DIY Radiator Stand

So I am getting a test bench from and Italian maker but it has no watercooling options. So I got to thinking about a radiator stand because the test bench is a mini test bench, no WC options.

I saw the Phobya stand and I really really liked it. Which fits 3x 3.120 rads or a 4x180 rad, but its $90. And they have a smaller one, which fits 2x 2.120 rads and its $60.

They have options which are great. You can mount your res and pump to the outside or inside of the rad stand.

So why can't I make it out of pelxi? First off I need to find someone that can laser cut a piece of pelxi that big... ideas?

I will work on a sketchup model tonight or this weekend.

Comments and advice welcomed. Cheers till then.

Doesn't TL do a lot of stuff with acrylic?

Who?

TLHarrel

Ah. I'll see what he says once he reads this

Images didn't work for me

Images all appear broken.

I can laser cut up to 8.5"x13" pieces, up to 3/16" thick. I can go up to 1/4", but the edge quality is not good.

They Phobya one is 430mm x 490mm so its too big.

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Originally Posted by Fuganater

They Phobya one is 430mm x 490mm so its too big.

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Just design it to be made in smaller parts, say two or three parts.

I'm working on the SketchUp model now. I have a big sheet of 1/4" Orange acrylic which I think I might use and have someone make me 3x360mm gills made of 1/8" black acrylic to put on top of it. TLHarrel can you pm me about this? Cost wise.


I'll post again today as soon as the Sketchup is done.

So after a few hours in sketchup. I came up with this.

Inside the rad stand. You can see where the Rads go.

Outside the rad stand. Here you can see where the fan holes need to go.

I actually think I may be able to just cut the openings by hand and then just use some modders mesh to cover the holes. That will be way cheaper in the long run as I won't have to ship the plexi out and pay for a laser cutter and I can do it in 1 big piece.

More to come.

I run $1.50 a minute for laser time, plus materials and shipping. Turns out pretty reasonable for custom parts actually. If I have the materials in stock, and it's a scrap piece, materials cost is $1.

I like the idea of the stand so far. Only issue I'd see is you should consider some extra weight in the base. Maybe a brick, or a box to pour some concrete or sand into in the base. If it were my design, I'd probably start out with a frame made of aluminum channel, sandwich the radiators inside behind some plexi panels and hang push/pull fans on the outside.

Here is how I will cut the fan holes. All I did was make an X across where the fan hole needs to be (mounting hole to hole) and then drew a 2 5/8" hole there. Delete the parts that are outside the fan hole and there you have nice rounded corners. Should be easy enough to make if I take my time.

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Originally Posted by TLHarrell

I run $1.50 a minute for laser time, plus materials and shipping. Turns out pretty reasonable for custom parts actually. If I have the materials in stock, and it's a scrap piece, materials cost is $1.

I like the idea of the stand so far. Only issue I'd see is you should consider some extra weight in the base. Maybe a brick, or a box to pour some concrete or sand into in the base. If it were my design, I'd probably start out with a frame made of aluminum channel, sandwich the radiators inside behind some plexi panels and hang push/pull fans on the outside.

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I see what you mean. I would really like to be able to have a push/pull config contained inside the stand.

As of right now the feet are 8" long and 2" wide.

Total dimensions are :
1' 7" tall
1' 5" wide
4" deep (might make this 5 for thicker rads)

All materials are 1/4" thick acrylic.

Feet won't really be strong enough nor will the rest really.

Just think about water weight...

I agree with TLHarrell if you got some alu to make the frame it would be considerably stronger. I am thinking a broad thick bit of right angle channel to make the feet with some smaller for right angle for the frame. Then TLHarrell can make you up some fan grills per say and I would also say ask him to make up the pieces for a reservoir down the bottom because that would weight down the entire thing nicely while being a practical use of space.

Also I am sure shipping would be only one way and it would be flat packed too so shouldn't be a ridiculous amount. Much better than trying to get precise cuts yourself or find someone else who will do it for such a bargain price.

I would almost think of doing two panels, and encasing the rad and fans between them, having a solid block under them for weight and to hold them up, and then checking out some of TL's awesome fan grills he's coming up with :D That guy has some serious talent!

The main problem would be then finding someone to cut the alu frame. Parts + labor need to be less than $80 because thats how much the rad stand would cost me to buy.

Talked to TL?

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Originally Posted by AmEv

Talked to TL?

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He can not do it in 1 piece as I would like.

Hmm maybe this won't happen. Materials alone I'm looking at about $53 (all 1/8" alu). So I don't think I can get this done in another $30 unless I can score a nice discount somewhere.

So I'm going back to the acrylic idea. 1/4" is more than thick enough to handle the weight of the rads. + I will have rad grills made to give it some more strength.

Here are some more pictures.

The new feet. I'm 100% sure these will keep it sanding.

And the cutouts for the rads.

I got replies for the aluminum and just having the main pieces cut will cost over $140 so alu is out.

I just sent some emails to plexi companies to get work done. Hopefully I'll have a reply tomorrow.

Cheers till then.

So Delvie's Plastics Inc will cost me roughly $30 in materials and the do NOT have the capability to cut the main piece. I'm still waiting for a reply from Estreetplastics to see what they can do. Worst come to worst I do all the cuts myself.

You might have to, judging from the pics. Either way, that's not a bad price and the cutting wouldn't be too difficult if you took your time.

I'm gonna order a template from MNPCTECH. They have a nice laser cut reusable template.

Need to get some 3.120 rad grills made now.

Talk to TL! :D

Just sent him a PM :D

What kind of design were you thinking for this?

I like the MNPCTECH ones. I was thinking something like that but the middle fan grill will say "fugatech-mods" maybe.

Ahh I see, should look good!

PDF of grill designs available for you, Fuganater.

Fugatech 3x120mm Radiator Grilles- Test.pdf (Mediafire)

They're printed full scale to a 24"x36" sheet, 6 different designs. You can zoom in on them and print just what's displaying at 100% scale and see exactly what they'll be like when done. Only spent the time to trim up one of them, but you get the idea.

Edit: Pic on the next page.

Do you think it will look funny with this being vertical and not horizontal?

Mount your radiators horizontally. Or I can certainly rotate the text. Usually if text is displayed vertically, it will read from the right.

I like the Full Open, 45 degrees. Can I see that with vertical letters?

Will work that up as soon as I get home from breakfast. What's the distance from center to center for your radiators?

Err what? They are standard 360 radiators. Not sure what measurement you mean.

See what you think of it this way...

I like it! When can you start? :D

What color you want? 1/8" white glossy? PM me an email address and I'll shoot over a PDF for you to verify the measurements and be able to do any final adjustments. I can start as soon as I get the material in stock. It's a bit of travel to the supplier, but I'm checking out a local place as well.

PM sent