[Scratch Build] Qu4tr - Finished

[Ch2pa]

Hello and welcome on my worklog

Mod Description:

Qu4tr (Four in french, as it is my 4th build), is an open air scratchbuild mod with unique architecture.

It composed of aluminium, black tinted solid oak wood and Glass.

The purpose of this mod is to be a shwocase for its hardware, without forgetting the practical use owed to a gaming rig.

Dimensions:

Length: 400mm

Width: 260mm

Height: 360

Configuration:

-EVGA Z75 SLI ATX Motherboard

-Intel Core i5 or i7 processor

-2x4Gb DDR3

-GPU to be defined

-PSU to be deined

-2x HDD 3.5"

-1x SSD 2.5"

-DVD burner slim Slot-in

Materials:

-Structure made in solid Oak wood, black tinted

-Covers in aluminium

-Glass

[Ch2pa]

Final pictures of the mod:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ch2pa]

First update of the worklog:

Before begining, here is a picture of the workshop were I will perform all the dusty work:

And here is a picture of the Oak plank that will become the Qu4tr:

Let's begin!

First, draw the cuts to make sure the plank is efficiently cut:

Planning operation on the plank:

Cutting the plank with circular saw:

And finally here is the first assembly to check the volume:

[Ch2pa]

Second update:

Here is the pile of wood pieces for the mod, all cut:

The 4 faces of the pieces have been planned:

It's time for the wood shaper:

to do rabbet:

And once again, a dummy assembly:

[Ch2pa]

Third update:

The objective of teh day was to do the pockets in the flanks. For this, I used a router.

It was sleeping in the dust for almost a year (since I worked on the HyperMod)

First step: drawing the cutouts:

Easy.

Second step: routing!

I used the edge against the wall as a guide to obtain straight cuts.

After teh warm up, lets begin a harder part: the integration of the DVD reader:

First pass...

...then two, three and it's done:

Third element to cut, the central beam:

And the left side is done:

Last job of the day: the opening for the PSU in the back:

One side and then the other:

Another dummy assembly for the pictures:

The wood part is almost done now, I still have to do the holes for the assembly and the screws.

[Ch2pa]

Fourth update:

The first piece of the rig is here!

I ordered an EVGA Z75 SLI motherboard for this mod:

The bundle is well garnished!

And here is the motherboard:

A quick test, with some components ripped off my 24/7 PC and a spare PSU:

The mobo boot well

I will do further test and OC with the final components.

Some more work on the wood with the holes for the assembling pegs:

[Ch2pa]

Fifth update:

I finally received some of the aluminum sheet!

From left to right: The HDD supports, the inside cover, the main cover, the beam cover and another inside cover.

The assembly is almost finished with the pegs in positions:

The structure can now be assembled:

Unfortunately I ruined the front flank with a through and through hole (the drill ripped :/). I will have to do this part again;

First try with the covers:

[Ch2pa]

Sixth update:

I have repared my mistake on the front side by cut the damaged part and gluing a new one. The result is decent:

Then I was finally able to finish the routing on this side:

The glass will take place here.

Once assembled:

I started to work on the aluminium, with the support for the front panel:

I used a 1mm thick sheet, first cut:

Then folded:

Cut and drilled:

And assembled

Stay tuned

[Ch2pa]

Seventh update:

 

Big update ahead with integration of aluminium covers and HDD supports

 

First I cut two steel stick of 10mm width and 3mm thickness, along with two flexible magnet stick of the same size:

 

 

The steel stick will be glued on the wood, the magnet will be glued on the main cover, giving this:

 

 

With this solution, the main cover will be easily and toll-less removable.

 

Let's begin with the inner covers.

 

First the rear right cover, cut:

 

 

And the future channel cover:

 

 

After bending and cutting the upper face (without finitions):

 

 

The two side by side:

 

 

For the fixations of this covers, I use 10mm M3 standoffs. I drill into the wood with a slightly smaller diameter and insert the standoffs with a hammer:

 

 

Here they are in position, on the channel:

 

 

And the right rear side:

 

 

Once screwed:

 

 

 

With the main cover:

 

 

And finally, here is some hardware

 

 

 

 

All old, dusty and dead, but perfect as templates.

 

And here is the aluminium cover for the DVD reader:

 

 

Which takes place here, once cut and drilled:

 

 

Next step: The HDD supports:

 

 

Bended with a 60ton industrial bender!!

 

First step: cutting the hole for the connectors:

 

 

Second step: the fixations holes:

 

 

And done:

 

 

 

The HDD take place here:

 

 

 

They screwed on the wood structure with thumbscrews

 

[Ch2pa]

Eight update

 

I have received a new piece of hardware: the graphic card.

 

It is an Asus GTX 660Ti DCII TOP:

 

 

 

 

 

That is a beautiful card, which IMHO fits well with the motherboard.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures, I don't have a good camera for now. I will get a proper one for the final pics.

 

 

I started the cabling:

 

 

I will do all the cable extension like this CPU 8pin extension:

 

 

 

Naked, simple black cables. 

The cables are rubbed with acetone to remove the labels.