Project Featherweight

[diduknowthat]

Starring: $37 shipped Chenming 301KE case

I will be starting the mod next week, once the case arrives. I will transplant my existing computer into a MUCH lighter and smaller case. However, before I do so, I will do some modding, including...

1) keyswitch power button, modded onto the top, front of the case.
http://www.amazon.com/Momentary-Key...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1218768087&sr=8-1

2) Front top triple rocker switch (controlling 2 fans and a set of green cathodes)
http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...ker+switch&kw=rocker+switch&parentPage=search X3

3) Top speaker cabinet handle
http://www.amazon.com/Penn-Elcom-H7...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1218768345&sr=8-4

4) Front and back 120mm fan holes with grill


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UPDATE 1:

Update! The case came today, so I went out and bought a soldering pen, some wire, a round file and borrowed my friend's dremel. Here are some pics. (oh yeah, the 3 switches are grouped to 1 size because the key switch is going in the 4th spot)

Now this has got to be the most ill-prepared for case mod ever. Letme explain...

When I came home from my shopping sprea, I found out that my power drill was MIA . So after looking around and giving up, I decided to cut the .75" holes for the switches with a dremel. Now mind you, I've never EVER used a dremel in my life before. So I looked around for masking tape, oh wait..I don't have any masking tape. In the end I used lent roller tape . It actually worked very well...and it was a lot faster to put on and take off than masking tape.

So I cut the tiny holes, and then filed the crap out of it. It took a good hour to file down 3 holes to the proper size. After fitting the hole, I got some wires and started to solder it on. Once again, I've never soldered anything in my life before. After soldering for about 30 min, I realized I forgot to buy heatshrinks . Had to use electric tape.

Oh well, considering this is my first case mod, I'm pretty dam satisfied with its results . Stay tuned for power switch mod and top handle mod...once the the DHL guy finds my house...

 

[LostStorm]

For your first time modding, you did a damn good job with the switches. Nicely line up and clean looking. I'm wondering what you going to do with all the switches, but i'll wait until you finish. But as i get older , i find waiting for things is PURE AGONY. PLEASE HURRY

 

[diduknowthat]

DHL is doing something funky, they're forwarding my package to USPS to deliver?? Anyways, I decided to go ahead and punch out the front and add a 120mm fan.

Close up

only has 2 screw holes


So I began by drilling out 3 rivets to release the 3.5" drive bay. Yup, I do not have any 3.5 (internal or external) drive bays anymore. My only hard drive is going to be mounted with a silencer in the 5.25" bay. The absence of the drive bay frees up enough space to punch out a big hole for a front 120mm fan. I traced the hole with a CD and used a dremel to cut it out, then a found file to file some of the shards off. I was only able to use 2 screws to mount the fan as the other 2 screw holes would have overlapped with the vent holes..doesn't really work.

Hopefully my keyswitch will come tomorrow! Stay tuned!

 

[diduknowthat]

Update:

So the key switch finally came in the mail today:

And I drilled the 4th and final hole on the top of my case and mounted it

the key actually stays in the switch, as opposed to the spring ones that pushes it out! What a nice surprise.

and from below


I basically cut the wires leading to the power button off and resoldered it onto the key switch with an extension. I'm planning to also solder that line back to the power button later on, so I can turn the computer on both ways.

The handle is scheduled to arrive next week, so stay tune!