First mod, in progress.

[Penguinpc]

I am in the process of modding the computer case I have been using for the last five years. It has had two computers in it that I built. The second currently resides in a temporary case while I work on this one.

My plan has been to add more drive space so that I can have two hard drives in drive docks, two optical drives, a front panel for usb/audio, and two regularly mounted hard drives. I want to paint the case black on the inside and outside and light it with led's and cold cathodes.

I will be installing a case window and I would like to make a custom front panel.

I will be mounting a 120mm fan in the front where there was previously mount points for two 80mm fans.

For the front panel, I would like to make it out of a metal mesh and paint it black like the rest of the case. I did want to mount it like a door but I am now leaning towards affixing it permanently to the front of the case and cutting holes for the optical drives, drive docks and front usb/audio panel.

All of this is a 'proof of concept' for me as I have never done this before and I am looking for any and all suggestions and tips.

I have made some progress which is detailed in the posts following this one.

The Victim

This is an old Antec case.

From the front:
http://static.flickr.com/56/133885563_1c74cea3a0_m.jpg

From the back:
http://static.flickr.com/49/133885509_790f13ca12_m.jpg

Profile:
http://static.flickr.com/55/133885440_15eff5e621_m.jpg

The front with the Antec front panel still attached.
http://static.flickr.com/52/133885417_867317574d_m.jpg

[Penguinpc]

http://static.flickr.com/110/250869292_902e31e16c_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/110/250869292_902e31e16c_m.jpg

The piece on top is a drive cage from an old Dell.
http://static.flickr.com/117/250869291_b3718abec1_m.jpg

[Penguinpc]

I've mounted the second cage underneath the upper cage. It needs a little more work, but this is close to how I want it to look.

http://static.flickr.com/112/262463979_09067f5b83_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/108/262463997_20a8ffb946_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/120/262464016_0a7979a7f6_m.jpg

[Penguinpc]

Currently looking for suggestions or tutorials on metal working so I can begin on the front panel.

[DaveW]

This is what you seek. (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2394&highlight=Metal) Good luck with the mod. ;)

-Dave

[gaz_the_chav]

That case is pretty big lol

Hope the mod goes well!

-gaz

[simon275]

If you are looking for mesh I have use A.C. Ryan Mesh X it's easy to cut and shape and it comes in black to.

http://www.acryan.com/_meshx/ACR-XP0748.shtml

I was thinking maybe you could do something like this

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8036/133885417867317574dmij1.jpg

Cut out the front grill and replace it with mesh.

[Penguinpc]

If you are looking for mesh I have use A.C. Ryan Mesh X it's easy to cut and shape and it comes in black to.

http://www.acryan.com/_meshx/ACR-XP0748.shtml

I was thinking maybe you could do something like this

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8036/133885417867317574dmij1.jpg

Cut out the front grill and replace it with mesh.

Thanks, that's exactly what I'm looking for! However, I am creating my entire front panel out of mesh.

[Penguinpc]

Update.

I've installed the second drive cage and I am fairly happy with the way it turned out.

http://static.flickr.com/86/275792927_eca5b27344_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/111/275792948_175c56afc4_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/112/275792972_aaa65038f4_m.jpg
In the last picture you can see the bracket I made from some of the metal I cut out of the front of the case. This is my first riveting job. Not awesome, but when it's covered with black paint I don't think anyone will notice.

Next I am sanding the interior of the case in preparation for painting it.

I am also ordering some metallic black mesh so that I can fabricate a new front panel.

[Penguinpc]

Can someone now point to a case window guide, or guides?

Thanks.

[gaz_the_chav]

Have you bought a case window kit or are you doing it yourself with some plexi n stuff?

-gaz

[Penguinpc]

I'm wanting to manufacture it myself, not use a kit. As of yet, I haven't bought anything.

[Penguinpc]

Here I have cut a hole for a 120mm fan. There were once two 80mm fans but, obviously, I don't have a place for those anymore. I used a dremel and cutoff wheel, but I'll be using a jig saw for the blow hole I'm putting in and the case window.

http://static.flickr.com/35/277875657_1aa992ab1e_m.jpg

Here, I've put the case fan in to test it and make sure it fits and everything lines up. I'll be covering it with black mesh later on.

http://static.flickr.com/115/277875803_9f460a94f6_m.jpg

Next, I'll do the blow hole.

[Penguinpc]

I have cut a blow hole and mounted a fan. It is a little bit off center, but hopefully once it is covered with a grill it won't be as noticeable.

http://static.flickr.com/26/280930063_105b73eef6_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/110/280930050_847b799f8b_m.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/118/280930069_bee9af41eb_m.jpg

[Penguinpc]

I've done the cutting for the case window. Ended up having to use a dremel and made a couple of mistakes, but maybe I can sand them out or fill them with bondo. All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with it. I still need to use the grinding attachment for the dremel and do some sanding to get the edges smooth.

http://static.flickr.com/112/281774313_27a664bdae_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/115/281774294_875fa7421a_m.jpg

You can see where I cut in a semi-circle around where the case panel latch goes. My biggest challenge may be finding the actual latch as I removed it a year or two ago.

[Penguinpc]

Well, I've done all I'm going to do this weekend. I've cut the plexi and mounted it. In the first picture, It is just taped in to see how it looks. In pictures 2 and 3, I have mounted it with four machine screws. I will be adding at least 8 more, but not tonight. :)

http://static.flickr.com/117/283079132_873950e482_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/83/283079166_eb28914d6c_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/100/283079193_f2b23ceb95_m.jpg

[Penguinpc]

Finished out the window with a few more screws. Looks like I underestimated and I'll need to buy one more screw to fill the top hole.

http://static.flickr.com/112/291084644_36f82a649f_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/108/291084499_f366b25a11_m.jpg

[Penguinpc]

This last weekend, I began fabricating a new front panel from A.J. Ryan Meshx. I've never done any metal working before so this is a first for me. The next step will be to fabricate the upper half of the front panel. Since it will have more bends and more things to account for such as optical drives it will be more difficult to make. I think I'll save that for next weekend.

http://static.flickr.com/107/291084622_c179688371_m.jpghttp://static.flickr.com/115/291084595_52089a0d61_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/109/291084445_4c394a7d33_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/120/291084576_0c89e5b530_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/115/291084555_633103f128_m.jpg

I'm contemplating how to fasten it to the case. Also, I will be painting the bare metal parts black and possibly covering the fan and the empty areas with another layer of mesh.

[Penguinpc]

Because of Thanksgiving and a few other events, I had to put my case to the side for a while. But last night I did a little bit of work on the front.

Here I've riveted a piece of mesh over the area where the fan will be.

http://static.flickr.com/110/308278902_0807d0af15_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/122/308278969_ed98aff547_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/109/308279004_b1fefa4c51_m.jpg