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Making a Case

HaMMerHeD

HaMMerHeD

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Jul 13, 2004
Messages
10,397
So I've been asked by my brother-in-law to make a case for his computer, which will serve as a recording "studio" for his electronic music project. The case needs to be rugged, as it will likely be transported a great deal. He also wants to make sure it looks good, as it will often serve as a MIDI sequencer on stage.

I'm thinking 1x1x0.125" angle aluminum for the chassis frame, 0.065" aluminum sheet for the side, bottom, and top panels. This means the frame members are about 3.175mm thick, and the panels are about 1.6mm thick. I would have liked to use thicker aluminum sheet, but my cheap-ass metal brake won't let me. Maybe I'll be able to get a better one, and I can use 1/8" sheet for the sides as well.

The front bezel will be constructed from 1 piece of 0.25" thick T6061-T6 aluminum. He wanted a diamond-plate bezel, but I talked him out of it, because that would just be tacky.

The motherboard tray is from a CoolerMaster Praetorian, and the drive bays will be from MountainMods.

He said he didnt care about weight, as he has a big flatbed dolly to lug his equipment around, so I had originally thought about making this thing out of Stainless Steel. That's too expensive, though, so aluminum it is.

I was thinking about polishing the side, top and bottom panels (and the front bezel) to a mirror shine, followed by a clear coat to protect it as much as possible.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
 
you have a good plan, i like it. the only thing i worry about is how it will get really beat up. aluminum will scratch and dent easy. also, any case that is painted will just get tore up within a month and will be forever ugly. would it be possible to get a nice sturdy case, but at the same time avoid aluminum and paint?

or... if you want, make it any way you want, and design some sort of carrying case for it to protect it from damage?
 
He has a big Anvil brand padded hardcase that he lugs his current computer around in.

He just needs a bigger better faster computer is all. It is protected in transit.
 
I think it would be best to make a rack mount version and put it in an A/V road worthy casing. You know, big wooden cases with racks mounted inside with doors that have large wing hinges to lock them on and big handles to manuever it around. That seems to work the best...
 
Mickey21 said:
I think it would be best to make a rack mount version and put it in an A/V road worthy casing. You know, big wooden cases with racks mounted inside with doors that have large wing hinges to lock them on and big handles to manuever it around. That seems to work the best...
Click to expand...

He doesnt want it that way. He wants a tower.

So I'm going to proceed with my plan. I've ordered the metal, and I'll post pics as I build it.
 
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