ZALMAN Fan Controller mod

[rendermandan]

So I purchased a ZALMAN ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller and decided it looked like a sore thumb in my case. For those of you who dont' know my case here it is:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1471.jpg

Obviously I went for a Silver and blue theme. The Fan contoller has a cool looking Blue tinted plexi pane on the front, but it just stood out really bad so I decided to change it.

Here it is how it looks stock. I think you would agree, its bad! (In my case)

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1587.jpg

So I took it apart and taped it to the top of one of my stock aluminum bay covers. with a piece of Lexan cut to size inbetween.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1590.jpg

I matched the hole sizes and drilled the holes to match the factory cover.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1591.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1594.jpg

With the tape removed here are the final pieces.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1597.jpg

and here it is assembled with a test for the led lights.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1596.jpg

I think you would agree, it looks much better now!!!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1605.jpg

My next step is to layout some sort of a custom logo that will be laser etched into the back side of the lexan so it will light up.

Here it is with the lights off. Sorry for the crappy picture. My camera doesn't do well in the dark.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1599.jpg

[Welshy]

Wow. You did an amazing job. It looks really nice, and very clean cut.

I don't understand what you mean by a custom logo on the back, though.

[Silenced_Coyote]

You should stealth your optical drives while you are at it.

It looks great by the way. Can't wait to see that custom etch.

[Spawn-Inc]

You should stealth your optical drives while you are at it.

It looks great by the way. Can't wait to see that custom etch.

yes i second that. you did a great job by the way, matchs much better.

+ rep

[Zephik]

haha, I was about to say, you did what?? But then I saw it and was totally impressed. Nice work and great idea!

You really need to stealth your optical drives though. ;)

[Crimson Sky]

Noice! much better than the stock faceplate that has NO LESS THAN 3 friggin' brands printed on it within a 7" space.

[SgtM]

Looks great! +rep

[rendermandan]

Hey, thanks everybody! I'm glad you guys like it.


Here are some of the designs I've been playing with for the etching. Not sure what direction I want to go though.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/fanoptions.jpg

I do have one stealthed "drive". The one below the controller is actually a "pop-out" storage tray where I keep the cd/dvd's I use most often.


As for the dvd drives. I wasn't sure how I could stealth my hp drive because it has a door that flips down when the tray ejects. any ideas?

[progbuddy]

Hey, thanks everybody! I'm glad you guys like it.


Here are some of the designs I've been playing with for the etching. Not sure what direction I want to go though.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/fanoptions.jpg

I do have one stealthed "drive". The one below the controller is actually a "pop-out" storage tray where I keep the cd/dvd's I use most often.


As for the dvd drives. I wasn't sure how I could stealth my hp drive because it has a door that flips down when the tray ejects. any ideas?

I like the last etching from that progression. It seems to fit the case. +rep

[d_stilgar]

When it comes to etching less always seems to be more. Do something really simple. If it were me I would just design a custom logo for yourself and etch that in. From what you have posted I would go with #4.

[Drew]

I like No.2.

Beautiful job, +repiness comin' your way.

And I'll be a sheep... drives need stealthing.....

[vidas7de7jesus7]

I like the third one. reps for you. As for the flip down door... hmmm. Rip it off, glue some extenders to the edge of the tray and make your stealthiness.

[Drew]

make your stealthiness.

Hurrah, another convert to the ways of comedyness adding of the ness to the endage of random wordage.

Mwahahahaaaaa... taking over the world, one grammatical abhorration at a time... :D

[rendermandan]

OK, ok, you guys talked me into it. I'll stealth my drive bays.

So here is the new plan. I'm going to use the drive bay covers that came with my case but I"m going to add the clear Lexan over the top just like I did for the fan controller. The only problem is how do I attach the lexan to the aluminum without seeing the tape, glue, or whatever that holds it? I thougt about using the same 4 screws that are on the corners of the fan controller. That way it would look very uniform, but I think the screws will take a way from it a little. What do you guys think?

Then after all that is done, I'm going to come up with a new Laser etch design that will incorporate all the drive bays together! Not sure how I will light it though.

[Drew]

Go for it with the 4 screws, if they all match, it'll look cool.

[rendermandan]

ok, I've got the 3 other Lexan panels cut and drilled. Now I just have to find some small matching screws like the ones in the contoller. I'll probably just replace them all so they match exactly, but they need to be different lengths.

Time to hit up my local hardware store.

[Bucko]

That should make the case look a lot better once done. Not sure about how to light it though.



Hurrah, another convert to the ways of comedyness adding of the ness to the endage of random wordage.

Wordageness.

[Drew]

Wordageness.

Indeed, good wordageness from another who has been through convertagisation to the reasonage and good wordingage of the new ageage.

ageage. <<that don't workage. :( << much saddageness.

:edit: Gotta be the poorest post yet. This has got to stop...age :D

[rendermandan]

At lunch today I stopped and got some stainless steel flat head allen screws and nuts to attach the lexan to my drive bay covers. WOW those were expensive!!! over $10 for 16 screws and 16 nuts. I guess being that they are stainless is what made them expensive. I'll shoot some pics when I get home tonight.

[Drew]

Sounds good.

Are they heavy?

I always feel better parting with money when I'm buying something heavy...




Are they heavy?

Then they're expensive, put 'em down.

[rendermandan]

Well looky what I just did. Where on earth did my drives go???

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1609.jpg


Oh wait, there they are.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/100_1610.jpg

What do you guys think? I replaced the screws in the fan controller to match the others. I have to admit I F'd one up pretty bad! it was the first one I did and being a noob I didn't tape off the front while grinding on the back with my dremel and guess what. When I got near the end, it slipped and went right around an gouged the front. On both ends! So I have to hunt around for another drive bay cover and redo it. Unfortunatly I don't think I have anymore. I don't know if I can buy these online and if they will match. I'm not even sure who manufactured my case. I think it might be Lian Li, but not positive.

Now what to do about my ugly media card reader?????

[simon275]

Wow pretty shmick job. Yeah that card reader is about to go under the knife I see. +rep I don't think it is a Lian Li case I have never seen them do a front panel like that. But I could be wrong.

[Welshy]

Thats a really good job. The only problem I see is that the bottom drive (the white one) doesn't look flesh. It might just be the picture, though.

Bummer that you messed up that cover. Its not noticeable greatly in the picture, but I am sure thats a whole different case in real life. Good luck finding another.

[Drew]

**applause**

+rep

[jdbnsn]

lovin it, much better than before!

[prosser13]

Read through the mod, and its just like I want to do pretty much.

Only problem is I'm struggling to get the knobs off - how did you get them off?

Thanks!

[rendermandan]

Read through the mod, and its just like I want to do pretty much.

Only problem is I'm struggling to get the knobs off - how did you get them off?

Thanks!

They wern't that hard to get off. They were a little tight, but I managed to get them off with out breaking anything. Its not like they were glued on or anything. -The switches and lights just poke thru the blue plastic so they are not a problem.

Good luck.

[prosser13]

How did you get them off though? Did you pull/twist?

[rendermandan]

How did you get them off though? Did you pull/twist?

Just pull straight off. -Try to use a flat headed screwdriver between the face of the blue plate and the back side of the knob and "Pry" toward the direction you want them to be pulled off. -Be carfull you don't scratch anything though. Maybe wrap the tip of the screw driver with tape first.

[prosser13]

I've finally got 3 of them off - just pulled really hard :) Think I've wrecked my index finger though, and I can't get the No. 1 knob off :s

[chaksq]

Looking hot. +rep
One question though. How do you press the drive buttons? Did you re-route them or do you just use the eject command on your computer?

[rendermandan]

Looking hot. +rep
One question though. How do you press the drive buttons? Did you re-route them or do you just use the eject command on your computer?

I built up the thickness at the front of the drive tray, and then attached the panel with velcro. this allows it to flex slightly. then I just added shim behind the panel right infront of where the eject button is. so all I have to do is press on the front of the panel which in return presses on the button.
Then to close it, I just push the button because it is exposed on the underside.

[Intrance]

But dont get your fingers trapped as they close!!

[mellojoe]

Now that all the drives are stealthed, it looks TOP NOTCH!

Very good job. 8)

[rendermandan]

Thanks!

[Bucko]

But dont get your fingers trapped as they close!!


How fast do your drawers move????

Any drive I've had there is more than enough time to push the button and then move your hand out of the way of the drawer before it closes.

[rendermandan]

I would agree. If anything there is a slight pause before mine open and close after pressing the button. But I'm sure he was just being funny. :)

[xRyokenx]

For the card reader, you could just paint it a similar color as the case, and it would look fine, unless you wanna go real crazy with it and make a flip up cover that looks like the drive covers...

[Intrance]

:think: Trying to type humour certainly loses something:rolleyes:

[rendermandan]

:think: Trying to type humour certainly loses something:rolleyes:

I kind of figured that. LOL

[Bucko]

The thing is I've read enough posts on here by newer users that are in that vein and are a serious question.

[rendermandan]

The thing is I've read enough posts on here by newer users that are in that vein and are a serious question.

I guess that is understandable if you are a noob and don't really know.
We There should be some type of image or sign or something to let people know when you are joking, sarcastic or anything else.

[Eclecticos]

I like the third one but instead of the flames I'd continue that pattern. .on up. .