Cle216 Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 Hi! It's been a long moment since I've built a case and had a project log.:dremel: Where have I been and what I have I been doing? To those of you that don't know me who am I? My modding "career" started a long time ago in the year 2000. Back than I didn't have a camera so my early cases, which, were mere tower mods with windows and autobody paint body and some lights. It wasn't until 2007 and my Triphane build that I started to show my ability. I hit my stride in 2009/10 with my first scratch build Aelro Dynamic, all aluminium, which, was folllowed by SSR-X, all carbon fiber build. After SSR-X, I founded and tried to jumpstart a wearable technology company, which, failed!:wallbash::clap: It was one :) of a learning experience! SSR-X was created with Google Sketchup, but my wearable technology demanded that I learn SolidWorks. Gained some really valuable knowledge in the art of design and assembly. Pictures below! I'm sitting around and the Cooler Master World Series competition pops up on the radar. I'm eyeballs deep in projects already but in the past 6 months I was designing case in my spare time. With the competition and my aging hardware, I finally decided it was time for a new case, Proxima C. Proxima C will be my first fully acrylic case.:rock: It somewhat of tribute case to the discovery of Promixa B in the Alpha Centauri System, within, the last year! I wanted to make a case that didn't look of this world. Material is on order! As always Until Than, Keep Modding:dremel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 Update: Proxima C is going to be a water-cooled case. This past weekend after a basic completion of the design and ordering of the Acrylic, I went ahead and ordered the watercooling parts. Thermal Take Ring Fans. They look awesome when lit! Slim Triple 360mm Radiator. I don't for see an SLI setup so these 2 should just do. Promixa C can hold up to 4 Reservoirs, though, 2 will only be attached at first. Laser Cutting this weekend! Until next time!:dremel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 Update: Have you ever seen 4 x 8" Sheets of Cast Cell Acrylic?:dremel: Proxima bill for material requirement is quite large. While I haven't calculated the exact square footage of material it will approximately take upwards of ~60% of these 2 - 4 x 8" sheets of acrylic. The Colors. Next up Cutting and Laser Cutting! Until next time.:dremel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 19, 2017 Author Share Posted March 19, 2017 Update: Cutting Acrylic Before I started to cut the acrylic, I wanted to make sure that all the parts were correctly to size. I created Drawing files in Solidworks and I went to my local print store to get them printed off. With printing off Blueprints, I also wanted to save material as much as I could. I originally sourced acrylic material to Delvies plastic. I ran into a problem, in that, I would waste to much material over the build, due to their standardize sizes, and that would cost me $200 more in build cost. Buying 4 x 8' sheets lets me cut out just what I need and efficiently lay out all the parts so that I can save money. My printed off blueprints. 36" x 8'. These will just give me the dimensions for each piece I want to cut and fit in the laser cutter. New DXF files will be created for actually importing into the laser cutter and cutting out the parts. Another view of the entire blueprint. This just encompasses the Radiator Assembly of the build Size and dimensions of each sheet of acrylic. I usually cut material with a fiber disc because it is usually metal. It is nice to be able to use a Jig Saw and not create such a big mess and have material fly in my face!:dremel: Cutting. More parts that create the Radiator assembly. Laser cutting tomorrow, if it all goes well!:dremel: Until next time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 Update: In Cleveland, Ohio, where I live there is a place called ThinkBox that lets the local community come in and use various equipment. Until recently, it was in a small space in the basement at a local university. ThinkBox got moved into a new 50,000 sq ft remodeled building on its campus. Plus they got a bunch of new equipment. I was suppose to start laser cutting yesterday, but they were closed due to spring break holiday. Thankfully they be open all week and weekend. I have a large amount of Acrylic to cut!:dremel: They have 2- Universal 75/150 watt laser cutting machines:clap: When I saw these, I knew this was going to be awesome! A former student was etching a project, so I decided to roam the room and see what else they had to offer and came upon this ---->>> Free Hardware!!:rock::jawdrop: I found heaven, lol! Took my Solidworks Drawing file, converted into DXF and imported into CorelDraw and shot it over to the laser cutter. I need to establish just how long it would take to cut out my designs. I was getting some horrible run time numbers but luckily the data that was being provided was wrong. The first sheet was turning out ok. The power setting were set a little low. The settings were corrected and the second set of parts turned out great! Perfect cut through! I was in the lab for about a total of 2 hours plus there was some wait time. I like to say the cut finish is really nice! Until next time:dremel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 Update: This whole week has been to the dedication to get as many pieces cut for Proxima as possible. Proxima is built in 3 separate distinct sections. I started by working at the bottom, which is the radiator assembly portion of the case and working my way up. Setting the Laser to Cast and dialing in the power settings. This is one of the Radiator Side Frame pieces for the assembly that is being cut. The first piece in this laser cut run did not go well, because the machine was off calibration. These pieces so far are coming out well, but they do have some minor flaws because of cutting from a laser, which, will be pointed out in a later update. Finished piece. I have to turn the power setting up nearly all the way so the laser cleanly cuts through the acrylic. My largest sheet of cutting. 24 x 48". This piece was used to cut out the power supply section of the case. This piece which is being cut here represents a frame piece in that portion of the case. This frame piece is the support bracket for the power supply. I actually have to go back and modify it because my design is a bit off. That is all for now. Until next time:dremel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 Update: Its been a busy week at ThinkBox getting all the pieces laser cut. I will be assembling the Radiator assembly portion of the case this weekend but before we get there, I had to finish cutting out some pieces for that section. The radiator mounting frames and the Radiator to Mid-Section Joiner piece. The pieces laser cut! I'm actually had to go back and re-cut all these pieces because the tolerances were off. :wallbash::dremel: The laser takes a 1 mm off on cut, so when designing to tolerance, I was actually over tolerance because I didn't think of the width of the laser beam. Got started on the Upper Frame section of the case, which, will house the motherboard and video cards. Sneak peek. :dremel: These are side frame pieces for the mid-section where the power supply will be house. They also help support that section. Opps! These piece flopped out after cutting:nono:! It could have broke the machine:nono: Thankfully I didn't have to stop the machine. These are some pieces that had to be re-cut because the tolerance was off. That is all for now. Until next time:dremel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 Long Weekend!:dremel: Where to start....to start to assemble the radiator section and it subsequent power supply assembly above it, I had to finish laser cutting some pieces. The weekend was dedicated to trying to get the radiator assembly assembled. It would also let me know what type of build time I'm in for and the complexity of the build finally. Side frames for the power supply assembly section. There purpose is to support and to provide interlocking transition to the radiator assembly. When the laser cutting setting are properly dialed in, the pieces after cutting fall right out. With 5mm cast acrylic I had to turn the power setting up to nearly 100% to get a clean cut. The long skinny piece is for interlocking the radiator frames. They had to be re-cut because of over-tolerance issues. I cut extra pieces because it would help in holding the frames while they were glued. Radiator Section Assembly Searched for Weld On 3 online, which, I found is now this product. Good thing is that I was able to order this locally through McMaster Carr in my area. I also order syringes and 14 gauge needles. My previous experience using acrylic glue years ago was somewhat a nightmare because I wasn't using needles like I should have been. These are radiator side frame brackets. They are all wrong!!:duh: For some reason the holes are off by about a millimeter. Luckily they are small in size and I have ample material so they will all be re-cut. Interlocking Radiator Frame supports. Radiator brackets. First time in all my build I get to make standardized radiator back support bracket. Main radiator frames. I do love the shiny edge that laser cutting leaves on acrylic. No need to polish!!:clap::clap: Before I start assembling the frames they need taped out to hold their side frame brackets. 10-32 tap. Carefully peeled away the area in which the bonding is take place. I want to keep from getting acrylic all dirty or damaged. The radiator frames pieces in alignment and the interlocking piece in place ready for bonding. The interlocking piece and its position from another angle. Next up is the Radiator bracket. This is also bonded to the Radiator frames to give the assembly added rigidity and support. Test fit. It looks good! Add some 120mm fans. The radiators and fans finally mounted to the bracket. Got both radiators mounted to their brackets. The assembly is far from being done though. There are still 2 radiator frame pieces missing due to miss cutting. The outer radiator side frames are still not mounted and that is what will be worked on at the beginning of this week. Until next time. :dremel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 Update: Went to think ThinkBox on Sunday and cut out the 2 Radiator frames that didn't laser cut right the first go around. I also had some side brackets for the power supply assembly that needed cut. To mate the Radiator Assembly to the Power Supply Assembly I created this bracket. I really had to stare at the case for a long time in Solidworks to get a feel for the design I wanted. Finished off bonding the 2 radiator frames to the rest of the completed assembly at my house. Started to mock up and test fit the pieces for the power supply section of the case. Until next time:dremel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cle216 Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 Update: Off to ThinkBox to laser cut the Main Frame pieces for the motherboard tray. Little did I realize that when I got home and compared them against the first 2 that I would find out the first 2 I cut were somehow off (oversized). Never fails! Oriented and ready to cut. Focus the laser and were off. Skip ahead and shazma, there done!:dremel: Turned out pretty nice for the most part. There assembly will in a couple weeks or less. https://fpqqtw-dm2305.files.1drv.com/y4mJfgbJJBQQ9DDvvSewzuFNWXtn88imyk_c5qPWJ1JogrUrjgcEV- 9bPpgdBLQHvjn9Pt5hxwy6vc6QyJJXAdgTUqmI25UMYikxGpUXTFmJOHsaq_Dco-0NsD8Tf9CxHw4Kk7VXUHNx59_gZyejN4rlf1VnrVBjlh3m5wg3HbHvOqh0oM6e5KtkNwZmC80AfVhaG8aMvM0Xz0VQtLPTMTlsg?width=371&height=660&cropmode=none[/IMG] Finally got started on Side Frame pieces for the Radiator assembly. Started by bonding the frames from the bottom working my way to the top. Interesting point here, is that in casting the acrylic, the thickness slightly changed throughout sheet. Even though everything is cut to the correct tolerance, I found some pieces were tighter or looser than they should have been. So I had to fit appropriately. Basically completed. I just have to wait for full cure and I can turn the case around and do the front side. Until next time:idea: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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