A community effort: open case design!

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inspired by various open projects on the web I thought it would be cool if we created an open case design for anyone to use and/or modify.

The goals:

  • The case should be as simple to build as possible
  • Using off the shelf parts will reduce construction difficulty, time & cost.
  • Should cost no more to produce than a similarly specced retail case.
  • Modular design allowing for easy adaptation and modding.
  • The design should be scalable for different motherboard configurations.
  • All plans/designs will be available to download.
  • The case panels should be designed in such a way that they can be hand cut or laser/machine cut.
  • The case should provide good cable management and hiding
  • The design should be published additionally in DXF format so it can be easily produced from a laser cutter.

Useful Resources

http://www.formfactors.org


Before I start putting together some designs I just wanted to gauge if anyone else would be interested in this? I know a lot of people on the boards have already designed some fantastic cases, perhaps we could base an initial design off of someone else's previous work?
 
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I'm gunna have a crack see what I can design.

personally dependant on cost I'd have any panel type components of the case laser cut. stuff like drive bays etc will be a lot of time and quite fiddly. it will also ensure things are properly aligned etc
 
Yeah I was thinking laser cutting would be good for people who have access, but we should make the design suitable for hand cutting or adaptable so that it is.
 
i have a good idea for simple side panels:

how about the side panel is just a plain, flat sheet and it slides into runners on the top and bottom of the case?

that would be very easy to laser/hand cut and also the runners would hide any rough edges - it would also mean your could swap out a black metal or acrylic with absolute ease :)
 
I dont have the equiptment to laser cut my own material however there will be companies that can take a DXF drawing and cut it. this would mean those that are less hands on could still make they're own copy of the case providing the orginal designer was happy to allow this, and would mean only basic assembally was needed.
 
i have a good idea for simple side panels:

how about the side panel is just a plain, flat sheet and it slides into runners on the top and bottom of the case?

that would be very easy to laser/hand cut and also the runners would hide any rough edges - it would also mean your could swap out a black metal or acrylic with absolute ease :)


This sounds good to me, I think some form of rubber mounting inside the runners would help reduce vibration also?


I dont have the equiptment to laser cut my own material however there will be companies that can take a DXF drawing and cut it. this would mean those that are less hands on could still make they're own copy of the case providing the orginal designer was happy to allow this, and would mean only basic assembally was needed.



It's probably best then if we publish a DXF version of the final design. Are there any other file formats we should consider as well?
 
This sounds good to me, I think some form of rubber mounting inside the runners would help reduce vibration also?

i thought that too after posting, im sure there is some generic off the shelf rubber door sealer that would work beautifully :)

Just asking the obvious, are you going for M-ITX, M-ATX, ATX, E-ATX etc?

Midi Tower? Full Tower? HTPC?

i think that is the point, the whole thing is modular and scalable so you could use the design for any case type you wanted to build :)
 
Ive started working on a framework for a case.

Using the same method as Waynio in his builds using aluminium angle.

Edit: I'm working on a HPTX design to accommodate even the monster builds.

DXF is a standard for CAD drawings and DWG for engineering drawings. Both will need to be supplied so flat components can be laser cut and components such as angles can be cut to length and hole locations etc are drilled and tapped in the correct position.

Does anyone know where I can find the form factor specs for drive bays such as hole locations as well as fan hole spacings etc for both 120mm and 140mm
 
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