Off-The-Chart
Expert Member
Nope, Pretoria
oooooooooo
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: Have you ever been to an airshow?
Custom PC case - Multi Hex MKII
- Thread starter Archer
- Start date
oooooooooo
Archer
Honorary Master
I've managed to assemble and put in some dummy parts for testing fit and clearance. I did however run into a few issues, the first of which seems to be a problem with the data I gave to the laser cutters. For whatever reason one of the bends didn't pull through (even though all of them were made the same way) and so it got left out :/ So I was forced to get some aluminium angle and apply a little elbow grease to the situation
So from this...
To this (basically need to additional points for attaching the side panel)
And with that done no problem getting the side on
From the previous photo you should also be able to make out four holes on the right half of the front panel. That is problem number two - the reservoir I got has nice drawings on the manufacturers website with dimensions for those holes... except they are wrong
I'm still pondering the cleanest way to fix that. The tricky part is the the holes are M4, and they are only out by 2mm (any more and I'd simply drill a new hole) which means I will need to create a slot, or only use the top 2 holes to bolt on the res
Then the last thing, I had made a cutout for a permanent drain port at the back, but the centers of the hole vs the port is out by 1 or 2mm. Easy fix though, I just need to borrow a 25mm hole saw
On the plus side, as you may have noticed the motherboard fits nicely, as well as the PSU. I was a little worried while designing that the PSU bracket would be flimsy but reasoned that how it sits and attaches it should be fine, the one installed here confirmed that. The bottom bracket that acts as the foot of that case is also very sturdy.
So from this...
To this (basically need to additional points for attaching the side panel)
And with that done no problem getting the side on
From the previous photo you should also be able to make out four holes on the right half of the front panel. That is problem number two - the reservoir I got has nice drawings on the manufacturers website with dimensions for those holes... except they are wrong
I'm still pondering the cleanest way to fix that. The tricky part is the the holes are M4, and they are only out by 2mm (any more and I'd simply drill a new hole) which means I will need to create a slot, or only use the top 2 holes to bolt on the resThen the last thing, I had made a cutout for a permanent drain port at the back, but the centers of the hole vs the port is out by 1 or 2mm. Easy fix though, I just need to borrow a 25mm hole saw
On the plus side, as you may have noticed the motherboard fits nicely, as well as the PSU. I was a little worried while designing that the PSU bracket would be flimsy but reasoned that how it sits and attaches it should be fine, the one installed here confirmed that. The bottom bracket that acts as the foot of that case is also very sturdy.
Last edited:
Archer
Honorary Master
And then a few more random photos to show off a bit 
(new post because of the 8 image per post rule)
(new post because of the 8 image per post rule)
Last edited:
Off-The-Chart
Expert Member
oooo, saw the assembly over at Bit and was wondering when gonna post here...
by slot you mean maybe make the one hole a "double wide"? (2x M4 next to each other...)
no custom reservoir bracket?
now to hope the actual PSU going into system line up with grill hey
by slot you mean maybe make the one hole a "double wide"? (2x M4 next to each other...)
no custom reservoir bracket?
now to hope the actual PSU going into system line up with grill hey
Archer
Honorary Master
oooo, saw the assembly over at Bit and was wondering when gonna post here...
by slot you mean maybe make the one hole a "double wide"? (2x M4 next to each other...)
no custom reservoir bracket?
now to hope the actual PSU going into system line up with grill hey
Ya that is essentially what I'll do for a slot, drill another M4 next to it and then find a tiny file somewhere to clean it up.
I am using the XSPC Photon res (I see they have updated their dimensions now
), so I didn't feel the need to make a custom bracket for it. First prize would've been a custom reservoir (which I actually designed) but I scrapped it mostly because of cost :/ Maybe next time (or maybe for someone, wink wink, nudge nudge)And that test PSU is a pile of junk, I decided to take it out this morning and it is off center! I'll load up a photo later for proof
AstroTurf
Lucky Shot
- Joined
- May 13, 2010
- Messages
- 32,113
- Reaction score
- 6,119
Ya that is essentially what I'll do for a slot, drill another M4 next to it and then find a tiny file somewhere to clean it up.
I am using the XSPC Photon res (I see they have updated their dimensions now
And that test PSU is a pile of junk, I decided to take it out this morning and it is off center! I'll load up a photo later for proof
Needle files cost around R35 a kit.
A cheap fake dremel is about R150 with plenty attachments and tips, would be even easier.
Last edited:
Archer
Honorary Master
Electric
Honorary Master
The Dragon is Boksburg as well though.
I bet he already has multiple leds planned.
I'm surprised he didn't go full plexiglass and red leds.
Archer
Honorary Master
Tsek!
I really wanted this case to not be a disco ball, so I am trying (we'll see how well it turns out) to give it a bit of character/uniqueness without the 70's feverBelow is the age old PSU that made me all upset since it didn't line up with the vent at the back. But as you can see it does feature an off centre fan for some reason, so my actual PSU should line up just fine
Or at the very least, the horizontal axis will be fine
furpile
Expert Member
Below is the age old PSU that made me all upset since it didn't line up with the vent at the back. But as you can see it does feature an off centre fan for some reason, so my actual PSU should line up just fine
Thats because it's a hard drive! According to limitless anyway
Case is looking very nice. You think you will ever try a skeleton type? Like the Antec one? Makes sense to me to have the mobo lying flat so that the gpu is vertical.
Budza
Executive Member
Thats because it's a hard drive! According to limitless anyway
Case is looking very nice. You think you will ever try a skeleton type? Like the Antec one? Makes sense to me to have the mobo lying flat so that the gpu is vertical.
Haha, I saw that.
Muppets!
Archer
Honorary Master
Thats because it's a hard drive! According to limitless anyway
Case is looking very nice. You think you will ever try a skeleton type? Like the Antec one? Makes sense to me to have the mobo lying flat so that the gpu is vertical.
Thanks
I don't think I'd make a case like that for myself, but having said that I do have a few rough CAD models floating around somewhere for a very open design case. Thing is, I would quite happily design and build cases (and other random things) 24/7 but there are simply too few simoleons for that
furpile
Expert Member
Thanks
I don't think I'd make a case like that for myself, but having said that I do have a few rough CAD models floating around somewhere for a very open design case. Thing is, I would quite happily design and build cases (and other random things) 24/7 but there are simply too few simoleons for that
I agree, too many things to spend it on
I wouldn't mind building my own case but I don't have the time to do it now. Maybe someday. Did you just go off measurements for existing components you had? Or can you find standard dimensions somewhere? Like mobo mounting points etc.
Archer
Honorary Master
You can find dimensions online, just gotta be careful. I've seen 3D models that contradict each other (motherboards are particularly bad) so you rather go off of the actual ATX spec (formfactors.org).
But as this project has proven manufacturers from time to time provide incorrect info on their sites, so everything should ideally be double checked with actual parts, but again that is very simoleon dependant Luckily you only need to get it right once, and then you've got the CAD models forever. For this project I have been dutifully updating my CAD as I have been making changes to the real parts.
But as this project has proven manufacturers from time to time provide incorrect info on their sites, so everything should ideally be double checked with actual parts, but again that is very simoleon dependant
Luckily you only need to get it right once, and then you've got the CAD models forever. For this project I have been dutifully updating my CAD as I have been making changes to the real parts.
Messugga
Honorary Master
Google Sketchup has models of pretty much all popular boards and cards as well. And it's easy to use. So you don't need to go fiddle with measurements.
furpile
Expert Member
Thanks. Will check those out.
Archer
Honorary Master
Only a small update today - fixing that hole at the back for the drain port. I detailed each step, maybe it'll help someone in future with a similar problem.
First, marking out where I want the hole, just a little up and to the left. I simply used the hole saw as the guide.
Then clamp it down as good as you can, and remember the backing piece.
I marked the center by eye balling it with the hole saw, the final mark being made with a proper center punch. Next I took a small drill bit (M4) to make a pilot hole. The hole saw comes with what looks like a M6 bit, I went smaller because I feel that makes a better guide
Now this was my first time using a hole saw, I took it slow with minimal pressure and let the drill do the work... moment of truth...
Didn't look half bad at that point, and after a test fit to the drain valve, seems like that is one less thing on my to do list :thumb:
Next update will likely happen after I find where I "stored" (ie hid from myself) my mini files for creating the slots to mount the reservoir
First, marking out where I want the hole, just a little up and to the left. I simply used the hole saw as the guide.
Then clamp it down as good as you can, and remember the backing piece.
I marked the center by eye balling it with the hole saw, the final mark being made with a proper center punch. Next I took a small drill bit (M4) to make a pilot hole. The hole saw comes with what looks like a M6 bit, I went smaller because I feel that makes a better guide
Now this was my first time using a hole saw, I took it slow with minimal pressure and let the drill do the work... moment of truth...
Didn't look half bad at that point, and after a test fit to the drain valve, seems like that is one less thing on my to do list :thumb:
Next update will likely happen after I find where I "stored" (ie hid from myself) my mini files for creating the slots to mount the reservoir
Off-The-Chart
Expert Member
oooo, nice fix and looking good