gonna try building a case... questions

A

Atherton213

[H]ard|Gawd
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ok i work at a sign shop designing and building all sorts of signs.... so i have access to all sorts of tools and connections for acrylic and other stuff

so i figured i have an hour a day for lunch.... why not keep my self busy and build my self a case....ok sooo here are the questions.... frame first....i thinking the case is gonna be all acrylic (maybe clear but the whole case wont be clear if i did...) so i wasnt sure if should use L brackes to attach top to sides... or should i build a frame first and attach it all that way?.... sooo that leads to question #2... wood frame? or something else?.... (keep cost down as low as possible)...

here are my main questions... i looked at some of the sites in the sticky... but...

1. where can i get motherboard tray... and maybe a 5 1/2 drive cage... already have a spot for the HD so thats not a problem....(takeing it from my current case isnt an option hehe)

2 . power buttons and such

3. those radiator grils... can you attach fans right to them? or they only attach to a radiator...

4. if anyone could... what are the dimensions of a HD? average IDE 200gb (not raptor or sata or anything)

5. what else am i forgeting? im sure ill think of it and update.... im gonna start a worklog when i get it all sorted out... (few weeks... gotta design and plan and budget time+money) sketching up some right now... trying to get all dimensions and stuff right now

edit..... can someone link me to that spot that has templates for 80 and 120 mm fans... also what size whole saw (the drill things) are for 80mm and 120mm
 
use a lian li mobo tray. www.mountainmods.com

drive dimensions are available with a simple google search

farnell electronics, newark electronics, jameco, digikey for buttons and switches

most radiator grills line right up with fans.
 
sweet thanks.... also ive always liked the look of those torx screws i think they are called... the sell those at any local homedepot lowes?
 
I am looking at building my own case too, where on the mountain mods site i the tray, it seems like they dont have half the stuff I hear they do, like custom etching. Is thier site hard to navigate and find stuff, or am i just a dolt?
 
vile_asid said:
I am looking at building my own case too, where on the mountain mods site i the tray, it seems like they dont have half the stuff I hear they do, like custom etching. Is thier site hard to navigate and find stuff, or am i just a dolt?
Click to expand...

i couldnt find it either at first.... do a search for motherboard and you will get them
 
Torx is the star shaped screw engaging point

Allen head is a hexagon engaging point, these are recommended, and yes home depo sells them, stainless steel even!!!
 
Darkala said:
Torx is the star shaped screw engaging point

Allen head is a hexagon engaging point, these are recommended, and yes home depo sells them, stainless steel even!!!
Click to expand...

ahh yes... those are the ones...i knew they were one of them.... they come in other colors at home depot? (black? maybe hopefully a bronze color?)
 
Check Ebay for MB trays or maybe pick up a cheap case and you could get the MB tray and a 5.25in cage out of it. There are some ugly cheap used case out there with decent parts inside. I have heard that the MB trays purchase from Mountainmods have a problem with arriving undamaged.

It would be pretty simple to build a HD/optical drive cage with plexi or sheet metal.
 
Joni Nitro said:
Check Ebay for MB trays or maybe pick up a cheap case and you could get the MB tray and a 5.25in cage out of it. There are some ugly cheap used case out there with decent parts inside. I have heard that the MB trays purchase from Mountainmods have a problem with arriving undamaged.

It would be pretty simple to build a HD/optical drive cage with plexi or sheet metal.
Click to expand...

yeah i thought about that and i was gonna do it for the HD... since i only have 1 hd... unlike some of the people here with like 20 :D ...anyway.. was gonna build one for 2 hds... both removable... so ill just keep the extra bracket out untill i get another... if i do....so i think ive figured out a way for the 5 1/2's too
 
For the 120mm fan holes you can use an old cd disk. They are the perfect size 120mm hole (4.5")
 
oh cool thanks :) got the 80mm templates? or know of where i can get them....

also bronze colored socket/allen screws? or somewhere that will anodize a bunch of stainless ones if i send them to them (looked up anodizing colors.. they have bronze so somewheres gotta do it)
 
Get aluminum screws and anodize them yourself :O. Its actually very fun and quite easy!
 
info please on anodizing...kits and such... where to get them... is it expensive?... because i dont want to spend to much on building this case... also is it messy? because if i do it will be at my parents house... and they wont aprove of doing anything messy.... im lucky if ill be able to paint it here... might have to at work
 
decided on copper screws instead... anyone know where i can get some allen/socket screws copper plated?
 
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