tower mod RETROFUTURE

[Explore Modding]

Welcome everyone!

 

This is Alessandro from Explore Modding. After missing last CMWS edition due to a lack of time and ideas, it's finally time to join again!

 

 

This project is called RETROFUTURE and it's based off the QUBE 500 Flatpack Macaron Edition case.

 

The goal is to create something that looks like it came from a prop room of a 70's Sci-Fi movie! Colors, shapes, textures and details will play a huge part in this project.

 

As for how the case itself will change, of course it will be a major modification, and you will see the first signs of this with the early renders I will show you guys soon, but I know I want to maintain the two main features of the case:
 

- Original top handles

- Circular grids/air vents for accessories and modules

 

Those two elements are essentially what make the whole functionality and design identity of this case, so I think it's important to keep them and perfectly blend them into my idea.

 

See you guys soon with some renders!

[Explore Modding]

The case came in and I quickly put it together to get acquainted before tearing it down completely 

 

I do love the colors from the Macaron Edition so I'll see if I can implement them in the build without modifications. After all this is going to be a colorful and modular build!

 

 

 

[Explore Modding]

Time for some glimpses of the design I'm working on!

 

As you can see, the case will be modified in its dimensions, making it taller.

 

The main structure of the case will be kept and the top portion will also be left in its original looks, with the handles and the original hole grid panel, where I will implement an interactive and customizable lightbox, and that's also where I should be able to maintain the swap-ability of the Macaron panels.

 

As for the rest, it will receive a complete makeover with aluminum, wood and acrylic panels and it's going to be full of little features and cool details, some functional and some just aesthetic, just like a retro Sci-Fi prop.

 

The interiors will have a very unique layout, with 480mm radiator support at the back and the hardware I/O just sitting behind the radiator. I'm planning on keeping the original side fan mount of the case and put it behind the hole grid panel on the main side for some stealthy active intake.

 

Of course, this is just the basic design so far, it's only a bit more than a draft at this point, so I can't wait to show you guys how it all unfolds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Explore Modding]

Playing with materials, textures and colors while working on details.

 

I would've liked to keep the solid wood panels for the hole grids on the sides and back but once I got the case, I realized that this modular accessory system requires a really strong fit and thin holes, so wood was a no go. I added aluminum plates to those wood panels which should be a lot more suited for the task, and perhaps also add some depth to the look  just have to figure out if I want to leave the metallic look or have them powder coated or something. Regular paint is also a no go because it would chip too easily from using the holes. Metallic look could make it more space-ish looking, while giving it some kind of off-white color would make it more retro looking. We'll see!

 

[Explore Modding]

Let's finally get the ball rolling!

 

First some shots of the parts I got from the sponsors so far. Shoutout to Noctua, Sapphire and Seasonic for the support!

 

 

 

 

 

It's now time to give a little lifting to the QUBE 500.

 

During this phase I cut out all the unnecessary grills and hardware mounting points that will of course be redesigned and customized. On top of that, the case was cut in half to be able to extend it in height.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the first custom parts, that will of course be the lateral frames that will create and hold the new shape in place. Started with a couple frame in 2mm aluminum

 

 

 

Then I thought I would make use of my new Bambulab P1S 3D printer to add a bit of flavor - and structure - to these thin frames. So I designed inner frames with a slope to add tridimensionality. Of course the printer is not big enough to print it in one piece, so I divided in six separate parts that will be joined together.

 

 

 

 

The other two parts were left to print overnight

 

The back side will received the same treatment so there's some more printing to do now!

[Explore Modding]

You THOUGHT I was dead uh... life got in the way so let's have this three weeks crunch to get this done.

 

During the past two months I've been tweaking this project A LOT in the 3D model, mostly to make things fit properly, like that inner frame you started seeing in the previous update, which I started over with (you'll see it in the next update).

 

In this update, we'll be taking a look at some side panels!

 

The side panels for this project are made out of three pieces for each side: a clear window, a wooden frame and the aluminum QUBE 500 style panel that will be embedded into the wooden frame.

 

 

Front side will get the bigger window to showcase the hardware, while the back side will get the smaller window with a view on the GPU and a bigger QUBE 500 style panel.

 

 

Let's start with the wooden parts! What's nice about these panels is that they will get some big nice chamfers to slim them out and create some movement in the design. It's also hella satisfying to machine!

 

First step is waste some good wood because I need it in 10mm thickness and the least thick I could find this oak was 18mm.

 

 

 

And now the real action! Creating the pockets where the aluminum panels will slot in.

 

 

 

Next I take off some material with a roughing pass on the edges, before taking out the ball nose bit to smooth the heck out of this wood!

 

 

 

 

 

And here's the result. Blue tape is the result of this wood being BAD and just so dry that it split while taking it off the CNC... nothing some Titebond won't fix!

 

 

 

 

And now to the aluminum goodness! I have to admit watching the machine bore out over a hundred holes and then chamfering them all was weirdly relaxing

 

 

 

 

As you can see, there's no mounting holes on the aluminum panels (sorry, forgot to take a pic of the big one, will show you in the next update I promise!). That's because the idea is to glue them to the wooden panels, in order to minimize the use of bolts and screws. Of course, this hole grid is fully functional to use with the QUBE 500 accessories! Same dimensions, same tolerances.

 

Will follow up very soon with more updates as this will be a very very tight one folks, gotta lose some sleep in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

[Timpelay]

Finally some updates!

 

The oak - alu combo is looking pretty damn good

[Explore Modding]

2 hours ago, Timpelay said:

Finally some updates!

 

The oak - alu combo is looking pretty damn good

 

This thing took way too much time to perfect in the 3D modeling phase, so I kinda lacked material to show here up until now. Better late than never hahah and thanks man! Yours is looking SICK.

[Explore Modding]

Ok these are the parts I made so far: 

 

 

Gotta say those two 3D printed frames got me into one :) of a fitment roller coaster... definitely complicated the internal assembly quite a bit. But I'll push through!

 

Now let's tackle the basics of the base. Pun intended.

 

 

The bottom part is divided into three main section: the wooden base, with that nice slope to keep the movement coming, that lightbox that I think will make a huge difference in the overall looks of this build, promoting the floating effect that I'm all for, and a structural panel that will touch the case directly, divided in two separate parts because I think I'm going to 3D print, and also to mirror that little curved slot in the middle that's in the beige internal frame. I still have to decide if I want to 3D print it or machine it out of 5mm aluminum. Depends how much material I have left of each.

 

First things first, the huge wooden base. I used the same technique as the wooden side panels to machine this one

 

 

 

 

 

Then I brought out some 10mm clear acrylic, milled out a channel for the LED strip, some holes and that's basically it, pretty simple. Then I went and frosted it to diffuse the light nicely

 

 

 

 

And the structural panel is not done yet, because I actually tried a different design first that it was a bit too much, so I narrowed it down to that simple 2D panel you saw in the exploded 3D model and I will make it very soon!

[Explore Modding]

Next I tackled the top portion of the case, with a new mountin bracket in 3mm aluminum and an opal acrylic diffuser with circular slots that match the ones of the QUBE 500 top panel. These slots will hold little circle made out of various colors of acrylic that will be interchangeable and customizable. A fun little interactive feature

 

 

 

Getting back to the bottom, I also decided to 3D print the last parts that were missing from the latest update, and went with the gold filament. I gotta say I love working towards not having to post-process 3D prints, I feel like there's a bigger feeling of accomplishment in printing them to go instead of patching up and painting. Of course, there will be some application where doing that is mandatory, but for these parts I like aiming for a perfect result out of the printer  

 

 

 

 

Also quick little teaser of one of the front features. CM logo behind a magnifying crystal semisphere