Anyone built their own case?

Roll · 18 Jan 2006 at 13:06

My mate is thinking about building his next case himself from scratch using a combination of wood/metal/perspex as he ideally would like something larger and different than what you can usually get in the shops.

As he's asked for my help I wondered if anyone has done anything similar, and if there are any tips and things to watch out for?

Thanks for any replies

Yewen · 18 Jan 2006 at 13:41

Number 1 tip: Build it to a ATX specification exactly, and remember motherboard risers.

My mate who knows very little about pc's built on in school tech. It wasnt very functional !

Zefan · 18 Jan 2006 at 13:42

There's a 3D CAD program designed specifically for PC cases. Can't remember what it's called, but it's great because it has all the common components ready set up. SO you just click 120mm fan or 5 space HDD cage and it appears.

Roll · 18 Jan 2006 at 18:47

Yewen said:
Number 1 tip: Build it to a ATX specification exactly, and remember motherboard risers.

Thanks, thats probably a good starting point

I'll advise my mate to think it over long and hard and draw up a proper plan before he starts anything. Somehow I can see plenty of opportunity for this one to go horribly wrong

SiriusB · 18 Jan 2006 at 19:01

Roll said:
Somehow I can see plenty of opportunity for this one to go horribly wrong

Post pics

SiriusB

Steeps · 18 Jan 2006 at 21:09

perspex is really easy to work with, can get some really interesting shapes with it

here's my case, not using it at the moment because i need to do some more work on it

alexakasloth · 18 Jan 2006 at 22:06

Steeps, that is ******* nice

I'm going to be building myself one in the summer holidays (or once I've got new components) to put my old stuff in. It's not going to be very 'original' but the has to have basic functions and be low profile (sound and looks).

I'd build it out of metal as imo I think you can get an easier finish out of it and I personally like the look of the material better. I tryed making one from mdf but realised I didn't like the material so stopped.

^TANK^ · 19 Jan 2006 at 01:26

Steeps said:
perspex is really easy to work with, can get some really interesting shapes with it

here's my case, not using it at the moment because i need to do some more work on it

thats **** hot mate i would buy one if they were for sale

Mic · 19 Jan 2006 at 05:37

Im beginning to build a semi chinese/japanese esque wooden case tomorrow. It should turn out horrible but i car not.

evulboo · 20 Jan 2006 at 22:42

Zefan said:
There's a 3D CAD program designed specifically for PC cases. Can't remember what it's called, but it's great because it has all the common components ready set up. SO you just click 120mm fan or 5 space HDD cage and it appears.

I would really like the name of this program if anyone knows of it

Cheers

Boo

Mark A · 21 Jan 2006 at 02:36

Hey check out some modding forums such as pimprig.com ect, youll get loads and loads of ideas froim there. Every time i visit i get really motivated to build summat, im going to have a crack at building a beautifull walnut pc case, with leaded glass window, im a qualified cabinet maker you see so ill stick with what i know

. Its going to rock big time, ill obviously keep it for myself as i cant bear to sell anything i make, it takes far too long to sell unless i sold it for a silly amount.

Mark

nightwish · 21 Jan 2006 at 13:02

I've been toying with the idea of building a case for a while now. Started designing a wooden one, but I'd kinda like to do it with metal (steel) if I can. Thing is, I have never done even basic metalwork. Any tips on tools and methods anyone? What about welding? Bit clueless about this so any help would be good!

Edit: I have to join in the general chorus of approval and say that that is one nice case Steeps! Good job! Didn't happen to do a project log or anything do you, by any chance?

ic0n · 21 Jan 2006 at 17:59

wow i love that case and like the idear of bilding your own dose any one know if u can get the basic meatal frame inside from any where? so i can use 2 of them and make a case to fit round them.

Alu_ATC · 21 Jan 2006 at 23:03

Zefan said:
There's a 3D CAD program designed specifically for PC cases. Can't remember what it's called, but it's great because it has all the common components ready set up. SO you just click 120mm fan or 5 space HDD cage and it appears.

I too would like to know about this programme please.

alexakasloth · 22 Jan 2006 at 09:23

nightwish said:
I've been toying with the idea of building a case for a while now. Started designing a wooden one, but I'd kinda like to do it with metal (steel) if I can. Thing is, I have never done even basic metalwork. Any tips on tools and methods anyone? What about welding? Bit clueless about this so any help would be good!

Edit: I have to join in the general chorus of approval and say that that is one nice case Steeps! Good job! Didn't happen to do a project log or anything do you, by any chance?

Steel would be a harder metal to cut through, but as long as you get a jigsaw with a decent blade it shouldn't be a problem. Welding would be quite tricky if you haven't had any experiance, you would need to hire out a kit with a couple of gas cylinders.

nightwish · 22 Jan 2006 at 10:22

suicidle_tramp said:
Steel would be a harder metal to cut through, but as long as you get a jigsaw with a decent blade it shouldn't be a problem. Welding would be quite tricky if you haven't had any experiance, you would need to hire out a kit with a couple of gas cylinders.

Harder to cut through than aluminium you mean?

I had an impression that a cheap arc-welder (as opposed to mig-welder) could be picked up for less than a 100 quid and didn't need gas, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

What's the preferred method for sticking bits of metal together without welding?

Ps. Goes without saying, but thanks for the help!

Septh · 22 Jan 2006 at 10:48

Arc Welding is a bit messier, u need to grind down all the welds ('dressing') after its done to make them look nicer like a mig welds.
The other way to join metal is riveting which is easier but then u could end up with revit heads showing on the the outside of your case (which mite look kool in fact). so if u dont want revits showing u'd need to fold over the joints etc etc to they are on the inside.
Another good method is spot welding which is how most cases r held 2gether, a spot welder can be made yourself too if u got the tools etc etc.

alexakasloth · 22 Jan 2006 at 18:38

nightwish said:
Harder to cut through than aluminium you mean?

By hand yes (i.e it's a denser material), although aluminium does have a tendancy to be harder to cut with machine.

I had an impression that a cheap arc-welder (as opposed to mig-welder) could be picked up for less than a 100 quid and didn't need gas, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

What's the preferred method for sticking bits of metal together without welding?

Ps. Goes without saying, but thanks for the help!

I'm not sure on the costs, but when I did welding for GCSE we did arc welding and what might be mig welding. Both used for making cases would be quite messy.
Personally I would use pop-rivets. By getting your 4 sides, and a strip of metal cut into pieces and bent 90 degrees with a hole for the pop rivets in each end and fasten them that way.