Jeffrey Stephenson Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Hi. My name is Jeffrey Stephenson. I have been a member of these forums since 2004. I design and build custom computers as a hobby in my retirement. This my 7th Cooler Master mod contest placing a first (2009) and a third (2011). This build forgoes the single monolithic design of a modern computer case. Instead, each major air-cooled PC component has its own cover. The birds-eye maple plinth encloses the motherboard, storage drive and wiring. The slate gray painted covers are ventilated with architectural stainless steel mesh. The PC components are all small form factor mid-range gaming parts. Submitted photos: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Stephenson Posted February 27, 2017 Author Share Posted February 27, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Lindall Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 That is one sleek, and excellent looking PC you have there. Job well done, sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Stephenson Posted February 27, 2017 Author Share Posted February 27, 2017 Thanks Bob. It was a lot of fun to design and build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VALKYRIE Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Nice and tidy, I like the Fully wired power supply, well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Stephenson Posted February 28, 2017 Author Share Posted February 28, 2017 Thanks VALKYRIE. The wired version of this SFX power supply takes up less total space than the modular version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Stephenson Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 I've been doing testing with a powerful but noisy Delta CPU cooling fan. I was going to replace the fan anyway because it isn't PWM. Just received this CM Blade Master 92. Hopefully this is good enough for the contest requirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Stephenson Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 Project Worklog:Taped together a dozen or so 3 x 5 index cards so that they form around the shapes. Transferred the template to 1/8" 7-ply birch plywood. These openings were cut out with a razor knife and wood file. Motherboard mounted to the underside of the plywood with components sticking up through the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Stephenson Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 Traced out I/O plate port openings for the graphics card. Cut out port openings using a drill and jewelers files. Stainless steel architectural mesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Stephenson Posted March 11, 2017 Author Share Posted March 11, 2017 Trimmed the case top to size and prepared it for veneering. Motherboard mounting stud with nylon spacer. Screwhead of stud on reverse is leveled with wood filler. Prepare the clamping boards. Two pieces of veneer are taped together using special veneering tape. This tape is water activated. When it drys the tape shrinks drawing the two veneer edges together tightly. Clamping or as I call it "bringing the pain". Trimmed out the "holes" in the veneer and added a back to the I/O cover. Added several courses of wood criss-crossing the ends like Lincoln Logs (ask your grandfather). Doing this creates the sides of the case. The last course is a half course creating a ledge all around the perimeter. The bottom panel of the case will sit down into this. Fit the motherboard to check clearances. The CPU cooler support bracket is temporarily taped into place. The bracket is the lowest point so the sides had to be built up enough to clear it. I want to keep this part of the case as slim as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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