Project: I want a better case!

[ITman496]

Hello everyone! I haven't been on here in a while.. XD

Anyway, I've been designing a new case for myself. I was at the GXL lan party a little while ago, and I heard someone mention how no one's case is unique anymore. That sort of bugged me, since I know its true, and mine falls into that category. So I decided to start work on a custom one!

...of course I have no experience at all building custom cases, but cmon, how hard can it be?

//famous last words.

I'm not quite sure about a few thins, such as how I'm going to make the panels. My first idea was to make high density foam 'molds' and use fiberglass, conforming to the foam. My second idea was to somehow get panels laser cut and then sort of glue them together. I don't know how I'm gonna do it, any suggestions?

And now I'm just gonna post some pictures of what I have so far.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215/ITman496/5e6ecb0c.jpg
Just an overview of it.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215/ITman496/445811c3.jpg
More of a top/side view. I haven't decided how I'm going to hold the sides on, or what to put between the gaps on those panel things.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215/ITman496/d672673f.jpg
This is my favorite feature, the slats at the top open with fan speed! :D

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215/ITman496/897ca021.jpg
This is where all the front panel stuff is gonna be.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215/ITman496/6adb31b6.jpg
Just a rear view of the raised slats, looks awesome!

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215/ITman496/72cb6824.jpg
This is the underside of the top section, you can see the microcontroller, as well as the servo and stuff.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215/ITman496/a6d10217.jpg
This is it when its open.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215/ITman496/a0a0f11b.jpg
And this is where the fan... mount thing is. Its removable I think.


So yeah, I'm still trying to figure out if I should weld the frame, or rivet it, and if the latter, how exactly. Anyone have any suggestions?

-Dan

[Fuganater]

Riveting it would be easier just because you can paint each individual piece and then put it together.

I would put plexi in the gaps with LEDs in it so it has a cool glow on each strip.

[ITman496]

Yeah, I did want to put some sort of glow between the slats.

Also, how would I go about riveting them? They are L channel aluminum, so the faces are kind of awkward, and at the corners, don't come together, unless I bent them or something.

[RogueOpportunist]

I'd say get some nice looking screws and a good tap and die set... Rivets are for manufacturers, not modders... Besides, a job is always easier when you can screw your way out of a mistake. :lick:

[ITman496]

Yeah, I was gonna tap most of the holes. But still, with screws, I don't know how to do that. Like... When you put L's together in a corner like I have them, none of the faces go over each other in a way that's good for screwing together. Maybe I need to make a corner bracket?

[RogueOpportunist]

Yeah, corner brackets would work and likely also add some structural stability... I guess it kind of depends on the style you like though, I personally find that the "look" of screws being present at every location something needs to be joined together reflects a certain quality in craftsmanship but I could definitely understand how someone else may not want to see any screws anywhere and opt for a more unobstructed appearance.

If you dig through your favorite hardware store I'm sure they would have something you could use for brackets, just off the top of my head you could use something like a door bracket (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100297076/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053) and modify it to suit your needs... I'm sure there's probably something even more suitable available, just need to find it.

[ITman496]

Oh hey, that looks promising!

And I agree with you with that whole screws visible thing, and I'm likely gonna have it like that. I just want it to be a precise look, not a hobbled together look, you know? :P

[StormRider]

looks like a Bitfenix Colossus on steriods :D
and if those are servo-controlled vents on the top, you might find this useful:http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23156

[ITman496]

Yup, saw that a while ago, thats what inspired me!

Anyway, I am now trying to figure out how I'm gonna make the drive bays work out... lol, now I know why most people just modify existing cases.

[BS Mods]

That is a really good looking concept.

You can use acrylic and have it molded, build a mold and use fiberglass, or use aluminum plate. They all have their pros and cons.

I would say take some time and look through a lot of build logs to see what other people have done. Then you can see what you might like.

Just take your time and have fun doing it. There will be a few mistakes....err uhh, learning opportunities along the way, but that's modding. ;)

[ITman496]

XD I know..

Also, is it just me or is it really hard to design a good drive bay mount and hard drive mount... I mean really, it sounds easy, but its not.. lol

And what do you mean by molding acrylic?

[BS Mods]

When I say molding acrylic what I really mean is "drop forming" I guess. It can be called molding it I suppose too.

This video will give you the basic idea - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23kkZZN1ACs&feature=related

You can make a lot of shapes just by heating the acrylic and letting it form to a mold.

Here is another great video showing vacuum forming- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5CGfoxnKaQ&feature=related

[SXRguyinMA]

I've got the code I used in mine, it moves the vents based off a temp sensor. Let me know if you want it :D

:EDIT: Hell I've got a whole board ready to go that will run the whole thing :D

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24932

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24932&page=3

[ITman496]

That would be great! XD

Does it control fan speed as well, or just the vents only? Just wondering. XD