Project Stealthlow

[EniGmA1981]

If the above is possible, i have to admit, it balances the look of case as it smoothes the lines and overall look of the case - plus it seems more in keeping with your original concept of the over all aesthetic appearence.

If it's possible, personally, i think its a subtle and classy improvement - but if it's not possible i'm sure you'll find a suitable compromise.

Great updates as usual - really enjoy and admire your endevours - keep it up.

+1 that looks good IMO

Maybe make the strips go right out to the edges of the case so it looks like it's just held in place by the side pieces, not by 'a piece bolted to the side pieces' if you get me...

 

[ReU_VOoDOo]

One suggestion, it might be possible to turn the bars that run across into some led strips, and use a foggy acrylic instead of a metal so it lets it shine through and balance the light. I know its crazy and a lot of work, don't shoot me I'm just a visionary!!! Lol

 

[waynio]

If the above is possible, i have to admit, it balances the look of case as it smoothes the lines and overall look of the case - plus it seems more in keeping with your original concept of the over all aesthetic appearence.

If it's possible, personally, i think its a subtle and classy improvement - but if it's not possible i'm sure you'll find a suitable compromise.

Great updates as usual - really enjoy and admire your endevours - keep it up.

Yeah I'm seeing it as the thing to do now, I could do it in aluminium but I'd really like to do it in copper with bevelled edges like the chunky bits on a silverstone & polish them up, hopefully the 10 working days delivery isn't true & I get to start on it next week, I ordered some possibly much better copper paint also & if it's good enough I might paint the fan mount bars saving a load of work & keep the weight down but mostly ordered it to see if it is a close match to copper & if so I'll re paint the pci/io piece, just feel it could look better but I'll know for sure once I get to test the new paint out .

+1 that looks good IMO

Maybe make the strips go right out to the edges of the case so it looks like it's just held in place by the side pieces, not by 'a piece bolted to the side pieces' if you get me...

I know what you mean but nah I'm thinking of a full length bar about the size of the copper tabs legth wise with bevelled edges going straight to the bottom of the material so it fills the hairline gap between the acrylic & alu so still has the flush fit appearence, it's a bit difficult explaining it properly lol .

One suggestion, it might be possible to turn the bars that run across into some led strips, and use a foggy acrylic instead of a metal so it lets it shine through and balance the light. I know its crazy and a lot of work, don't shoot me I'm just a visionary!!! Lol

I've not got to the point of considering lighting yet if any, I know the enermax apollish white LED fans boom a good light so the bottom section is sorted but I think I'll have to see how everything is once installed before I can properly consider lighting options, the curve bars & top of edge of the side panels make for a nice spot for an LED strip for some subtle lighting, I know I don't want it like a christmas tree though hehe .

Hmm I just understood what you meant , so the bars have a glow, could be very difficult that though as the bars are 10mmx3mm so really probably too thin for that, not a bad idea though with a low powered light .

 

[EniGmA1981]

I know what you mean but nah I'm thinking of a full length bar about the size of the copper tabs legth wise with bevelled edges going straight to the bottom of the material so it fills the hairline gap between the acrylic & alu so still has the flush fit appearence, it's a bit difficult explaining it properly lol .

Yeah, that makes sense to me will have to give you my oppinion when you've done it... if I don't like it - change it LOL

 

[Diggsy]

I like the photoshop mockup and that's pretty much what I meant apart from leaving it short, but I can see how that would look good!

Also would it be possible to get heli-coils or similar to only go half way into the copper so that you can screw it on from inside and effectively have all the screws hidden? Would give it a really clean finish

 

[waynio]

Yeah, that makes sense to me will have to give you my oppinion when you've done it... if I don't like it - change it LOL

lol

I like the photoshop mockup and that's pretty much what I meant apart from leaving it short, but I can see how that would look good!

Also would it be possible to get heli-coils or similar to only go half way into the copper so that you can screw it on from inside and effectively have all the screws hidden? Would give it a really clean finish

The copper sheet is ordered & hopefully I won't be waiting 10 working days lol.
I'm sure helicoils probably do come in 1 to 2mm depths but I don't know where to get them, the shortest depth helicoils I know of where to buy are 3mm & to do that what you said about keeping the bolt heads unseen the top bar piece would need to be thicker like 4 or 5mm I'd say 5mm & wow that would cost a lot in copper .

But I suppose I could double up at the points of where the mounting holes go but I'd have to make them into really nice as seamless as possible bevels so it didn't look bad, it's something to consider but it would be ultra fiddly to install when I think about it .
Think I'd just paint the bolt heads .

 

[Diggsy]

2mm helicoils here... http://www1.mscdirect.com/eCommerce...77cnf?refinement=4292352667&searchandizedOk=Y

In USA, but they are only $1 each, and I am sure it wouldn't cost much to ship them

 

[waynio]

2mm helicoils here... http://www1.mscdirect.com/eCommerce...77cnf?refinement=4292352667&searchandizedOk=Y

In USA, but they are only $1 each, and I am sure it wouldn't cost much to ship them

Good find Diggsy & it's awesome of you to go & search for some but that's expensive especially for m2 x 2mm helicoils, I get 20 m3x3mm helicoils for £4 with free postage on ebay + to be honest it would be extremely hit & miss to get the drilling done right + you need a little extra depth so you can make an ok thread, not sure if you know but helicoils require the holes tapping still so the best bet to hide them I think would be to double up in the spots where the bolts go but then it would have bumps along the bar & could be difficult to make them appear as part of the bar, but I'll see if I can manage to cut or even grind 1 down so it's shorter, might be possible I'll run a couple of tests to see if I could do it on 3mm material, I'll have to get the depth stop out for it .

Hmm actually the sheet of copper that is coming would be enough to do 2 bars for each side so could make it a double step bevel, this would allow for hidden helicoils or even nut inserts for a sturdier option.

I have clinch nuts (awesome name btw lol) these get used on pci expansion slots on quality cases but to use them in a way where it would keep the bolts hidden I'm not sure but I think it could probably pull them out so I think I'll just countersink all the mounting spots & paint the tops of the bolts copper, got a new copper paint coming soon that's supposed to be a lot more like copper & is reflective which if true I might re paint the pci/io piece also, it's called Plastikote Brilliant Metallic Copper, I'll test it out on some scrap to see how good it is & if I'm happy with it I could have a good few uses for it .

I took the day off as I've not been feeling too good with lack of sleep & something annoying me, got over the annoying thing but staying up the rest of the day to get my pattern straight so might be back onto doing some bits tomorrow .

 

[Diggsy]

You're more than welcome mate, and yes I know what you mean, it would be very difficult indeed to get it just right when you will only have 1mm leeway

I don't think the double thickness bars is a good idea really, think it would be very difficult to get perfect, and would probably be a little too thick.

Your idea of painting the bolt heads will certainly be the easiest one, and to get the colour perfect, you could always buy a few different car touch ups and mix them

EDIT - hmmm, I wonder could you glue bolts to the copper bars with some super strength adhesive, or weld them on maybe, then attach the bars from the inside of the case with nuts? Might be another way to hide the fixings and leave a perfectly smooth finish on the outside.

 

[EniGmA1981]

EDIT - hmmm, I wonder could you glue bolts to the copper bars with some super strength adhesive, or weld them on maybe, then attach the bars from the inside of the case with nuts? Might be another way to hide the fixings and leave a perfectly smooth finish on the outside.

That's a damn good idea, maybe drill a recess to sink the bolt-head into the bar, then cover it with epoxy or something similar, or if you wanted to be more extreme, Chemical Metal/JB Weld maybe...

 

[waynio]

You're more than welcome mate, and yes I know what you mean, it would be very difficult indeed to get it just right when you will only have 1mm leeway

I don't think the double thickness bars is a good idea really, think it would be very difficult to get perfect, and would probably be a little too thick.

Your idea of painting the bolt heads will certainly be the easiest one, and to get the colour perfect, you could always buy a few different car touch ups and mix them

EDIT - hmmm, I wonder could you glue bolts to the copper bars with some super strength adhesive, or weld them on maybe, then attach the bars from the inside of the case with nuts? Might be another way to hide the fixings and leave a perfectly smooth finish on the outside.

Good idea but would only be able to do that on the left side becasue of the mobo tray on the right, I won't give up on the idea of clean looking bars too easily though mate .

That's a damn good idea, maybe drill a recess to sink the bolt-head into the bar, then cover it with epoxy or something similar, or if you wanted to be more extreme, Chemical Metal/JB Weld maybe...

There will be a way I'm sure but I'll get to it when I'm doing that part .

Sleep pattern fixed I hope & took some pictures in better light.

Designed & printed & marked the shape of the vents on 4 individual pieces because each 1 will be very slightly different.

Stuck them down to the 3mm copper sheet with cello tape, I'd do a lot better if I used adhesive spray but don't have any & couldn't be bothered with waiting for a delivery or going out to get some lol anyway got it spot drilled & drilled, I was going to use a 4mm drill bit but it was really blunt & getting nothing done so went to the 3.5mm bit.

Then took it to the fretsaw & this was a point where I wish I went & got some spray adhesive so had to be really careful I wasn't going inside the cut line, I really must buy some spray adhesive before I do the other 3, it would make it a lot easier.

Cleaned off all the cello tape.

Got the big stew pan which I partly used for curving the main curve bars & heated up the copper piece a lot & then clamped it at 3 points to make it curved.

It was curved a bit too much so had to carefully whack it with a mallet on a solid metal piece so used the vice & with the shape not being exact with it not being stuck down properly I had to take it back & forth to the disc sander shaving bit by bit off until it plonked into the vent hole & here is the first 1 done wooooo .

 

[Josh P]

Your hard work is paying off mate, been following this elsewhere - top job!

 

[waynio]

Your hard work is paying off mate, been following this elsewhere - top job!

Cheers Josh being able to see it now in the pictures I think I'll make the long tabs thin like maybe 10 to 15mm so it just about holds the window in place & doesn't cut off any air flow from the front vents, it'll make it easier to curve too .

 

[Guitarman0]

Looks great

 

[waynio]

Looks great

Thanks Guitarman0, I'm taking a time out until I get either spray adhesive or double sided cello tape for sticking the printed templates on the material, it'll make the process easier & more accurate .

 

[Shayper]

2 words. Absolutely epic!

 

[waynio]

2 words. Absolutely epic!

Cheers Shayper .

The big sheet of copper arrived today but still need an adhesive so ordered a few power pritt sticks lol, should do the job of keeping the templates in place for drilling & cutting though .

In the meantime I could mark & cut the copper sheet for the strips as I did for all the other bits tomorrow or even today . Think I'll stick to using the fretsaw to stop me wasting any of the copper, jigsaw wastes about 1 to 1.5mm of material, the fretsaw takes a smidge of a mm probably 0.2mm .

 

[JohnTedd]

Looking great!

 

[Player318]

Congratulations, you just killed my entire morning! I read this thread from the beginning to where your progress is now and I have to say this is wonderful work mate.

Are you intending to air cool the components once they are in or have you plotted some space for a rad (or have I missed a part where you might have already mentioned it)?

Subbed, looking forward to more progress!

 

[waynio]

Looking great!

Cheers John .

Congratulations, you just killed my entire morning! I read this thread from the beginning to where your progress is now and I have to say this is wonderful work mate.

Are you intending to air cool the components once they are in or have you plotted some space for a rad (or have I missed a part where you might have already mentioned it)?

Subbed, looking forward to more progress!

Thanks Player, yes it's all to be air cooled, but if I wanted to though there is enough room in the bottom section for 2 dual rads & res & pumps & could relocate the hdd's to the 2nd level with a little modding .

Got my head straight with some good much needed rest & got the other 3 vent meshes made today, mucked up on 1 of them somehow so re-made the 1 I mucked up .

Up next cut, bend & drill the mounting holes in the copper full length tabs.