phinix nanoTower - Smallest and most powerful mITX rig !

Krazypoloc said:
Wow....amazing amount of time and effort put into this! Looking amazing keep up the good work!
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Here's how I'm planning to use those acrylic pieces.

This is the top comb, it will be mounted on long thin piece of acrylic on the rear edge of 10mm top acrylic panel.

sketchup280710-1.jpg


This is the rear view on all combs..

sketchup280710-2.jpg


..and here is side view, two combs on top and bottom, same other side.

sketchup280710-3.jpg
 
This is awesome very nice.
just wondering couldn't you just put the CPU in the same loop as the GPU?
 
Last edited:
Mk32 said:
This is awesome very nice.
just wondering couldn't you just put the CPU in the same loop as the GPU?
Click to expand...

Thank you!
Simply - that would be too easy! :)
I want to keep gpu in separated loop and keep fans on slow speed, that is the target. H50 will cool cpu perfectly, I tried it and it's fantastic.
Anyway, two loops sounds better than one:D
Truth is, This project is all about "maximum" and "impossible", so I couldn't just put it all in one loop;)
 
phinix said:
Thanks!

Here's how I'm planning to use those acrylic pieces.

This is the top comb, it will be mounted on long thin piece of acrylic on the rear edge of 10mm top acrylic panel.

http://www.phinix-net.com/NanoTower/sketchup images/sketchup280710-1.jpg[IMG]

This is the rear view on all combs..

[IMG]http://www.phinix-net.com/NanoTower/sketchup images/sketchup280710-2.jpg[IMG]

..and here is side view, two combs on top and bottom, same other side.

[IMG]http://www.phinix-net.com/NanoTower/sketchup images/sketchup280710-3.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

bad ass comes to mind!
Click to expand...
 
phinix said:
Thank you!
Simply - that would be too easy! :)
I want to keep gpu in separated loop and keep fans on slow speed, that is the target. H50 will cool cpu perfectly, I tried it and it's fantastic.
Anyway, two loops sounds better than one:D
Truth is, This project is all about "maximum" and "impossible", so I couldn't just put it all in one loop;)
Click to expand...

You are a hard man to satisfy, lol. :cool:
Well enjoy I will be subing.
 
Mk32 said:
You are a hard man to satisfy, lol. :cool:
Well enjoy I will be subing.
Click to expand...

mnpctech said:
I love the idea of the heatsink style fins for the acrylic pieces :)
Click to expand...


Thanks guys!

UPDATE TIME! YAY! :D

OK, again, it is pretty small update. Basically what I did was I measured up and drilled holes for rivets in side panels. It was pretty hard, cause the holes had to be in exact same place on top cover nad main panel, so I spent few extra minutes to make sure holes are all align perfectly... To be honest I hate this kind of job cause there is no second chance, if you screw it up, you need to cut new panel...:eeek:
But it all went well, I didn't have to re-drill any of the holes so they are all fine:)
First I marked holes on top cover, then drilled them. After that I aligned covers on side panel and started making marks in the drilled holes...

Here it is, top covers landed on side panel... pen in my hand.. no breathing.. steady... point.

020810-01.jpg


020810-02.jpg


020810-03.jpg



This one here is the side panel screw hole, one hole on each panel ended up half uncovered, so I will have to file a nice hole around it, hex shape hole, to match the theme. Rest of the holes are under covers, so I just drilled them through.

020810-04.jpg



Now, here's the QUESTION!
I need to attach those covers to side panels with something.
Which should I go with - black rivet, cap head screw or button head?

020810-05.jpg


020810-06.jpg



See, really nice holes drilled through both alu panels:D
I'm really happy that all went well. It was around 200 drills made! Including cleaning with coutersunk drill bit of course:)
I attached covers with small M3 screws for now to keep them together.

020810-07.jpg


020810-08.jpg


All holes drilled and cleaned, second panel to be showed later!

Now, I should do some more work this week, if not, then weekend, so stay tuned!!!:rock:
 
Last edited:
Now that.... is badass, Wish even Lian Li could put out something with that amount of workmanship.

For me, Its between the button head and rivets : P The cap heads give it to much of the human element, with the rest of the case looking as though its paneling on a space fighter or something!
Though that is a personal call, nothing can detract from the majesty of the case... Except perhaps a real life Trog Dor.
 
i think button heads or rivets as well.

but i like the button head because they have the hexagonal shape of the hex head in them, which i think plays into your theme.

plus you can take it apart and put it back together without having to drill out rivits.
 
Last edited:
ZygoatD said:
i think button heads or rivets as well.

but i like the button head because they have the hexagonal shape of the hex head in them, which i think plays into your theme.

plus you can take it apart and put it back together without having to drill out rivits.
Click to expand...

+1, for the same reasons. The cap heads look too clunky and pronounced on this design.
 
Thank you guys for your suggestions!
All I can say, I just ordered 40 black button head screws:)
 
Truly inspiring project! Thanks so much for taking the time to share these pics and your work with us!!
 
Now...

I have been thinking about the color fo the panels: should I powder coat all matte black or maybe frame black, main panels on some brighter color, like gun metal or dark grey then cover panels on black again? Then those gaps between would be more visible...
What do you guys think about colors?
 
I always prefer to make some mockups of each option first, then pick from those :)
 
i think powder coated black. then you can play with finish textures to add some depth and class. ie. some matte, some gloss.
 
OK.. I guess this is time for new update:)

This weekend I was working on top panel. That clear acrylic, god damn 10mm thick piece of plastic:wallbash: If you don't have router or laser cutter and all you have is dremel with small cutting wheels, then your work with 10mm thick acrylic will be full of pain, sweat and tears:waah:

But, after few hours spent on this I finished it and pretty happy with the result.

Basically after painful cutting holes for dvd and H50 fan, I measured and drilled 4 holes for top aluminum cover. Of course I used my famous threaded insert + soldering iron trick for mounts.
After few minutes with hot solder iron tip, I had this:)

080810-01.jpg



Threaded inserts in the hole!

080810-08.jpg



I know, dvd holes i a bit "funky" in left top corner, but no worries, it will be covered with dvd aluminium cover. Like this:)

080810-02.jpg



If you noticed, there are black lines drew on each corner - that is where I need to file this acrylic panel.
Corners of the NanoTower will be cut off and flat, not sharp like regular square.

Now, I had an idea how I'm going to light up the top panel, even for a bit, so here it is: I fabricated small yellow acrylic piece that will go under the top panel. It has longer corners for mounting holes.

080810-03.jpg



Also cut out small piece of mesh, which will cover the hole in top panel. Its a bit dirty on that photo but its after drilling in acrylic, acrylic powder was everywhere:D

080810-04.jpg



This is how they both go under the panel. You can also see I had to cut out more acrylic on both sides for power button and USB socket.

080810-05.jpg


It looks pretty cool. What I'm going to do later is I'm going to slap some frost film I got from Mark - mrdbristol - on that acrylic, few layers, then add leds behind it to light it up.

Here are few photos with sun light going through it...

080810-06.jpg


080810-07.jpg


Then I drilled and using small M3 button head screws I mounted mesh, yellow acrylic piece to the top aluminium cover panel, so it looks like this.

080810-09.jpg



This acrylic panel will be spray painted matte black when the other bit will be done.
Right now I'm done and going to make some nice dinner after all that hard work ;)
See you soon!:rock:
 
phinix said:
Thank you guys for your suggestions!
All I can say, I just ordered 40 black button head screws:)
Click to expand...

nooooooooooO! jk, that was my favorite too. this is going to look so good. it already is actually! :) keep it up!
 
ekuest said:
nooooooooooO! jk, that was my favorite too. this is going to look so good. it already is actually! :) keep it up!
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Yesterday I received pack of nice small M3 full nuts, so that means I will be working on my side panels.
It is a bit tricky cause I need to drill trhough mainpanels and covers exactly in the same place, using drill bit smaller than 3mm, cause the thickness of acrylic "comb teeth" is 3mm. That means hole must be smaller, so each tooth will cover the hole. Then small yellow leds will be attached behind the main panel so the light will go through those holes and light up the acrylic pieces. Each comb has 6 teeth, I will be using 3 leds strips for each, that means I need to drill 18 holes for every comb and that is 72 holes in total!
eeek.gif

That will be tricky. They must be aligned perfectly.
I think I will start from glueing those teeth together to rear acrylic plate, then measure and align points for holes. Anyway, I'm really scared to do that, but have to face this now
eeek.gif
bit-thumbsup.gif
 
This is my favorite project to date man. You are doing a wonderful job and I want to buy it from you when its done ;)
 
Guys, I finished the front panel design. Now, I have two versions, difference is very small - small hex shapes in version 1 are fully covered with balck aluminium, version 2 has a bit smaller aluminium parts where acrylic ones come out on edges a bit.
Imagine that both versions are lighten up from behind with yellow led, every single hex shape.
Version 1 is more stealth, light will glow around hex shapes only if the pc is on. Second version will have small yellow edges, however mind that even if pc is off, they won't be seen so easily cause background will be black and this transparent yellow acrylic doesn't look great on black surface...

front version 1.jpg

front version 2.jpg


What do you guys think? Version 1? Or second? Isn't the second one too "honeycomb"?
I think I prefer version 1, more mistique, more stealth, more "nano".

But wanted to hear your thoughts.
 
Not to be insulting (please don't take this wrong), but doesn't that look a bit like some of XFX's GPU cooler designs?

I'd also go for V2, since it looks a bit more unique. I am trying to imagine what it would look like with lighting, too.
 
looking good man. i like the lighted one better. itll look badass in the dark. keep in mind though that if its in your room then lights can get pretty annoying at night. :)
 
Last edited:
Thank you all for your suggestions.

OK ... it's time for small update.
First few days ago small envelope came to me - M3 full nuts for panel covers. We decided we are going to use button head screws, so I needed these...

190810-01.jpg



Now, here is something that I found out few days ago....
Both, top and bottom acrylic panels supposed to touch top and bottom aluminium panels, but there were M6 screws on its way on each corner. I don't really wanted to cut out holes in acrylic to hide those screw heads. So I ordered some countersink screws...

Problem....

190810-08.jpg


190810-09.jpg



Solution...

190810-10.jpg



Result...

190810-11.jpg


190810-12.jpg



Nice and clean, exactly as I wanted it to be.

Now, I don't remember showing you my new mobo tray...

190810-13.jpg


190810-14.jpg



OK. Now another thing.. I tried to make a "mock-up" of that hex shape that will be on the front panel. I used some black cd envelope for it, so please don't laugh:blush:

190810-02.jpg


190810-03.jpg


190810-04.jpg


190810-05.jpg


190810-06.jpg


190810-07.jpg



So.. I don't know.. I'm still liking the first version, cause it's kinda stealth, but still can be seen. It is the shape that needs to be exposed, not a lot of light. That small, gentle glow around hex shape looks nice. You will still beable to see egde from some angle, which will be shiny yellow. Well, I can always file down a bit all edges of those aluminium pieces on top to make that edge anyway. First would be great to see it all on satin black powder coated case:)


So that is it for now...

...and once again at the end of this update.... Isn't that nice?:blush:

190810-15.jpg
 
awesome work, everytime I see updates on this, it just gets better and better.
 
The mock up of those hex lights you made don't look bad at all for just using some paper to make the front cover. Keep up the good work. This should look great when it's done.

P.S. I also vote for the second design picture.
 
FrEaKy said:
awesome work, everytime I see updates on this, it just gets better and better.
Click to expand...

lillimon04 said:
Looks great man. I vote for the second picture also.
Click to expand...

Cschill1290 said:
The mock up of those hex lights you made don't look bad at all for just using some paper to make the front cover. Keep up the good work. This should look great when it's done.

P.S. I also vote for the second design picture.
Click to expand...


Guys, thank you for your opinions! I'm happy you like the build!
 
OK.. another update! ... What?!.... Yep! Another one! ALREADY! :D

Nothing huge, just a few small things, but wanted to show.

First, small thing I had to do. There are always HUNDREDS of small things that need to be done during project. A lot of small addons, corrections, tweaks, but they must be done.
Few days ago I tried to fit PSU to in the power chamber. I noticed that there was 3mm missing.. I was like.. WHAT?!!:wallbash: Then I noticed that two screws holding side wall of power chamber were too long.. so I implemented my "dremel harassment" and two screws stopped being a problem. PSU fitted nicely and I was happy again:)

Those two screws one the left side, covered with nuts and not even a single mm coming out of them:D

220810-01.jpg



Next, I finally finished all mountings for power chamber.
I had this L shape alu profile, so cut out small piece, cut off 1cm along the edge so it would fit in next to the acrylic piece under power chamber top panel and riveted it to the sides.
(...and yes, I will shorten those screws later:) )

220810-02.jpg



Now, side of the power chamber looks like this...

220810-03.jpg



Lovely rivets:)

220810-04.jpg


220810-05.jpg


220810-06.jpg



Here, those two screws are holding top panel. If I need to take off top panel, I simply unscrew them with hand. Easy peasy...:thumb:

220810-07.jpg



Now last thing I did lately. I finally mounted top acrylic panel to the Tower.
I changed the idea of using some locker kits and decided to use two screws that I can unscrew by hand. Easiest way possible.

I drilled and threaded holes in top aluminium panel...

220810-08.jpg




Both sides...

220810-09.jpg




Then I drilled holes in top acrylic/alu combo panel...

220810-10.jpg




..and added two screws. Job done:clap:

220810-11.jpg


220810-12.jpg



As you can se below, screw goes easily through the acrylic panel to the aluminium frame under it where the hole is tapped. I like this solution. How about you guys?

220810-13.jpg



Last photo of this update - NanoTower with finished power chamber and properly mounted acrylic top panel.

220810-14.jpg



Enjoy and till next time!:dremel:
 
Geez, I could have built a house in all that time! Just kidding, I have no house building skill. ^-^
This is a great case, phinix, the yellow acrylic is a nice touch. What do you plan to use it for? Normal desktop PC, HTPC?

I'm a bit concerned by the DVD aluminum cover, wouldn't you risk scratching your CD/DVDs each time you insert one?
Something of the same design but softer than metal might be more appropriate. Vertical slot drive is sleek.

I was thinking of building my own storage pod, these Norco chassis are huge, ugly, not well built, and contain only half as many drives as they could/should.
Thinking about a rotated motherboard too, but the whole thing looks like a huge endeavor... :( Need to sketch it first.
 
Chimel said:
Geez, I could have built a house in all that time! Just kidding, I have no house building skill. ^-^
This is a great case, phinix, the yellow acrylic is a nice touch. What do you plan to use it for? Normal desktop PC, HTPC?

I'm a bit concerned by the DVD aluminum cover, wouldn't you risk scratching your CD/DVDs each time you insert one?
Something of the same design but softer than metal might be more appropriate. Vertical slot drive is sleek.

I was thinking of building my own storage pod, these Norco chassis are huge, ugly, not well built, and contain only half as many drives as they could/should.
Thinking about a rotated motherboard too, but the whole thing looks like a huge endeavor... :( Need to sketch it first.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate!
I don't worry about dvd gap, I tested it and it looks ok, edges are polished, so it wont make huge scratches, besides I don't use that dvd that often, maybe only for windows installation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top