Alrighty - Update from the other side of the earth!

As MNPCTech_guy mentioned, I'm working on the HDD cage. Basically, there is room in 3 x 5.25" baus to mount 5 x 3.5" disks - the challenge (well, the main one) is to create a cage that will do the job.

Now firstly, I'm no metalwork master - so go easy on me I've never attempted anything like this before, but I'm confident that I can pull it off

The first step was to bust out the steel rule and get measuring (in millimetres - metric system over here ) I was fortunate to have 5 throwaway HDD's with me, so I measured them up, measured 3 bays in an average case and created a rough layout of how they'd sit on a scrap piece of cardboard:





As you can see - there's not much room inbetween them for airflow, but I think that there will be enough
I plan on using a fan in this sucker too - there's a gap (~15mm) between the 120mm fan and the disks to hopefully lower the noise a bit and allow any excess airflow to move around the fan and back out the front of the cage - may be a bad idea, but we'll see how we go.



Once I had that figured out (took me quite a while actually ) I got some cardboard and spent a few hours measuring, ruling, checking the measuring again (x2) and cutting:


Plenty of measurements and notes are handy to keep track of where I am on the thing.
I decided to raise the drives about 10mm up from the base and down from the top - this will allow silencing grommets and mounting screews to be used without interfering with anything either above or below the bays that this will be occupying




This is how I'd envisioned it (not with holes though, slits would be used to allow drives to be positioned better) The mounting holes/slits are sunk in from the top and bottom. The only thing that will need doing with this design is cutting out the tabs in the case's drive bays that the Optical drives rest on prior to attaching the screws - putting grooves in this design would be tough for me to do



All assembled: The flaps sticking out will be folded in to ensure that there are no sharp edges there and to provide additional strength - since they are cardboard, it makes it kinda tricky.



The disks all fit in (the cardboard can't quite take the strain though, so I didn't screw them in)
Also, I havent cut out the fan mounting tabs either - they will centre the fan in the bay and allow silencing grommets to be installed too.
Also, there's a small gap in front of the fan for something like a custom bezel or fan guard (mesh perhaps?)




Now this is just the first version, Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I will be refining this design before making it in metal - that's for sure!

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Lookin good MasterP, where you going to design include something to mount the fan or would it just mount on the case?

Yeah, sorry, forgot to add that pic - there are 4 tabs that will be bent in that will centre the fan in the bay. There'll be provision made to add some silencing grommets or silcone mounts to keep it quiet too

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You might want to turn down "The Girls of Pr0n"... I can hear it coming through my monitor...

Lookin good on the mock-up... Let me know if there are any problems with the fabrication, I think I found a custom metal-cutter nearby that may just end up becoming my newest bestest friend...

Quote: Originally Posted by GrandpaNoob72 You might want to turn down "The Girls of Pr0n"... I can hear it coming through my monitor... Lookin good on the mock-up... Let me know if there are any problems with the fabrication, I think I found a custom metal-cutter nearby that may just end up becoming my newest bestest friend...

*Turns down the Mr Bungle...*
Right, sorry

Thanks GPN - I'm going to see if I can make a decent brake (or buy a cheap one locally) and go from there.
I'm thinking of using sheet steel to make it - maybe recycle an old case panel and give it a good ol' polish up afterwards

Quote: Originally Posted by Lokie ok so a 12X12 sould be plenty. Just keep me in mine when you are done with the sheet.

Shipping it out today Phillip. UPS tracking sent to pimprig email addy

Update:

TYAN shipped their S5162 Server Motherboard yesterday. It should arrive here by next weekend.

Twizted,

Do you have any ETA from DangerDen on receiving our parts?

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy Twizted, Do you have any ETA from DangerDen on receiving our parts?

I will contact CPU Killer....
I sent the paper work so it was in his court...

Thank you Vernon.

btw: beachbum86 gave me a source yesterday with supplies for making our Silver Carbon Fiber panels. As soon as he forwards me all the order info, I'll contact you offlist for purchasing everything

ok no problem... Just as a note... I will be unavailable all day Wed. July 5th as I will be on the road on my way to Lokie's... Just advance warning

Have a good time with Lokie! and safe road trip too Twizted.

We'll hook up either on Skype the weekend after the 4th or following week.

The TYAN i7230W Server side MB has finally arrived today!

Time to start surgery

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Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy The TYAN i7230W Server side MB has finally arrived today! Time to start surgery

Oh my!
That is one secksy mobo! Thanks to Tyan for providing it!

OH man that is gonna be sweet.....I have received the purple plexi.

Twizted is here and alive....Now he has so much work.....He wont be tellin me he's borred for quite some time now!!!

Twizted, are you avail this friday to talk about placing that order of silver carbon fiber for beachbum and myself?

Yeah just him know what time?

He's staying at my place for a bit.....

Probally between noon - 2pm. I tried Vernon's mobile phone last friday and the calls weren't going thru.

Work starts on the "pimped out!" chassis.

If you recall, this rig will have dual Motherboards... both independently watercooled.

One DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert resides in it's OEM location, riding on the flipside is a TYAN i7230W Server MB.. Host your own Lan PartY!


Enermax PRT chassis and Kingwin 424 (neither case is being manufactured anymore)


Donor chassis from Aluminum Kingwin 424


Measuring how much to remove from lower lip of Enermax chassis.






Kingwin's Chassis & Upper Rail Assembly for Sliding MB


Fitting Upper Rail in Enermax chassis


Bottom Rail (that was too easy!)


Trial fitting (still waiting on DangerDen Waterblock to finalize the Tray position)






TYAN MB side. Make these open gaps go away! the horror! No prob, I'm gonna fab a new Backboard plate.


DFI MB side


Backboard


Plans for Custom Backboard.

SSSSwwwweeeeeettttttttt.