pc project: no name atm :/

evulboo · 8 Aug 2009 at 22:24

Hey chaps, im going to begin my pc project within the next week or two and im after a bit of advice and criticism to help me along my way.

I intend to make a case out of GRP (fibreglass) i am a fibreglass moulder/finisher so i know the process will be fairly easy and need no help in that area.

I will be making a tower style case with 2 compartments, the upper will house the motherboard and cd/dvd drive whilst the lower part will house the psu and hdd's, this will be divided by a divison wall and will hopefully keep the temperature down with the correct air flow

1. Is there anything i have to do in the way of earthing as the case is made out of grp and not metal?

2. The lower compartment will have 1x 120mm fan drawing air in, is it ok to have the psu draw in out?

Here is a couple sketchs.

evulboo · 8 Aug 2009 at 22:38

I excluded the lid as to show the internal layup, the lid will be in 1 section.

Not to sure on how im going to secure the lid to the case yet, maybe some countersunk hex screws but that would be just a pain to open.

I will more then likely add a plex window just for the upper section.

evulboo · 8 Aug 2009 at 23:47

just drew a quickie with a lid to give an idea

might add a 250mm fan on top not to sure yet?

evulboo · 18 Aug 2009 at 20:23

Small update, made the mold today for the base unit of the case.

Ive made it out of high gloss melamine, with platic architrave to act as the toggle in which the lid will sit.

Hopefully tomorrow i will get around to plasticining the radiuses and doing the gel coat.

Pics of the mold so far

evulboo · 19 Aug 2009 at 20:36

Managed to get it gelled tonight, tomoz I will do the lay up ready for trimming on friday

evulboo · 21 Aug 2009 at 20:10

Next small update:

Mold plastercined and gelled

after letting it cure i then went to lay it up with 2x layers of 450 mat, i forgot my camera so no pics

Anyway i pulled it tonight and got it trimmed, need to sand and polish it but will do that in 1 hit after i cut the holes out for the mobo and fans.

ive added a dvd case in the pic so u get an idea of the size

Will order my bits tomorrow after work. Will hopefully start the lid monday.

evulboo · 22 Aug 2009 at 18:37

The internals will be as they are, i also like it this way "the matted effect". Was hoping todo a bit more today at work in making the lid mold but had been a long day will start this on monday, tuesday.

going to have a slight change in design on the front, im going to take the hdd cage and cd cage out of my antec 900 and spray them white, still keep the hdds at the bottom as before. As for the cd drive im going to stealth it behind the other cage, also going to add a fan controller and stealth it so the knobs are just showing.

Anyhow im in need of shopping for my bits

evulboo · 23 Aug 2009 at 21:41

Orderd some parts last night, fans, fan controller a couple grills, blow hole trim etc. I wanted to order the mobo tray aswell but the company was out of stock and I can't seem to find another supplier.

evulboo · 24 Aug 2009 at 19:03

Made a start on the lid today, got the mold done, plastercined and gelled, tomorrow i will do the lay up, again 2x layers of 450 mat and if i have enough time i will flowcoat it

Hopefully my parts will come at some point this week then i can crack on with the marking up etc and finishing of the case, still cant get hold off a motherboard tray, i will have to phone *cough* tomorrow to see when they get some more in stock

Anyone know of the best way to lap a cpu, ive read a few guides on the net and they all vary from a figure of 8 motion to straight line sanding

evulboo · 26 Aug 2009 at 17:50

Small update:

Got the lid finished and trimmed, still none of it been sanded and polished

had a small delivery of bits today aswell, all im waiting for is the motherboard tray then i can start marking up for cuts.

evulboo · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:52

Baplad said:
would have preferred a slot loading drive with double intake and buttons horizontal rather than verticle.

But its all up to you!

Cant wait to see this finished, keep up the good work sir!

Aye mate a slot load would be nice, i have had a slight design change in my mind, i will be placing a couple of these in the front

sprayed white ofc, 1 will be placed at the bottom to cage the hdd's instead of the fan and then the other will be placed above the devision wall, my plan is to face the dvd drive with the grill in a simple mod, i will either reroute the eject button or do an old school mod where u can press the front. i will also stealth the fan controller behind it with just the knobs showing through

Not to sure on the buttons yet maybe a couple vandal buttons?

evulboo · 26 Aug 2009 at 18:56

indyskyz said:
looks great man keep up the good work

have you looked at perspex as a lid? that would look cool

I will more then likely add a perspex window as shown in the OP but not a full wrap around window

This will be added at a later date tho.

evulboo · 30 Aug 2009 at 16:26

Hi, been quite busy the last few days with work so not been able to get much done.

I have got the case all marked up ready for cutting which i will start on tuesday/wednesday.

I have ordered some Vandal Sealed buttons that should arrive next week, the more i look at them the more i fall in love with them

Here is my v3 drawing of the case which i think will be my final decision on the lay out

evulboo · 31 Aug 2009 at 22:11

Baplad said:
That new design youve done looks a lot cleaner, cant wait to see your progress on this, and good to see you've ordered your sealed vandal's they look immense.

How much would it cost to mould something like that?

like waynio said, the modding for a custom moulded case is endless!

Im not 100% sure on how much it would cost as i am just using scraps from work and we buy in bulk. There is a supplier around the corner from us that we get a few bits when we run low on materials

http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/

If you or anyone is interested i can help explain the lay up prossess, tools needed, ratio's to mix and best materials to use for molds etc.

Thanks for all the kind words guys, i will keep u all updated as i progress.

evulboo · 19 Sep 2009 at 20:23

hi, not givin up on the project just been quite busy over the last few weeks at work, been refurbing our panel mold, basicly lapping it, imagine lapping a cpu thats 3x8 meters :/ not fun

Anyway i'll be picking up the project again within the next 2weeks, all the cut outs are done just need to make the shelf then start polishing at fitting out