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Wiretap's Ice Cubic [ITX Project]

w1retap

w1retap

[H]F Junkie
2FA
Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
14,397
ICE CUBIC​

--- RE-STARTED ---
*** See post 79 and forward for new project ***

I'm starting from scratch, building a case from the ground up. It will probably end up sucking, lol. I don't know how much time I'll have to work on this while taking 4 engineering courses this semester, but I'll update as much as I can.

Anyway, a little about the project.

I really like ITX systems now, ever since I built the mini-ITX HD Home Theater PC. (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1315634) The ICE CUBIC project is just for something to do in my spare time... if I even have any. :p I don't know what hardware is going in it yet, or what I'll use it for. I'm thinking of making it into a GameEX based emulation box. I'm still unsure.

It's going to be very simple. No CD/DVD-ROM, just a single 2.5'' hard drive, 802.11g, and it's going to be clean looking. The theme is going to be white and brushed aluminum. White LED's, white LCD/VFD screen, aluminum feet, aluminum rad-grill on top. The footprint is small, 8''w x 8''d x 7''h.

Here's some pictures to get things started. I cut the main panels, that's all. It's 1/2'' MDF from Home Depot.

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You gotta love building a computer just because you are bored ;) Building one without having a purpose for it yet is even better. Keep up the work Tap, your builds are always fun to watch.
 
Update:

The first picture shows what the inside will look like. It's just big enough for a mini-ITX board. The mini-ITX spec is 17x17cm.

The second picture is just a stack up of how the pieces will fit together. Nothing is screwed together yet. I still have to router the edges so they look smoothly curved.

The third picture is a piece of lexan I bought that will go on the front inset of the case.

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You have three oddly similar bamboo shoots.

And a potentially nice case ;).

I'll be watching this!
 
USPS delivered something today. =D

- AC Ryan Radgrillz (120mm single / silver)
- 4x aluminum case feet
- white LED ring power switch
- coolermaster 120mm white LED fan (silent)

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I got the outside edges of the case routered. Also, I picked up some paint. Lacquer and clear coat.. white lighting color. It's sort of a pearly type white.

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:D I see you are at it again.
So far you are batting a 1000
Can wait to see how this one turns out
 
Hey, w1retap, I would suggest a coat or 2 of high build primer before painting on MDF. Its properties literally drink up applied paint. Even better would be a coat of fiberglass resin, sand it, and paint away.

(I use these techniques in building speaker enclosures quite often).
 
Yup, I've got some primer I'm going to let soak in before everything. I'm going to let it seal it up nice, sand a little, then paint. =)

But here's some more pix. I got the cutouts done in the MDF.. well, everything except the mobo I/O shield cutout. I got most of the holes drilled that hold it all together too. I still have to counter-sink the screws a little bit more so I can putty them over for painting. Everything fits PERFECT. *happiness* I think this project might actually turn out, lol.

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I got the the acrylic overlay cut on the scroll saw today. It still needs a slight bit of filing, but it fits great!

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Is it just me is [H] f**ked up pretty good, because like some OP's show up as second post and also: 10bladetexan n00bie, -0. -0 Days on [H] lol.

EDIT: What the hell it changed now to 1 day.
 
I ordered some hardware last night..

- Jetway NC62K (yes, I love this board to death so I'm using it again, lol)
- Kingston 2GB DDR2-800
- Hitachi 160GB 2.5'' SATA HDD
- Trendnet 802.11g PCI card
- Pico-PSU 120w
- AMD Athlon X2 BE-2400 (picked this up the other day from the egg for $25)

I'll have more pictures later.. it's going to be a busy week with classes.
 
I am digging this build. Simple, and probably elegant. I may be forced to emulate this one for the wife's next rig. I'll have to do piano black, though, and that's a sonofabitch to pull off properly :(

Tap, what thickness of MDF did you use, and did you consider using something like Birch? I guess, why did you choose the wood (besides being easy to work)?
 
I am using half inch MDF. I was going to go with real wood (birch or pine select), but MDF is much easier to work with when routing edges and getting everything sanded down smooth. (especially since I don't have a lot of woodworking tools to use)

I might build a few ITX cases to sell, but they wouldn't be cheap, because it takes quite a few hours of manual work and exact cuts to get it all together right.
 
It's nice to see good craftsmanship and "fit and polish" on an mdf case. While the "real" wood cases are gorgeous, the ease of working with mdf is often overlooked. As always, I'm interested in seeing how the finish turns out on an mdf base.

Looks awesome so far. Great work!
 
Thats going to be one helluva sturdy case :)
 
w1retap and Ockie...damn you both! I can be adopted, you know!? I work for parts (no, really, just as my boss :))
 
Come to Michigan, we can all party together. =D

But, I should have updates on this project later on in the week. I'm waiting on some parts to arrive.
 
is Ockie in Michigan too? Maybe I should have you build my HTPC case (can't find any I like) :)
 
sabregen said:
is Ockie in Michigan too? Maybe I should have you build my HTPC case (can't find any I like) :)
Click to expand...

Yeppers, me and wiretap usually see eachother at lanparties in the area.
 
Pictures.
They will come when I have something new to take pictures of. :p
 
I could just see a whole little herd of these things stacked together. looks awesome. What are you going to use to prime and smooth it out so the MDF does not get those little fibers sticking up?
 
Looks really nice. I think you may have inspired me to build a MDF case...I have a ton of the stuff laying around from speaker boxes.
Newb question: What kind of info will you have displayed on the screen? And what sort of software would you be running it with?
Subscribed and a bump for a clean HTPC case :D
 
formula409 said:
What are you going to use to prime and smooth it out so the MDF does not get those little fibers sticking up?
Click to expand...
I have some primer that is applicable to wood that will take care of it. I've used it before and never had any problems. I'll do a light sanding job with some 1500 or 2000 grit over the primer to make sure nothing is sticking up.

Carpecerevisi said:
Looks really nice. I think you may have inspired me to build a MDF case...I have a ton of the stuff laying around from speaker boxes.
Newb question: What kind of info will you have displayed on the screen? And what sort of software would you be running it with?
Subscribed and a bump for a clean HTPC case :D
Click to expand...
I don't know what's going to be on the screen yet, lol. But you can check out the utility it uses here.. http://www.crystalfontz.com/software/index.html
 
Parts are here!! I am going to get working on it a little more this weekend. Hopefully I can get the motherboard mounts and hard drive mounts installed. If I get those done, I'll try to throw some primer on it.

Parts:
- Jetway NC62K mini-ITX motherboard
- AMD X2 BE-2400 45w
- Silverstone NT07-AM2 heatsink/fan
- Kingston 2GB DDR2-800
- Hitachi 160GB SATA 2.5'' HDD
- Trendnet 802.11g PCI WiFi

Still waiting for the PicoPSU to arrive...

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