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Project: RAD GT -- Custom Acrylic Case Worklog


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Guest thespin

The keys to an acrylic case PC presentation are going to be 1) the colors you choose for your various components, and 2) your wire selection and management

 

Take a look at the available cabling at this site:

http://www.frozencpu.com/auv-13.html (click on 'Cables' in left column)

They are into it ...

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The keys to an acrylic case PC presentation are going to be 1) the colors you choose for your various components, and 2) your wire selection and management

 

Take a look at the available cabling at this site:

http://www.frozencpu.com/auv-13.html (click on 'Cables' in left column)

They are into it ...

 

I'm going for all blue UV reactive cabling (mostly sleeved, but also UV reactive SATAs); also installing UV and red CCFLs. I haven't decided on the water color, but Petra's sent me Red, Green, and Blue; so I can try different options.

 

I'd like to get a modular PSU so I can install just the cables I need. I'll also do custom length cabling for the lighting, fans, and switches.

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looking sweet man very sweet.

 

how far do u think u are from finishing just the case, so its totally ready for ure kit & wireing job?

 

also radodrill what modular psu hav u been looking at for the rig? my new silverstone strider 850w is a good buy, seems cheep for an 850watt psu in the UK, not to sure on the prices over ure side of the pond.

 

http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/power.php?area=usa i like the look of a few there, well the one's with very high v12 amps ;)

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looking sweet man very sweet.

 

how far do u think u are from finishing just the case, so its totally ready for ure kit & wireing job?

 

also radodrill what modular psu hav u been looking at for the rig? my new silverstone strider 850w is a good buy, seems cheep for an 850watt psu in the UK, not to sure on the prices over ure side of the pond.

 

http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/power.php?area=usa i like the look of a few there, well the one's with very high v12 amps ;)

 

I just have to polish the back panel, install the drive bays, make/install the PCI retention bracket, and make the CD slot cover.

 

Then I have to do all the custom wiring (including a fan controller) and sleeving.

 

Once all that's done I'll be ready to install the sys and H2O

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Great work so far man, the case is looking awesome. I think the only way to get an acrylic case the way you want it is to build it yourself, most of the pre-built cases are crap.

 

Can't wait to see the whole thing come together

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Great work so far man, the case is looking awesome. I think the only way to get an acrylic case the way you want it is to build it yourself, most of the pre-built cases are crap.

 

Can't wait to see the whole thing come together

 

Thanks!

 

I'll be posting an update tomorrow; I'll have the bulk of the case itself done by then, but there's still quite a bit to do before the project is finished.

 

I have to agree that almost all acrylic cases on the market aren't well designed and are about the same size as standard tower cases, which are too small for my needs.

 

I actually didn't set out to build an acrylic case; but rather designing a case that fit my needs, and acrylic seemed to be the easiest material to work with and has the added bonus of looking really snazzy.

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Some progress pics are missing since one of my memory cards died

 

Polished the edges of the outer panels

Outer-Panels25.jpg

 

Outer-Panels26.jpg

 

Outer-Panels27.jpg

 

Outer-Panels28.jpg

 

Also installed the PCI mounting bracket

Outer-Panels29.jpg

 

Outer-Panels30.jpg

 

Cut out/polished the CD slot cover

Drive-Bays15.jpg

 

Placed in the slot on the front panel

Drive-Bays16.jpg

 

Made some side pieces for the 5 1/4" bay

Drive-Bays17.jpg

 

Glued them into place

Drive-Bays18.jpg

 

With a drive in place

Drive-Bays19.jpg

 

This evening I'll mount the drive bays; so stay tuned for another update

 

Sponsors:

DangerDen.jpg A_C_Ryan.jpg PTS.jpg

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Guest Blooz1

radodrill, you're doing a great job on that case!

 

It looks better than many acrylic cases I've seen for sale in the past at mod shops and such.

 

Are you using actual polish on those edges, or are you "flame" polishing them?

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radodrill, you're doing a great job on that case!

 

It looks better than many acrylic cases I've seen for sale in the past at mod shops and such.

 

Are you using actual polish on those edges, or are you "flame" polishing them?

 

Thanks a lot!!

 

I'm using the Novus plastic polishes. I sanded them with 120Grit; then use Novus #3 followed by #2 and #1. If I have to do work on a large surface I wet-sand with 600Grit before using the Novus.

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Another update; The case itself is finished so next I'll have to make the base and do the wiring

 

Cut acrylic pieces for mounting the drive bays

Drive-Bays20.jpg

 

Polished the mounting pieces

Drive-Bays21.jpg

 

Glued the mounting pieces to the drive bays

Drive-Bays22.jpg

 

Gluing the drive bays together

Drive-Bays23.jpg

 

Finished Drive Bays

Drive-Bays24.jpg

 

Lining up the drive bays on the top panel

Drive-Bays25.jpg

 

Drilled screwholes at the front of the drive bays

Drive-Bays26.jpg

 

Drilled out holes in top panel

Drive-Bays27.jpg

 

Tapped holes in the drive bays

Drive-Bays28.jpg

 

Screwed them together

Drive-Bays29.jpg

 

Drilled holes at the back of the drive bays

Drive-Bays30.jpg

 

Drilled out the holes in the top panel

Drive-Bays31.jpg

 

Several shots of the assembled case

Case2.jpg

 

Case3.jpg

 

Case4.jpg

 

Sponsors:

DangerDen.jpg A_C_Ryan.jpg PTS.jpg

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