Carbon fiber case?

[Wrench]

Did a quick search didn't find anything on it. Has anyone attempted this. I think it would look killer, and be incredibly light and tough. I'm thinking riviting the pannels together would be the best way to assemble it. Might be too expensive to do but I'm thinking a mid size case coulod run roughly 100-150 to build just on materials. With all the colors available and how sweet carbon fiber looks it might be worth it if done right.

Any thoughts or ideas. I think I'm going to kick the idea around and see where it ends up.

 

[SpasticTeapot]

Unless you put all sorts of acrylic stuff on it (like a car hood), CF is pretty darn ugly. Moreover, it does NOT conduct heat well, so aluminum makes more sense anyway.

 

[UnknownSouljer]

Unless you put all sorts of acrylic stuff on it (like a car hood), CF is pretty darn ugly. Moreover, it does NOT conduct heat well, so aluminum makes more sense anyway.

For the last time, HEAT TRANSFER OF THE MATERIAL A CASE IS MADE OUT OF DOES NOT MATTER! Why do you think you see acrylic cases arround, you can't tell me you think acrylic is amazing at transfering heat, it is negligable at best. What about wood cases, or any other material for that matter!! The bottom line is, the material your case is made out of transfers almost no heat at all if any, and having proper ventilation (aka fans) is much more important.

As far as CF being ugly, that is 100% opinion based. And it isn't acrylic which is put on to carbon fibre, it is resin. Resin is used as a glue and retains the shape as the carbon fibre (as carbon fibre is cloth like). This is known as "wet" carbon fibre which is the less expensive (and easier to use) variant of carbon fibre. Dry carbon fibre is very expensive and would be unpractical for this application. (this process has the glue already applied and must be cold stored and it has a flat look. It also is a "new technology" and hard to work with so it is very expensive).

Now as far as how to produce it, Mashie (whom is well known at Bit Tech and other various forums for doing the millenium bug mod) has a short tutorial on how to use and mold Carbon Fibre into sheets (or any other shape for that matter) I would sugjest starting there.

 

[OKANG]

Unless you put all sorts of acrylic stuff on it (like a car hood), CF is pretty darn ugly. Moreover, it does NOT conduct heat well, so aluminum makes more sense anyway.

The clear material covering the carbon fiber is resin, not acrylic. Carbon fiber isn't an ideal material for cases, but heat conduction has nothing to do with it. If a case is cooled properly, it shouldn't conduct any significant amount of heat. If a case has very little airflow, then it'll get warm, but no one reading these forums should encounter that scenario. Mashie made a CF skeleton for his SGI case. He hand-laid the carbon fiber, which isn't as strong as vacuum-formed CF, but strong enough for a case. You might want to check that out.

http://www.mashie.org/casemods/oenone06.html

 

[Kevin Tu]

Could get a regular case and buy some CF film to put on it.

 

[Wrench]

Could get a regular case and buy some CF film to put on it.

That's kind of how the idea started. My friend covered his case in it. Looks pretty cool. He used red film. I might do something like that with my current case. The one in the pic looks pretty sweet.

As far as cooling problems go. I don't think it'd be worse than anything else. It's just an idea. I guess the only way to find out would be to do it

I'm still relatively new to case modding. Stumbling onto this site a few weeks back ignited my imagination. Just kinda planning ahead for a project for next year.

Thanks for the input.

 

[wickedld9]

This is actually my fall&winter project. Since I hate going anywhere in the winter I plan to build at least 2 cases from cf and aluminum. I've just picked up a bagger and can't wait to get this started. There are other ways of shaping that I'll show when I get to that point.

 

[Wrench]

This is actually my fall&winter project. Since I hate going anywhere in the winter I plan to build at least 2 cases from cf and aluminum. I've just picked up a bagger and can't wait to get this started. There are other ways of shaping that I'll show when I get to that point.

I'll have to keep an eye out for your posts. Out of curiousity, and just a guess but ld9? Cavalier or Sunfire?

 

[UnknownSouljer]

Here is the place I was telling you about that I guess you ignored http://www.mashie.org/guides/cfbalsa01.html . If you want real carbon fibre, this is the way to go.

 

[wickedld9]

I'll have to keep an eye out for your posts. Out of curiousity, and just a guess but ld9? Cavalier or Sunfire?

Ah, someone figured me out! Cavalier for too long. On my 3rd one since 97 and I'm ready for something new next spring. The current one has been supercharged then turbocharged and now back to stock.
The bagger is a joint deal between my roommate and I, he's getting to be a pro at CF and has made pieces for his car. When he gets his new Cobalt next year he's going to make pieces for it as well and if there is market maybe try to sell some.

I have a few different ideas for cases that I want to try. They are a departure from anything I've seen. I added you to my [H] buddy list and I'll PM you when I get started.

 

[Gongo]

in the pic posted by navicaph, is that just a "carbon looking" sticker thingy? or is it actually carbon fibre? and where can i get that?

 

[EPS Sniper]

I've always wanted to create a bezel for my case, or even just the panels, out of carbon fiber, which really can't be that hard considering they're just rectangular panels. There may be places that do that work in your town also.

But that carbon fiber sticker looks great. Where'd you get it from???

 

[darktiger]

Those pics are pretty cool....

 

[Wrench]

Here is the place I was telling you about that I guess you ignored http://www.mashie.org/guides/cfbalsa01.html . If you want real carbon fibre, this is the way to go.

Didnt ignore you. I checked it out last night. Like I said thanks for the input. Guess I wasn't real specfic. The site helps me out greatly. Sorry if I didn't single anyone out but so far everyone's help has been wonderful. Thanks guys
I

 

[MD_Willington]

Did a quick search didn't find anything on it. Has anyone attempted this. I think it would look killer, and be incredibly light and tough. I'm thinking riviting the pannels together would be the best way to assemble it. Might be too expensive to do but I'm thinking a mid size case coulod run roughly 100-150 to build just on materials. With all the colors available and how sweet carbon fiber looks it might be worth it if done right.

Any thoughts or ideas. I think I'm going to kick the idea around and see where it ends up.

PM Mashie...he did the CGI computer backplane out of CF IIRC...

You could mold something instead of riveting...up to you.

MD

 

[Remove]

I used a laminate on my modding project that also came out looking very good and was a hell of a lot easier than dealing with expensive, hard to work with materials.

 

[Wrench]

Wickedld9: thanks for the future updates.

All the folks showing the covered cases: Great looking rigs Starting to give me ideas for trimming my current case.

All the folks talking about molding your own: I started to sketch out some free form ideas for a case and interior. After looking at Weldzillas case and a bunch of homebrew cases. I think I have a rough idea to seperate mobo and drives, maybe even a seperate section for the hd's.

I'll have to plan this out well before I get started. Definitely turning into something for next summer. The one thing that I do know it won't be a regular rectangle box. Thanks alot guys.