Arc Mini worklog - Project The Arc FINISHED!!! with pics :D

[Biscuit]

Im thinking about sleeving my power supply cables so that they are a little easier to manage and they match the black and blue theme i have going on (DAMN YOU ATI AND YOUR RED STRIPED STOCK HEATSINK), where did you get your sleeving from? I have seen a lot of places selling it but it aint cheap! Think im going to get matching heatshrink aswell.

Cant you get a tool to make Molex/PCI/SATA removal a lot easier?

[razer121]

Thanks for your intrest Biscuit, to answer your question i choose ebay. There is a guy on there selling some decent stuff and not cheap tak, colours are vivid and its strong and doesnt fray easily,

Linky!

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/bushcrafts...id=p4340.l2559

If the chap doesnt have the colour you are after just send him and PM and he will sort you out

Yes you are right there is a tool but im a cheap skate and didnt need it so staples work fine for me!

[Pob255]

Biscuit beat me to it. "where? and how much?"

I've not come across "paracord" used as sleeving before, but I'm always on the look out for better sleeving.

I'd like to get hold of the stuff that both HEC use on their cougar and Enermax on their psu's.
It's not the same as normal sleeving as it's got a third extra lengthwise weave.

[Biscuit]

so you buy the paracord and then remove the thread from the inside? What kind of sized did you use for different cable or did you go for a one size fits all approach?

Sorry for all the questions mate, hope you dont mind :s

[razer121]

Im unsure of its size but, the stuff is called paracord 550, your right i do remove the threads from inside

[Biscuit]

Sorry i think there is only one size ^^

Its a lot cheaper than sleeving thats for sure however it looks quite thin. Say i was going to resleeve the 24pin cable but i dont want to have to sleeve every cable individually, how many cables do you reckon i would get into a single piece of paracord?

[Pob255]

the mdpc-x sleeving is supposed to be very good http://en.mdpc-x.com/mdpc-sleeve.htm

[razer121]

Sorry i think there is only one size ^^

Its a lot cheaper than sleeving thats for sure however it looks quite thin. Say i was going to resleeve the 24pin cable but i dont want to have to sleeve every cable individually, how many cables do you reckon i would get into a single piece of paracord?

At the most you will get two cables into one cord...so that is not going to happen im afraid

[Biscuit]

the mdpc-x sleeving is supposed to be very good http://en.mdpc-x.com/mdpc-sleeve.htm

Some of the examples on that site look amazing, as do some of the ones they link too. Shame their shipping costs to the UK are massive

I have been doign a bit of research myself and come across this which seems cheap:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Metres-G...item68c8e22778

Its 3mm diameter which is pretty thin, i have ordered some of it to see what its like so i will let you know.

At the most you will get two cables into one cord...so that is not going to happen im afraid

Looks like (according to Wikipedia) the diameter is ~4mm I was going to order some anyway to check it out but hes out of stock of blue, guess i will have to wait!

Do you have a preferred supplier of heatshrink? I have had a look around on ebay and there seem to be a few people who specialize in it and it seems decent value.

Edit:
http://www.hilltop-products.co.uk/products/heat-guns

These guys also seem quite reasonable on a per M bases... although postage is £6
Actually its ex VAT so its not good at all

[Biscuit]

I have been doign a bit of research myself and come across this which seems cheap:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Metres-G...item68c8e22778

D'oh, this isnt braided sleeving at all, what a spectacular fail!

Oh well it wasnt much money and im sure i will find a use for it, its a nice shade of blue!

[EvanJackPenn]

Mind if I be nosey?

I've heard good things about the Arc Mini, and I'm considering using it in a mATX build. Do you think it could fit a Hyper 212 Evo (120 x 80 x 159 mm) in there comfortably? Fractal specify that it "Supports CPU coolers with height of 165mm", but I never feel safe relying on quoted specifications

Thanks! Loving your mod!

[razer121]

Well i doubt you would need to know that information as that was a rather long time ago XD had don't even rememeber reading that either way o.O

But after a long while coming i finally have some updates Anyone who likes carbon fibre should (hopfully) appreciate what i am doing

So after alot of debating and research i saw that bill owen (mnpctech) use a vinyl known as di-noc which is rather beautiful, so it got me thinking, i like that and i wanted a camo type effect on this case, now onto another point.

I like Mass effect....alot so, N7 anyone? yes!!! now with some pictures of my progress

To start i decided against di-noc as i'm not massive as to how it looks, instead i opted for 3m scotchprint 1080. This stuff is expensive o.O like really expensive lol so....it starts..



Rather a mess really!



It may look easy but i actually struggled abit to start with due to over stretching it...note to self only stretch when needed.



i like clean cuts and even though i have clean cuts this rubber tubing makes it look so much better.

Onto the window! (yes i really have had this for 3 years)



Question is...does it still look good? and NO that is not my own personal hairdrier but it is very good



I will let you decide

I also got the other side done! i'm very happy with how this has turned out



Now its time to make a phone call to my good friend who is doing the N7 badge for me and for me to start on the front (wish me luck!) it shall be....interesting as there is alot of curves! so lots of stretching fun tonight!

I shall either update tonight or tomoz with the front and top panel, i shall also be working on the dvd bezel

Thanks for looking guys!

P.S: heres a shot of them together



Razer out

[RobbieRoy]

Hope you've been well as it's nearly three years since you last update!

I like your use of carbon fibre sheeting over the panels - is it particularly expensive or fiddly? Personally, I'd have big problems doing something like that on the bed on account of the proximity of the other half's hair drier!

[razer121]

To cut it short yes it was rather hard to do on a bed ha! but it worked and ment i was left alone to work, it is definitely something that takes alot of time and patience to do! i did actually practice first on my mouse and xbox controller just to get the hang of things!

it's actually a type of vinyl so not real carbon like a boss expensive? well for 500mm x 1520mm it cost me almost £35 so yes i would say it was a tad pricey! I also did scre up on the first panel as i mentioned. Heat is all thats needed to correct it mind.

[Pob255]

both this and di-noc are 3m products and both are pricey, however they are the best looking carbon fibre films, unlike the cheap stuff you can get which is just a paint/printed effect these 3m ones are actually textured which gives it a look far closer to that of woven sheets of carbon fibre.
To get the ultimate carbon fibre effect put a couple of layers of clear coat over the top of it.

Does that film stretch when you heat it? I know that's one of the things Di-Noc does.

[razer121]

It does indeed pob! also when heated the crinkles come out which is always a bonus!

I've seen people put layers of clear coat on them before and read about it alot but im hesitant incase it ruins it, i've spent so much time pulling this vinyls that i think i would have a fit if i messed it up o.O

So with regards to that...its a thing of time i doubt i will do it unless it really benefits me enough to justify it!

On with todays update! yep i am working real hard on this as it has been so long and needs finishing! plus i have the bug again...damn

Remember that front case? well...



I started it and erm well it was hard work i took over an hour to do this! but it was worth it, although hard work this is the result, enjoy







Don't worry about the yellow spots! they are just primer, turns out you can apply this wrap to primer and it has a amazing adhesion to it! result!

but in my haste i may have a very upset certain person...



Hehe whoops XD

Oh well! onto the next piece...



Thanks for looking chaps, i shall update later on tonight with my results!