Project; Mark1

[Mark_Hardware]

OK, so once again, I started on the side panel. This is the last one of these I am cutting, dangit. Here is the third, and final revision. I am still going to cut something in the panel to let som light through, but I haven't decided what yet. And, until I know for sure, I'm not doing any cutting! I also cut a smaller piece for the 3.5" bays. Here you see those two pieces, plus, you can see where I cut out the material on the backside of the HDD cage.

Here is a shot of the piece cut to cover the bottom of the case.

The square hole is for the fan on the bottom. The edge on the top that is uneven will be under the motherboard.
Speaking of the bottom.... I am working on building a 'skirt' to go around the bottom.
Here are the bolts I am using. I love these bolts! I believe they are called "elevator bolts."

By hardware_mark1, shot with KODAK Z1285 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-19

I started out using 1/2" square tubing. Eventually, I figured that 1" would be much easier to work with. Yeah, it will add some weight, But oh well, this baby is gonna be hefty by the time I'm done anyway.

By hardware_mark1, shot with KODAK Z1285 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-20

I have this skull,

By hardware_mark1 at 2009-06-20
that I want to incorporate into the case.
I had been trying to figure out something to use to fill up some space, as well as add a little something extra. I thought about several different avenues, then I saw this, and I knew that was it.

By Hardware_Mark1 at 2009-06-19
It's a heatsink, from the same place I got the panels. I am going to cut and file away a lot of the material in between the fins. The idea is to see the skull, but only kinda. I want the reaction not to be, "Oh, another skull," instead, "What's that? Oh wow"

[The boy 4rm oz]

Shaping up nicely, I like the idea of the bottom plate.

[DonT-FeaR]

sweet... looks good man

[Mark_Hardware]

Alright, update!
Here is another picture of the HDD cage.

By hardware_mark1, shot with

KODAK Z1285 ZOOM

DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-20
I did this so I can flip the hard drives around, so the cables will be on the backside, instead of on the window side.
I will have to mod the HD rails so they line up right, but I will do that later.

Also, I am thinking of building some kind of a box onto the back, to hide the hundred or so wires that go to the

back of the computer. Haven't quite decided exactly how I want that to look. Something like this....

By hardware_mark1, shot with

KODAK Z1285 ZOOM

DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-18

By hardware_mark1, shot with

KODAK Z1285 ZOOM

DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-18
Now you can start to see a little bit of a bigger picture. eh?
In that pic, you can see the rivets I had originally used to mount the panels to the case. I pitched that idea with the

newer panel, in favor of a method resulting in a cleaner finish.

OK, so some progess on the skirt. Here you will see why I switched to the 1" tube.

By hardware_mark1, shot with

KODAK Z1285 ZOOM

DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-20
I can screw the bolts right into the bars! And this makes mounting the skirt to the case a snap.

By hardware_mark1, shot with

KODAK Z1285 ZOOM

DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-21

Also, here is part of that heatsink I showed you earlier. I am so happy with the way it turned out!

I still haven't decided how I am going to style the front part though. The back, however, is pretty simple. I took the

back leg, which also held on the curved piece of plastic that goes on the back of the case. Well, the leg won't work

with the skirt, but I need to hold on the rear piece.

Easy fix, just cut off the superfluous plastic!

By hardware_mark1, shot with

KODAK Z1285 ZOOM

DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-18


Here is a couple more pictures showing some progress

By hardware_mark1, shot with

KODAK Z1285 ZOOM

DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-18

By hardware_mark1, shot with

KODAK Z1285 ZOOM

DIGITAL CAMERA at 2009-06-18

I made a psu cover, as well. Nothing too fancy...

The metal tabs will let me screw it onto the back of the case.
Next update, I start building up!

[The boy 4rm oz]

Ah your reversing the HDD mounts, nice idea, I am doing the same to my brothers NZXT Alpha but I am actually rotating the HDD cage 180degrees and pushing it towards the window about an inch so I don't have to worry about chopping the HDD rails down. I am really liking the bottom compartment, nice execution.

[DonT-FeaR]

nice idea mate

[Mark_Hardware]

Yeah I can't rotate the cage 180, then my beastly graphics card won't fit Moving it closer to the window is a good idea, but I'm gonna need that space too.

Ooops did I say too much?

[The boy 4rm oz]

I said 180 degrees, not 45 . It would just be flipping it around.

[Mark_Hardware]

Oh yeah, sure I knew that, I was uh, just testing you.....

[Mark_Hardware]

Now I cast my eyes upward.
Originally, the idea was to use the 1/2" square tubing to build a frame. Again, I pitched that in favor of 1" tube. So I

made these two simple square frames.

JB weld, plus angle irons. Should be sturdy. I wish they could be welded, but I don't have any means to get that

done. The piece of panelling on the side is just to get it square.

More of the elevator bolts will mount them to the case. These are especially useful where the rear frame is, since

it's right above the psu, and there is limited clearance.
I also cut out the fan grill on the top of the case. I am going to put a piece of 3" pvc pipe here, as a "ventilation

shaft."

This whole area will be enclosed with panelling, with the "vent" on the left side. This will house the skull I showed

you earlier.
The right side, nothing too complicated.

The back will be a simple panel.
Another simple panel will close off the area where the skull sits. I had a picture of those panels, but they didn't turn

out very good.
Speaking of the skull, I gave it some life.
My new hard drive activity lights!