Laser etched case windows in SA? Anyone?

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Tiny3001

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I'm planning on getting myself a nice case some time in the future and I've already warned the wife that I plan on going all out with this one.

Now, I might have missed out on the whole case modding scene, with UV cables and CCFL tubes and what not, but I am telling you now, I want to do this before I turn 30, darnit! :D

So, I've been looking for something spectacular for the case window and I came upon this:

Laser Etched Case Windows

They look fantastic and my mind is already awash with different combinations or a collage of all my favourite games, etc.

The only problem is that I have not been able to find anyone that can do this in South Africa?

Do you know someone? Or know someone who knows someone?

Please, it's got to be cheaper than importing one of these expensive (albeit beautiful) babies...

Just to make you drool some more, here's another pic of an etched case window that's been lit:

Star Wars Case Window

Seriously, how can you not be drooling right now???
 
No idea where you are going to find someone here to do that.

But what's the deal with 30? I'll slightly over that and act like a real kid everytime I upgrade something. :D
 
Don't know if this tickles your fancy.... probably a little overpriced due to importing, but not sure whether you include this as importing as it's from Take2 :)

Air Brushed cases
 
Air brushed... hmmm... custom case... hmmm... aha, this means learning to airbrush with a cheapy airbrush kit from the hobby shop. :D That's what makes custom projects custom. ;)
 
TheRift said:
Air brushed... hmmm... custom case... hmmm... aha, this means learning to airbrush with a cheapy airbrush kit from the hobby shop. :D That's what makes custom projects custom. ;)
Click to expand...

That, or the price tag would make it pretty 'custom' in these parts :D
 
Hahaha, yeah Rift, thanks for giving me a bit of hope, it means I can act like a child for just a bit longer ;)

I don't know, I suspect I'll be fifty one day and still upgrading my machine and holding Warhammer tournaments. Maybe it's just a generational thing ;)

Thanks for those links, I will definitely be contacting these people!

@Phreeme Yes, that's might be just out my price range ;) I'm more likely to spend that on my machine, not my case :eek:

@TheRift Yes, that case is nice... but something about the wood with metal parts sticking out isn't that nice... I love the hinged door on it, but then again, I don't like doors on cases... I hate opening things to be able to access DVD drives etc.

Quite frankly, I'm looking at a standard case with a window, I just want the window to be spectacular... I do know someone that can do laser cutting, so maybe I should get a standard perspex (or acrylic?) window and just cut out some nice shapes, ala Half-Life logo, or CS logo, or something... Apparently, laser cutting is not the same as engraving, but something like this:

Case Windows

The case I'm looking at now, because I like the minimal look, is this Coolermaster case:

Coolermaster Elite 310

I have seen this case around locally, so procuring it won't be a problem. Also, I think green lighting with the blue borders will look pretty cool... but hey, that's just me :)

Man, so many ideas... still wouldn't mind the Hyperkore HyperKolor stuff :P
 
Yes, there is. Look around the automotive paint companies. Some very cool stuff which will work well on a PC... but suck when you see a car with it on. :D

I have an idea; instead of creating an etched side window why don't you create an actual 3D one? Get some models of action figures or other stuff which could make for a nice display. Maybe something like the Falcon breaking out of the window. Lay it all up on a flat surface, cut the models where you want, etc. Then take a rubber mold. Once that is ready, get clear plastic and pour it into the mold. When it is ready, remove it and you'll have a clear side window with a 3D figure busting out of it. :D

Sounds well tedious, but it would be fun to do.

Have a look around for products made by a company called "smooth-on".
 
Tiny3001 said:
@TheRift Yes, that case is nice... but something about the wood with metal parts sticking out isn't that nice... I love the hinged door on it, but then again, I don't like doors on cases... I hate opening things to be able to access DVD drives etc.
Click to expand...

That's the way mods are. It's never to everyone's taste. I just think the level of workmanship is excellent. It covers both metalwork and woodwork. I guess having the proper tools for both materials is key.

I also don't like doors, but my CMStacker830 has a door on the front and I actually prefer it on this machine. I hardly ever use the optical drive these days. Also unlike other cases the door on this thing is proper aluminium and not plastic which can be irritating as I've had those break so easily on other machines.
 
Yip, I know. Planning a trip there sometime for stuff to mess up the house with. :D
 
@TheRift Yes it would be fun to do, but would require some serious time!

Let me make you scratch your head again, and take a look at these mods:

Invisible PC

Aluminium Version

Sorry, my mind has been trying to recall all the great case mods I've seen over the years... this one is pretty good though...

A Millenium Falcon bursting out the side though... *drools*
 
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That's pretty cool. :D

Yes, always time consuming, but sometimes doing a rush job just gets you something that is the same as everyone elses.

They can pack these things in anywhere these days. Even more can be done if you for the fanless embedded PCs and so on. But then what's the point 'cos you don't get much power out of them. I see manufacturers packing full featured chipsets now into mini-ITX form which should change that, but once again it means using up space for cooling, etc.

Then again, we're going to see the Asus EeeKeyboard PC coming out this year. How the hell do you mod something like that? :D It's pretty much invisible too.
 
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