under there :D

Well, all the cuts start the same distance from the front edge, and all are exactly the same width. The only difference is in the height of each.

[x88x]

Well, all the cuts start the same distance from the front edge, and all are exactly the same width. The only difference is in the height of each.

Yeah, I was referring more to how there's not a linear decrease in length; I like the look it gives it. :)

[craigbru]

Yeah, I was referring more to how there's not a linear decrease in length; I like the look it gives it. :)

Aha, gotcha. Yes, I like the way it turned out as well. The rest of the case is pretty symmetrical, and this was the one place I could deviate from that. I kept the 45 degree angles for consistency, but that was it.

[craigbru]

The reservoir... When Hutch and I were originally planning this project, we tried to come up with some sort of showpiece for the case. We wanted something that would to set it apart and make it a little different. For a very long time, what exactly that would be, eluded us. Well, through and idea on Hutch's part, and some revisions on mine, we came up with a plan. The results of that plan are what follows.

In the previous update, you saw how the reservoir will sit in the case. There is exactly 11mm of clearance between the top of the center shroud, and the bottom of the case cover. That's perfect for a 3mm - 5mm - 3mm acrylic sandwich. With that in mind, I made a few careful measurements, got the acrylic marked up. I used a few of the Bitspower fittings sitting in place to make sure I had the proper clearances. As with everything in this case, space is at a minimum, so the planning had to be perfect.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/pc190634.jpg

To save time, all 3 layers of acrylic were clamped together and cut out at the same time on the scroll saw. I also used some spray adhesive applied to the paper backing to ensure no movement during cutting. The following is the result.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p1270238.jpg

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p1270239.jpg

Before going any further, I figured a test fit was warranted.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p1270240.jpg

Since the test fit went well, it was time to make a cutout in the center (5mm), piece of acrylic. This is where the actual coolant will flow. I peeled apart the pieces, and marked my cuts.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p1270241.jpg

After it was cut, it was simply a matter of gluing the 3 layers together.

http://losias.net/projects/hutch/pictures/p2100243.jpg

So, what's next? I've got to even up and polish the edges, as well as adding two more smaller threaded pieces of acrylic to attach the Bitspower fittings. Once that is done, I've got to make a few small modifications to the case cover to allow the reservoir to fit properly. After that... well, we might be ready for paint!

[x88x]

Very nice. That should look great through the holes in the top.

[The boy 4rm oz]

The res is looking sweet Craig, great work as always.

[craigbru]

Very nice. That should look great through the holes in the top.

Thanks man! I'm really hoping it does!


The res is looking sweet Craig, great work as always.

Thank you. Maybe the next update will come a little sooner!