Case Window Mod

sneaker · 29 Feb 2016 at 23:15

Hello All,

I have a Antec 300 case which I really like and want to put a window on the side panel?

has anyone ever done this before to any other case?

Pics would be appreciated!

Regards

Disco_P · 1 Mar 2016 at 01:10

Paul's Hardware did a video about a tempered glass side window he made for his side. The general gist is to cut a rough hole with a dremel, sand the edges until they are fine, cover the edge with a U channel lining and then stick the window on with 3m tape.

sneaker · 1 Mar 2016 at 01:38

Thanks for that it helped!

Going to order my parts now and see what I can do !

davido_labido · 1 Mar 2016 at 01:48

it really isn't even that hard... Just cut it, sand it down, then stick some acrylic to the back of it. easy mode

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=25933174&postcount=55

Mark A · 2 Mar 2016 at 13:40

It always ends up looking like its been DIY'd whenever I see people do this with a a dremel or angle grinder. Laser cutting would be ideal but expensive. I guess you could use some of that rubber edging if it does look a bit rough to neaten it up.

ttaskmaster · 2 Mar 2016 at 14:45

I mostly watched while a couple of friends did mine in the workshop - They're mechanics and long-term friends, so it was safer to stay back from the bickering, insults, arguments over fractions of a milimetre, and so on.

But yeah - Corsair Carbide 500R, cut out the bulge that houses the 200mm fan, whack in some trimmed perspex, add u-channel to neaten everything up and you're good.
I bolted mine in place and have twin 120mm fans incorporated too.

davido_labido · 2 Mar 2016 at 15:00

I think U-channel makes everything look far more untidy tbh... there is always the join and it just looks a mess... Do it right, spend the time and you cant tell....

I cut the window on the following builds, and although the second one isnt even anywhere near finished the window was cut fine.

Mark A · 2 Mar 2016 at 15:08

You say that, but on the 6th pic down in the link you posted the cut looks abysmal... You can always make the finished thing look great for a photo, but the reality is it'll look DIY as hell in the flesh unless you are very skilled.

davido_labido · 2 Mar 2016 at 15:12

lol, of course, but those pictures were as i was cutting them, I then spend the time sorting them out, hense the last line "Some of the edges do need a little filing down where there are some sharp edges etc" also, cut from the inside out, so any scratches are not seen

I did that, it was on show at 3 events and same as the pandora which did more events and people where asking where I bought the panel from for the Pandora.

If you spend the time, it is fine.

ttaskmaster · 2 Mar 2016 at 16:43

davido_labido said:
I think U-channel makes everything look far more untidy tbh... there is always the join and it just looks a mess... Do it right, spend the time and you cant tell....

It better fit the look I was going for anyway, but I also wanted it to cushion fan vibration. As is the window, despite being pretty thick, can still flex and vibrate as the fans generate backpressure and themselves vibrate somewhat, but the effect is reduced by the u-channel.

I cut mine tight enough that there's barely a crack at the joint and it's not somewhere obvious like bottom-centre of the edge. It looks no worse than seeing the same thing on a brand new car.

sneaker · 3 Mar 2016 at 20:53

I will give it ago as it is a old case now so not to harm if it doesn't go right! haha!

Looking forward to it though and will post pictures when doing it see how easy it actually is to make a good finish of it.

Cause I want to spray the inside black as well as im going for black / white theme in the case.

Thanks for all your comments it's really appreciated!!!