Project: Industrial Revolution - COMPLETE

[TheGreatSatan]

If you've ever seen the Thermaltake Level 10 GT then you know exactly how weird it looks. But what if you pictured Level 10 as a factory? The case will be made to look as though it's a large factory cut out of solid rock.

Thermaltake is sponsoring this build and have provided me with the case, CPU cooler and a sweet 1275 watt 80 Platinum power supply. Enermax has kindly donated some high powered Vegas fans.

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090758.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090761.jpg

I spent over and hour stripping the case down

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090765.jpg

I really was dying to get rid of that vent on the inside of the side panel

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090767.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090772.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090781.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090852.jpg

At first, I had other plans and initially painted case completely white

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090854.jpg

And then later I realized that I wanted the case to be covered in rock

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090878.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090879.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090899.jpg

All homes have plumbing, and this one will have plenty of copper pipes on the outside too

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090903.jpg

The hard drive bays look like a great place to start adding plumbing. I want it to look like the "bumps" on the bays are part of the plumbing shroud

I got some thin, but sturdy PVC piping

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090904.jpg

And cut them into tiny pieces

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090905.jpg

Then used them to join the pipes together. I'll paint them to match the copper soon

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090906.jpg

I painted the front and made sure that I saved the logo and blue trim

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090908.jpg

And mapping out some of the external piping

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090911.jpg

During the painting process there are some things that aren't necessary to keep.

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090912.jpg

Then I painted it

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090913.jpg

And saved the ports

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1090915.jpg

[Fuganater]

Looks sick so far dude!

[TheGreatSatan]

I've been hesitant to spend a lot of time on this project lately. One reason is because I'm also working on a project for my daughters that I really want done and out of the way. Fortunately, it's nearly done.

Plus, I'm always thinking and planning new things

I'm also afraid that I'm going to somehow screw this all up. At least this time I finally cut out some of the copper pipes that will go on the front of the case

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100014.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100015.jpg

[Neodymium]

And spambot keeps TGS on his toes...LOL :D

[Omega]

And spambot keeps TGS on his toes...LOL :D

What spambots? ;)

[Aldersan]

I want to see more of this mod!

[TheGreatSatan]

Good idea.

I cut the copper pipes to fit the front of the case

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100049.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100051.jpg

I'm rethinking how I'll do the "plumbing"

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100050.jpg

I saw this cool mesh at Lowes and knew it would go with the look I'm trying to achieve

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100052.jpg

First I cut it out

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100053.jpg

And then painted it to match the copper

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100063.jpg

To add the pipe to the handle I have to cut a piece of the metal on the inside off

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100065.jpg

Then I drill out the holes I need

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100066.jpg

And connect it to the handle

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100067.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100068.jpg

Once it's sealed I put the handle back on

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100069.jpg

I put the painted mesh on the side of the 5.25 inch drive bays

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100070.jpg

And seated it to the case

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100075.jpg

[Aldersan]

Boy, you're sure "rocking the house" with that mod! :D

[AmEv]

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100068.jpg

Emachines: Computers for dummies :P

[Aldersan]

Emachines: Computers for dummies :P


LOL +rep for the laugh

[TheGreatSatan]

That's actually the box of the first computer my wife and I had as a married couple. It had a Celeron Proc, 32MB of Ram, a 9 gig HD and came installed with Windows 98

[TheGreatSatan]

Time to deal with the drive bays

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100087.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100088.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100089.jpg

Then I notice how stupid the white paint underneath looks

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100091.jpg

So I paint it flat black

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100101.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100103.jpg

Now to add an exhaust fan above the drive bays

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100094.jpg

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The fan is perfect color-wise

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100098.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100099.jpg

Then I paint some more mesh

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100097.jpg

And use a hard drive to seal the epoxy

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100100.jpg

Like so...

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100106.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100108.jpg

[Stonerboy779]

TGS a question, why so much copper? Or rather things of copper appearance?

I am not quiet seeing the bigger picture and I guess I will have to wait it out till it's all done and fully taken shape.

[AmEv]

I suppose it's supposed to have the "industrial" look to it.

[TheGreatSatan]

"Steampunk-ish"

[TheGreatSatan]

Big News!

The Micro Center where I work will be adding the components to this case and then making it into a permanent edition to the department. It will become one of two new terminals for daily employee use.

The other will be my Mustang GT500 mod

I painted the top and side mesh panels

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100112.jpg

And then put the 200mm fans back in

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100113.jpg

Then I put the filter back in because it's still going to be an intake

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100114.jpg

And I put on the top panel too

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100116.jpg

It's a good time to work on the right panel. I just need one more copper pipe to go from the "T" section down the side

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100118.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100117.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100122.jpg

I had this Logitech G500 mouse laying around and then realized that it's a perfect match! Looks like I'm taking it to work too!

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100125.jpg

The top and front plastic strips will be copper as well. I thought these were illuminated, but I guess not

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100119.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100126.jpg

Next, I break out the Bondo

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100121.jpg

[jdbnsn]

what happened to that fallout project?

[TheGreatSatan]

I have to finish this first. F3 won't be ready till Halloween
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I used epoxy on the copper piping to seal them together

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100129.jpg

Then I drilled three holes and used screws with really wide washers to poke up from the panel.

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100135.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100130.jpg

I filled each of the pipe ends with Bondo

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100131.jpg

and carefully dropped it into place over the screw

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100132.jpg

The Video card will make sure it all dries inside without squirting out the sides

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100134.jpg

[Fuganater]

Awesome idea! I was trying to figure out how to do that without having the pipe go through the case.

[TLHarrell]

I would have added a threaded insert into the pipe ends (like the 1" long hex nuts for joining all-thread rods), then they can be attached with screws from inside the case. Easier if you ever want to get them back off again, or touch up paint around them, or leave them off for shipping, or whatever.

[TheGreatSatan]

I'm taking the case to work and there it will stay for years....

Here's where I'm at right now.

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100137.jpg

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[AmEv]

Question: Has any customers said "Where can I get that case?", referring to one you modded?

[TheGreatSatan]

Yes, especially my AMD Bulldozer case. People come in thinking they can just pull "Bulldozer" cases off the shelf. One guy even said that our ad said he could build one just like it.

And another complained to management because we have the Mustang case displayed, but he can't buy one.

[TLHarrell]

The same type of people go into a crafts store and complain because they can't have some complicated thing purchased ready made.

[AmEv]

TGS:

Next time someone asks where they can get one, hand them a piece of paper to the URLs of the worklogs on the forums.

[xr4man]

Yes, especially my AMD Bulldozer case. People come in thinking they can just pull "Bulldozer" cases off the shelf. One guy even said that our ad said he could build one just like it.

And another complained to management because we have the Mustang case displayed, but he can't buy one.

that's when you put an astronomical price tag on it. everything's for sale, it's just a matter of whether they want to pay what it's worth for a 100% custom one off computer.

[TheGreatSatan]

I got a few pipes and adapters to make this interesting shape

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100140.jpg

Then cut a notch in the side intake shroud for the pipe to fit into

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100141.jpg

And then I put the shroud back on the side panel

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100142.jpg

I had to cut a screw hole in the pipe

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100144.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100145.jpg

And put the screw in with an epoxy to keep it tight

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100146.jpg

And that's the effect I wanted

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100150.jpg

[TLHarrell]

Put up a QR code with the computer on display. Link it to the worklog and/or YouTube video about the project.

[Stonerboy779]

Put up a QR code with the computer on display. Link it to the worklog and/or YouTube video about the project.

Pretty sure the people wanting to buy it wouldn't even know what a QR code is....

[TheGreatSatan]

I don't either....

[Stonerboy779]

I don't either....
Really? Must say TGS you have surprised me.

Any luck with the hobby parts for all the details?

[TLHarrell]

Send me a link that you'd like to post next to the computer. I'll make you a nice QR code.

[TheGreatSatan]

Finally a day off tomorrow to go to the hobby store

Today, I touched up the paint around the panel vent

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100154.jpg

And then I made the rear 140mm fan match everything else

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100152.jpg

[TheGreatSatan]

The handle is handy, but not something you'd see on a large factory building

So, I'm going to repurpose it

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100160.jpg

I'm going to use these wooden letters to make a building sign

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100157.jpg

That reads: BUILD YOUR OWN

It's the name of the department where I work and where this computer will be on display. I was thinking that in many ways my department is a factory, one that provides parts to builders

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100158.jpg

[Aldersan]

My favorite section of Microcenter!

[Stonerboy779]

Passive aggressive I like it :D

[TheGreatSatan]

HUGE UPDATE!!

I spent the majority of a whole day off working on this computer case and accomplished a lot.

I told at friend at work that I hated the way that the drive bays looked above the DVD drive, so he came up with a great idea. Since this case is supposed to look like an old factory why not make the area above the DVD drive look like a room within the factory?

Let's do that!

First I used these longer popsicle sticks to rest on the bay above the DVD drive. This way, the "floor" won't be destroyed if I have to slide out the DVD drive

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100165.jpg

Then I cut out a whole lot more to fit the bay

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100176.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100178.jpg

I bought this easy application wood stain

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100186.jpg

And stained the "floor" to look like something you'd see in an old building

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100189.jpg

I got this boiler on ebay that belongs on a Steam train. It just looked like something you'd see in a factory of this period. It came in all black, so I added a few copper accents

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100191.jpg

I used this really thin oak to make the side walls

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100205.jpg

I was thinking of how to make the walls look as they may have back in the "old days" and thought that a factory probably would have been made of brick. I only had this adhesive rock that was beige

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100180.jpg

So I painted it red!

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100182.jpg

And then put it in the bay with the boiler

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100210.jpg

I also thought it would be cool to add some more copper pipes. This is where the case originally had a lock

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100169.jpg

I dissected this water stop valve for parts

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100170.jpg

And screwed part of it into place

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100171.jpg

Next, comes another valve. This one was originally brass colored so I had the repaint it copper

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100181.jpg

Once it dried, I threaded it to the other. For all of these fittings, I always add an epoxy within the joints

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100195.jpg

Now I need more pipes

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100201.jpg

And that only took about 2 minutes

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100204.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100212.jpg

Let's get back to the room. I cut out a piece of plexi for the front window

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100217.jpg

And then framed it out with some more sticks around the edges

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100232.jpg

I still have to go over the edges of the brick wall with some more red paint

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100227.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100228.jpg

[AmEv]

*drool*
*mopping*
*drooling while mopping*

[Fuganater]

Awesome job dude! Too bad you can't keep it.

[TheGreatSatan]

I hear you.

I went and fixed the white-ish edges of the brick wall

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100236.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100235.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100243.jpg

[Fuganater]

That steam engine would go perfect in my steampunk mod but I couldn't find one like it on ebay :(

[TLHarrell]

Help me build a CNC mill and we can corner the market on steam engine models and other steampunk trinkets. :-)

[TheGreatSatan]

I got the PC Power & Cooling 600 Watt PSU again, the same one I used in my kid's Purple HAF

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100334.jpg

I had to get rid of the stickers first

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100335.jpg

Then make the paint match the case. There goes the warranty....

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100336.jpg

Once dried, it went in the case

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100339.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100340.jpg

I thought it made more sense if the factory sign had some kind of brace holding it up

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100337.jpg

[Stonerboy779]

You are still going to be asked by customers where they can buy one if they can but that one :P

[TheGreatSatan]

BTW, the specs will be:

AMD FX4100
Gigabyte 970FX-UD3
8GB DDR3
Radeon 6670
64GB SSD
600 Watt PC Pwr & Cooling

[TheGreatSatan]

I picked up the heatsink I want to use today. I chose the same one I did for my kids' Purple HAF. I like the design and the option to use a 140mm fan

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100352.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100353.jpg

I repainted the 120mm fan it came with

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100355.jpg

And swapped it for the 140mm exhaust fan

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100356.jpg

Because I need that one for the heatsink

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100357.jpg

Since I don't have the board for it to mount on, I'll move to the media card bay which I decided against using a card reader

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100361.jpg

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/p1100363.jpg

[TheGreatSatan]

Just wanted to say that this mod is completed for the most part. The case has been taken into my job at Micro Center where it will become a permanent department terminal. I'll take some pics once the store pays to have it filled with components

[TheGreatSatan]

Final Specs:

AMD FX4100
Gigabyte 970A-UD3
8GB DDR3
Radeon 6670
60GB SSD

http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/jdbnsn1.jpg
http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/jdbnsn2.jpg
http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/jdbnsn3.jpg
http://www.pcmodhouse.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/jdbnsn4.jpg

[SXRguyinMA]

nice job! +rep

[ArgOs]

excellent work, congratulations!!!. I like much your painting.