Drive bay fabrication question

[goofazoid]

I have a Cheiftec case I got for free, and it has some issues, such as the window in the door has a crack (I can fix this with ease by replacing the plexi), the front bezel is completely missing, the HDD bays are missing, and the 5.25" bays are designed for use with a custom rail system, of which I have none.

I was thinking about removing the 5.25 bays completely and fabing up something to hold the drives. It wont have cool screw the drives to the rails and slide in until they lock, but it would be a secure way to mount them.
I knocked out a quick sketch of my idea, and wanted to get opinions on if this would work.
(edit: This is looking at the frame form one end. It would be made of two pieces like this, connected at the top and bottom with some rails of flat stock. )

http://sunnybrooksporthorses.com/drivecage.jpg

It would be made of thin (1.5mm?) Aluminum bar stock and screwed together.
The whole thing would screw to the frame of the case and the drives would screw to the holes in the verticals of the frame.

Would this be sufficiently to securely mount 5.25 drives?

Next question is, could a scaled down version of this be used to mount HDD? (I would add rubber to the drive sides to reduce vibrations)

Thanks :)

[jdbnsn]

I would recommend using aluminum angle stock, it makes a great mounting surface and has added stabilty from the 90 degree angles. Here is a couple of single drive bays I made...

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f395/jdbnsn/wooden%20mc/harddriveframe2.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f395/jdbnsn/wooden%20mc/pictures004.jpg

[goofazoid]

Those are nice, but I really want to make something that will hold multiple drives. :)
I guess that I could use angle at each level to support the drives (only on the sides of the uprights) and simply leave it open at the front for mounting.

Still attempting to figure out not only what will work, but what I ahve the skill to fab up.

[jdbnsn]

That is what I was implying, using the angled alum for "shelves" that are connected with upright rails like in your diagram.

[goofazoid]

Cool, I wasn't sure that I had been clear that the sketch was from the side, not the top. :)

Will the same type of set up, only scaled up work for optical drives as well?

I have a question about the ones you posted pics of, did you polish the aluminum or is is plated?
I am thinking of buffing all the aluminum to a high shine, and then clear coating it (to keep the shine) vs taking it to be chromed. (or even using the "spray on chrome")

BTW, thanks for the fast answers and patience with teh n00b!
:)

[jdbnsn]

The second one I posted is for a DVD drive and will work just as good. The angled alum is very easy to work with, cuts like butter, easy to shape, and polish. Yes, I used a cheapo buffer wheel and polishing compound from Lowe's to shine those up. Don't waste you money chrome plating, that alum will look like a mirror with minimal effort.

[yazeed1906]

^^^Agreed. Don't waste your time...you will get a just as good as a result with little effort.