Master_P, that looks scweeeeet! Am I looking at it right, that would be sort of a 3/4 shot from the rear (and minus the case itself) that you did up, right?

AFA the shroud goes, I've been doodling around with some ideas, and they would involve not only the purple plexi but some sheet aluminum as well... No drawings yet, but...

The plexi would actually be the basis for the shroud itself, and the sheet aluminum would be wetsanded and polished, THEN cut into the tribal flame pattern, and mounted to the plexi on the outside. Reason I was thinking of it this way is so that there would be no air leakage around the edges of the shroud, maximum airflow onto/over the radiator...

Quote: Originally Posted by GrandpaNoob72 Master_P, that looks scweeeeet! Am I looking at it right, that would be sort of a 3/4 shot from the rear (and minus the case itself) that you did up, right? AFA the shroud goes, I've been doodling around with some ideas, and they would involve not only the purple plexi but some sheet aluminum as well... No drawings yet, but... The plexi would actually be the basis for the shroud itself, and the sheet aluminum would be wetsanded and polished, THEN cut into the tribal flame pattern, and mounted to the plexi on the outside. Reason I was thinking of it this way is so that there would be no air leakage around the edges of the shroud, maximum airflow onto/over the radiator...

Yep! You got it
As I was saying though - it's just a base to maybe elaborate on - I'm liking the idea of the shroud - is it squared off on the edges? It might look cool if you can heat bend some plex in there somewhere too

GrandpaNoob, you're the man! The plan for the lower air duct has been shortened.
If needed, you could modify the custom rad shrouds sold by MHQ The Shop (

Masterp, fresh design! More width is good. Once it's decided how much more space is needed for 1U Mobo, you'll have a better idea for required dimensions. Isyour design based upon modifying the factory panels or making new ones? For the record, I want to toss out the factory side panels. They're 12pds together! The hinge design is obnoxious.

Our tentive plan is to swap a removable Mobo tray assembly from another chassis into PRT. It will be offset towards left side of chassis to accomodate space for 1U MB. The 2 Mobos will be mounted on ether side of one Mobo plate.


Note: AntiM's design for the lower duct had to be shortened to accomodate room for the Mobo plate. It would exhaust out bottom of chassis

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Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy More width is good. Once it's decided how much more space is needed for 1U Mobo, you'll have a better idea for required dimensions. Isyour design based upon modifying the factory panels or making new ones? For the record, I want to toss out the factory side panels. They're 12pds together! The hinge design is obnoxious. Our tentive plan is to swap a removable Mobo tray assembly from another chassis into PRT. It will be offset towards left side of chassis to accomodate space for 1U MB. The 2 Mobos will be mounted on ether side of one Mobo plate.

Could go either way on ditching the existing panels or making new ones - It all depends on how easily it can be done. There'll be a lot of metal taken out of there anyway, so it'll cut the weight down.
I guess making them from scratch would probably be the best option

*brain fart*
How cool would it be to have solid CNC'd Billet case panels??
You could mill out a solid plate of aluminium with the angled corners and maybe some extra bits miled for effect (perhaps a solid 3D panel with raised and recessed flames)

I suppose it'd cost a ton though....

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy GrandpaNoob, you're the man! The plan for the lower air duct has been shortened. If needed, you could modify the custom rad shrouds sold by MHQ The Shop (

Naw, Bill, I ain't the man... Just A man, trying to contribute as much as I can...

Ok, that would help my little idea quite a bit... Polish up one of those dual-fan shrouds, then cut the tribal flames into it, and then fit the purple plex on the inside if possible, behind the flames... Maybe even have Lokie/Twiz/WB work up a small LED lighting scheme for a backlit effect...

Hey what about carbon Fiber side panels

That gives the ability to custom taylor a side panel to the server side with eaz. Cutting would be very easy, and Carbon fiber comes in different color comboes to match the color scheme.

To save on cost of this idea, start with regular fiber glass *MATTING* and put a layer of carbon fiber over that to give the look of pimpness.

To give a flame effect there would be several ways.
here are is a couple off the top of my head-

*Cut a flame pattern from wood the same depth as the desired flame (1/4" ex.), this will be the "mold" and put the fiberglass mat over and and press into the grooves of the flame, when done will be 3D flame.

*Cut flame pattern from the finished carbon/fiberglass and have it backlit with frosted acrylic.

-Just some ideas i had floating around ,i thought ide throw on the table-

**Carbon Fiber is very very very very strong, for those who dont know**

Quote: Originally Posted by Masterp How cool would it be to have solid CNC'd Billet case panels?? I suppose it'd cost a ton though....

and weigh a ton.

Quote: Hey what about carbon Fiber side panels

You been talking to Wordbiker too? Erik and I thought we would make the bezel from carbon fiber.. I've played with rigid sheets, but never formed it.

I would love to learn how to form real carbon fiber!

Masterp, carbon fiber panels sound cool to you too?

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy and weigh a ton. You been talking to Wordbiker too? Erik and I thought we would make the bezel from carbon fiber.. I've played with rigid sheets, but never formed it. I would love to learn how to form real carbon fiber! Masterp, carbon fiber panels sound cool to you too?

We need to get Prime-Evil's advice on laminates. He's a pro and deals with it every day.

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy and weigh a ton. You been talking to Wordbiker too? Erik and I thought we would make the bezel from carbon fiber.. I've played with rigid sheets, but never formed it. I would love to learn how to form real carbon fiber! Masterp, carbon fiber panels sound cool to you too?

no i havnt lol, just thought of it.

ive delt alot with with raw carbon with car fabricaion from guage pods to hood scoops. prime-evils's insite on this would be good too.

one of the main things to pay attention to is the resin mixture, you dont want the resin turning brown at all, need to keep it clear.

While Prime-evil is busy with other commitments, lets do our own crash course
in carbon fiber.

beachbum86 and Wordbiker, sounds like you guys have worked with it

Can you recommend any online guides/tutorials for the rest of us?

Who is the best source for carbon fiber materials & supplies?

Bill

Well ive compiled a list of links to carbon fiber distributers and data sheets.

Robotcombat
Great sorce of rigid sheets of different types of carbon fiber. Along with metals including but not limited to titanium and aluminum

Tutorial for PC cases.
Tutorial on application for other.
This is a nifty little tutorial that i found , it will give you more confidence knowing that working with carbon fiber isnt too much different that fiber glass. One thing i didnt see mentiond is a warning on using the hardener. The term "heat" is used by several people (myself included) refering to how much hardiner to use depending on how fast you want the curring prosses to complete. Alot of heat means, you put in some extra hardener for the curring process to speed up so work can progress faster, Play time with the material at high heat will become less. The down side to this is, if you put too much heat in, your mixing cup will literaly start to melt (plastic) !!! that is how hot resin can get. Otherwise just stick to the mixing ratio on the can if youre not comfortable with the high heat method . ill never recomend going less hardiner than what the ratio calls for, because you have a good chance that the application will never fully cure.

uscomposites
This isnt the only sorce of composite materials but its a good one stop shop. Now when looking for a resin dont beat your brain on all the choices because for most uses in actuality there are only two. Polyester and Epoxy, depending on application is which to chose. Epoxy is the stronges out of all the resins and bonds to practically any material...very tough stuff. This particular resin does not cure crystal clear, but if standard color CF (carbon fiber) is used then you wont see this, but if your using a hybrid like blue,silver,red then you will see it. Polyester is used mostly on interior work on car accesories and such because of there clearity, this resin is not as strong as epoxy though it does have a lower stress tolerance. -edit- oh yeah forgot to mention that not unlike paint, temperature plays a large part in the curring process, too much heat (heat gun or other) can cause bubbles in the resin coat.

Sorce for resin only.

Sorce for overal information on composites.

well thats that, any other questions ill do my best to answer.

Forgot to mention, If someone has experience in making foam molds or of the like, then there input would realy help for the right side panel where the alterations will be done to the panel layout.

current mood-

I need 2 volunteers to work with Erik in deciding and aquiring hardware for PRT.

We only have $402 in the pot. The 3 of you will need to work as a team and seek sponsership for this project.

1. Decide on neccessary hardware components.

2. Talk to Gary about which PCApex sponsers to contact for sponsership.

3. You will need to seek sponsership for parts we can't aquire through PCApex sponsers. This means contacting online hardware resellers and or manufacturers.

Items PCApex members have suggested in PRT Discussion thread.

2, Tyan Mobos (1U and Gaming Motherboard)
1, 1U PSU
4, WD RaptorX drives

Note: We've already aquired sponsership from Matrix Orbital.

I can lend any a hand in this area, I'm currently looking for a job so I have some time on my hands.

I'm not exactly a master at Hardware but since I am holding the money I could help..
Plus Erik and I are on Skype all the time talking anyway...

Thats Great! Thank you guys

Red02, Twizted, and Wordbiker are in charge of deciding & aquiring all the system hardware.

I'm now leaving it up to you guys to decide who gets the honor of installing everything. That includes doing it yourselves or choosing another member from the team ...or GK.

You guys need to decide who will be the central drop site for all the incoming hardware.

Mad Modding Moose wants to donate a brand new Black BenQ CD burner. I need to let him know where to ship it.

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy Thats Great! Thank you guys Red02, Twizted, and Wordbiker are in charge of deciding & aquiring all the system hardware. I'm now leaving it up to you guys to decide who gets the honor of installing everything. That includes doing it yourselves or choosing another member from the team ...or GK. You guys need to decide who will be the central drop site for all the incoming hardware. Mad Modding Moose wants to donate a brand new Black BenQ CD burner. I need to let him know where to ship it.

I say who ever is going to do final assembly should receive all parts that are donated for the Rig..... and anything that is donated to sell for cash should go to either Red or Me to sell....

Sorry fellow ex-pimps...life had me by the horns and was draging me down. I will work on some sketches as well on the windows.

Let me get this straight we are going with a Purple and silver theme?

Bill: that front is sweet, I'm all for stickin with it.

I did want to see something tribal.

Good to see things back on track (somewhat)...

Talking to Jager the other night, he suggested something about using the same purple plexi as the common mounting plate for both motherboards... Drill the holes for the mobo standoffs/mounts? Perhaps with some LEDs installed, Lokie / Twiz?

I tend to agree that all the parts should go to the final stop on the "assembly line". Granted, some of the parts that we're going to be fabricating stuff for would probably be best put in the hands of the team member(s) who're going to be working on that aspect of the case... The simple stuff, though, we could ship to folks for size reference (unless they have their own to use)...

Quote: using the same purple plexi as the common mounting plate for both motherboards...

I've already scored a steel slide out MB rail & tray assembly from another case


The mods I see from my end:

1. Modify chassis to accomodate 2 MBs on single removable sliding MB tray.
I need to know how much space allowance to give 1U MB side before I start cutting. If Masterp and his team have no prob making side panels to compensate for more space (bulge outward), then we'll tackle the space issue after MB placement is finalized.

2. Punch-out 120mm rear exhust grill
3. Open lower portion of chassis and mount BIX single 120mm rad

4. Wordbiker and I make new bezel.
I can keep old bezel here for mounting reference) Our initial plan is to implement carbon-fiber & purple acrylic. We can't start hammering out a custom bezel until the location and number of HDs/Optical drives is finalized for accessibility.