• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Project: HydroHedra

cjbaltar

n00b
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
14
First of all I should introduce myself; my name is Chris AKA CJ or cjbaltar.

I have had the pleasure of doing a great deal of work for many modders around the world and have been inspired by the many custom projects I have worked on at my company www.customwatercuts.com!

I felt it was time to introduce my custom case called HydroHedra.

After 6 months of planning and a lot of time and effort in a 3D environment (Solidworks 2004), HydroHedra is born.

Born from Watercooling, Acrylic, and a dash of mathematics HydroHedra has become a great thing.

Internal Hardware trays will be made from the following materials
1/8” transparent Yellow acrylic
¼” transparent Yellow acrylic

Internal Water Cooling section will be primarily made from the following materials
1/8” transparent Blue acrylic

Center Motherboard Tray section will be made from the following materials
¼” clear acrylic

Hardware Stats:
Not all hardware has been determined at this time: What I can tell you is the following:

Motherboard:
M-ATX motherboard for its perfect small size of 9.6” square.

System Memory:
Kingston 1GB PC3200 PN: KRX3200K2/1G

CD-ROM:
Slim laptop CD-ROM

Power Supply:
Sparkle Power 300W Max output power PN: FSP300-601U

All Hardware is subject to change as I seem to find better and better things!

As I am sure you are all aware a picture is worth a 1000 words, here is the conceptual idea in which this project is based.
ba.jpg


Starting off with the frame, it is made from 12 individual pieces called pentagons
Here is a single piece I created in CAD.
p.jpg


When you join 6 pieces together I now have half of the frame, seen below.
q.jpg


Once all 12 pieces are joined together the outer frame of the intended case becomes what is called a dodecahedron; even though it may not appear to be symmetrical it is perfect or at least as perfect as math and my CAD (Solidworks 2004) could translate the mathematical formulas. The end result is seen below.
r.jpg


Some people have told me it is a bit difficult to see the shape so below I have created a perfectly flat half frame if you will of the design.
a.jpg


Next the key to making something of this complexity is to understand the angles in which everything is mated together. Below you will see the entire design striped down to all but 3 key pieces needed to create the entire dodecahedron.
l.jpg



And yet again an easier version to see (I think anyway).
m.jpg


It just gets better and better from here, because I though this was fine and dandy in CAD but what about real life… What to do????
AAAaaaaa The fine art of Origami, turning mathematical formulas into reality, lucky I have been doing origami for a couple years now. We will get back to this at another time, no worries I just need to take pictures the origami dodecahedron completed and standing.

For now let’s continue with the internal tray system that will hold all of the components. I have devised an interlocking 4 tray system that will lock together and sit at the bottom of each hemisphere.
Below you can see how I progressed in CAD to create the trays.

Two Trays completed:
b.jpg


Three Trays completed:
c.jpg


And finally all four trays completed and assembled:
d.jpg


Now I need to create different components and make sure everything will fit within the Acrylic spheres when completed.

Now originally I was doing to disassemble a Normal PSU to power my creation but I have now decided to use a 1U 300W Sparkle power supply PN: FSP300-601U found here [url]http://www.sparklepower.com/proIPCPS_1U2U.html [/url]

But the placement of where the power supply goes did not change and the following images are almost accurate (I have used a digital calliper of do all measuring and have assured myself that the new 1U PSU will still fit perfect.

Just the single panel:
g.jpg


Now added to the entire design:
h.jpg


A nice birdseye view to see the overall thickness of trays and components:
j.jpg


So now that you have seen the trays for the Hardware half domes lets continue through the design and add the motherboard tray that will sit in the very center of the design and will mount the two hemispheres together. Below is an image of the motherboard tray and some captures of the motherboard itself.
k.jpg


z.jpg


y.jpg



I hope you all like it so far I have a lot more to show you! Let me know if you want me to keep going?
 
By all means :D

That's some great planning and 3D work... have you actually started this or is it still in the planning phase?
 
timetrap said:
That's some great planning and 3D work... have you actually started this or is it still in the planning phase?

I'm also wondering, is this still in early planning? Or are you hiding pics from us? :p
 
cornelious0_0 said:
I'm also wondering, is this still in early planning? Or are you hiding pics from us? :p

:D Well I am about 40-45% complete with the physical project! I decided early on to get almost 50% done be for posting anything, this will allow me to do weekly updates and keep on top of the project at the same time. Stay Tuned I have lots more to show you.
 
Cool stuff man. :cool: I've seen your guy's site and have been thinking of getting some stuff water cut (just have to think of something first, lol). You guys do some great work.
 
Wow, very few ppl around here could think about pulling this off....

Good work so far!
 
this looks really cool... i need to come up with a new original case mod idea quick, before all the good ones are taken:p
keep us posted!
 
Adisharr said:
Great stuff so far! Can't wait for an update :)


no worries there will be a nice update in the next couple of days. Hope everybody has a geat weekend. :cool:
 
CrimsonSky said:
Ok ...pretty drawings of 20-pin connectors where is the actual thing? ;)

Humm guess I will be forced to do an update tomorrow evening when I get more pictures uploaded to my server.

Now the only question should I appease Crim and give you pictures of real objects that have been completed or do I make you all suffer with more CAD drawings??? :D
 
this looks insane!

ill watch this bird closely, looks like its going to be unreal.
 
CrimandEvil said:
Damn you, show us some pics of what's completed! :D

Well I guess since you almost begged me! :)

Ok so you all want to see HydroHedra, I am happy to oblige and give you some nice pictures of where I started on the project

First of all in my first post I mentioned that I had an Origami version (a mock-up if you will) of the external frame:

Below you see the paper version of the frame, isn’t it pretty! It stands about 14" high and is rather strong considering it is just paper:
cc.jpg


and yet another shot:
http://www.customwatercuts.com/HydroHedra/bx.jpg

Coming in the future I will show you some great CAD images of the frame to show you how I will be building it!

On to the main pieces! The two hemispheres that will be housing all the key components that make this a computer were created by a company located here http://www.globalplastics.ca/index.htm I encourage you to visit them if you are considering making anything out of a dome shape!

I ordered Two Hemispheres from the above company that where a custom 14" OD (Outer Diameter) size that I specified. Within two weeks I had them:
cj.jpg


Sorry if it is hard to make them out it is rather difficult to photograph a Clear Acrylic Sphere.
ci.jpg


Now at this point as some of you probably realize the edges is not flat but rather taper from the interior part of the dome creating a sharp edge as see below:
bg.jpg

bf.jpg


Now for some people this may be fine and dandy but I need it to be perfectly flat, and I mean perfect! Each dome will have to join and sit on the motherboard tray at the center of HydroHedra and if it is not perfectly flat it will just look funky to say the least.

After a little though and consideration of many methods I decided on using a Router attached to a router table with a bit that normally is made for creating rectangular groves in wood. Below is a picture of the bit attached to router and table.
bi.jpg


In addition I would eventually have to sand it smooth and there was no better choice than a large belt sander and finally a hand sander with high grit paper to finish it off.
bh.jpg

PS if you look very close :shock: you can see more of the dome and insides than I planned on showing you all tonight!

Now the finished product: came out great don’t you think?
bm.jpg

and
bl.jpg


Even though it is not done yet, the final step will be to clean the two domes a best as possible from any fingerprints and debris and use what is called Mapp Gas to flame the edges to a perfect clear shine!

I got my Mapp gas at the local Home Depot or get it online here sorry for the long link.
http://www.bernzomatic.com/bernzoma...?attributeId=BMBZOPA000002&productId=BM019042

The key difference in Mapp Gas and Propane is that it burns much hotter very key if you want to prevent fogging when flaming acrylic. Don’t be fooled if done improperly you can cause bubbling and charring of the acrylic.

The Finished domes – the flaming can be seen below, hope you all like it!

cg.jpg

cf.jpg


More updates coming soon! 8)
 
cjbaltar said:
Under standing how they made the sphere's could clear up any questions on what I am about to do to them!

Imagine a flat piece of .25" Acrylic.
Heat it up to its melting point.
Now quickly pull it over its spherical mould.
Let cool!

Welll..actually it's not heated to the melting point, but to the forming point, where the acrylic begins to soften and drape over a form. I watched this process at a plastic shop in NYCity, where they have a dome blowing machine that can accomodate a 6foot diameter---insane stuff. They said their best customers are strippers--they use the domes to make giant champagne glasses--then climb right in with various bubbly liquids :D :cool:

Very cool work so far! show us more!
 
CrimandEvil said:
I wonder if you can make your own dome at home like that.

Well in all honesty yes you could however the initial cost of trial and error would be way to much for me, I would rather leave it to a person that does it every day!

The company i purchased my domes for have had Custom moulds made for make their domes and told me that there number one customer was Nevada Casinos for making the Camera covers that are in ceilings of all casinos.
 
SpangeMonkee said:
I would've just foudn some clear bowls and worked around it..

Well I thought of that but I don’t think the end result would have been anywhere as good. I can stand on these pieces of acrylic with out any flexing occurring or breaking for that matter. In addition I had to have an outer diameter of 14" no room for error. Salad bowls and most bowls you find in the store are not perfect Hemispheres they are narrower eliminating the amount of room that I have to put PSU, motherboard, HDD, and water cooling equipment in. :)
 
So I have updated the CAD work a little as well as taken some new pictures for all of you.

Do to the amount of different things that have to be done to this project I decided long ago to break it into different parts and work on individual parts and later assemble them all together.

The first of the two Hemispheres will be a hardware section where the Radiator, HDD, PSU, and LED's will mount to a set of interlocking acrylic trays.
co.jpg


Don’t be fooled there are actually 8 trays in the picture 2 cuts each for each tray design.

The reason you ask?

Well I wanted as much surface area from the trays to touch the domes with out having to do a great deal of sanding with the trays, like if I cut one thick piece of acrylic and had to sand it to match the curvature of the domes.
In CAD I designed a larger tray for the deeper section of the dome and a smaller tray for the shallower section of the dome measuring a total of .25" in thickness once assembled.

*CAD size difference*
ct.jpg


Actual size difference*
bu.jpg


*CAD Birdseye View*
cw.jpg


*Actual pieces Birdseye View*
cs.jpg


*CAD Angled view*
cx.jpg


*Angled view assembled with protective paper removed to reveal the colour*
cr.jpg


bs.jpg



Last but not least some images to keep your interest up.
cv.jpg


cu.jpg


cd.jpg


If you have any questions or comments feel free!!
 
For what reason do you have such an interesting arrangement of fans?

b.jpg
 
wow dude, i'm really looking forward to the rest of this project... this must have been an engineering nightmare
 
koegs said:
For what reason do you have such an interesting arrangement of fans?

Well originally the fans were going to be used to create a venting system from where the PSU is (on the interior of the tray system) and vent hot air up and out through the motherboard tray joining section...

After a great deal of beating my head up against the wall I decided to take a much harder route but possibly better and water cool the PSU! The custom made copper blocks that I am designing and making right now should be done in the coming months and will allow me to eliminate all fans except the 1 120mm fan on the radiator which is not seen at this point in time.
 
Gongo said:
wow dude, i'm really looking forward to the rest of this project... this must have been an engineering nightmare

Thanks :)

This has been a great project and I am still learning from it. The engineering indeed has been crazy and continues to be difficult as I continually modify the design as pieces are made and the assembly continues.
 
I have bookmarked this thread as of now. The addition of watercooling changed this from "pretty frickin cool" to "in-fricking-credible".

Essentially, you could start thinking about this being a performance system, too!

Keep us informed on the copper blocks as well - I'd love to see those in progress.

Thanks for the cool stuff to read on my company's time!
 
cjbaltar said:
Well originally the fans were going to be used to create a venting system from where the PSU is (on the interior of the tray system) and vent hot air up and out through the motherboard tray joining section...

After a great deal of beating my head up against the wall I decided to take a much harder route but possibly better and water cool the PSU! The custom made copper blocks that I am designing and making right now should be done in the coming months and will allow me to illuminate all fans except the 1 120mm fan on the radiator which is not seen at this point in time.

why ya gonna illuminate your fans? :confused: ;)



jk


hell of a case man...
 
CrimsonSky said:
gahh!...More pics!

and do i get a cookie for naming the project, CJ?

i want my cookie. :mad:


Humm I seem to remember we both came up with that name but none the less would you like an aluminum cookie or steel? Sorry I don’t do bread!

PS it’s a hit ;) Thanks for the immense amounts of tips and help!
 
jmahler said:
I have bookmarked this thread as of now. The addition of watercooling changed this from "pretty frickin cool" to "in-fricking-credible".

Essentially, you could start thinking about this being a performance system, too!

Keep us informed on the copper blocks as well - I'd love to see those in progress.

Thanks for the cool stuff to read on my company's time!

No problem any time! :D
 
Back
Top