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Thread: AS level project

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    AS level project

    Hey, I'm currently doing my AS levels and I've decided I would like to build myself a case for my design technology project. The only majorly dificult part I see if the back plate and the motherboard tray as they need to have all the holes in exactly the right places.

    I was planning to either salvage one from an old case, I have a cheapo steel case which would need some angle grinding to remove the bits I need, and I have a Cooler Master ATC 201 which would be perfect but I'm not sure I want to use it.

    The other route would be to buy one but I can't find anywhere in the UK that stock ATX motherboard trays. KustomPCs.co.uk have this: http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_2010.html Which would be great, if it was in stock.

    Which is my best option? And if it's to buy one, where can I get it?


    Any other problems I'll encounter? I'll be doing most of the manufacturing with 1mm aluminium due to cost. Will that be thick enough? And how much will I need for a full tower sized case?

    I will also be attempting an engraved acrylic side window for which I'll probably use a CNC mill.


    So please, I'm after tips, pointers and ideas.

    Thanks
    Matt

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    Re: AS level project

    all of the dimensions for an ATX motherboard tray and backplate are specifically defined and easily available online

    So a quick bit of measuring and marking out and thus getting holes in the right place is a none issue

    You need to decide how much of the raw material you need by deciding on dimensions for side panels and the main structure, by doing some calculations, sure we could just tell you...

    But a project is meant to be just that

    If you really insist on buying a mobo tray then: http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_2012.html is in stock
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    Re: AS level project

    +1 for making your own tray, the holes are in standard places, all you need to do is thread some holes and use standoffs you can buy from Maplin.

    Also, I would go for thicker Alu than 1mm, I have a Lian Li case with thicker Alu than that and even that feels weak in places.

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    Re: AS level project

    Ok, thanks for the help but I've managed to find a motherboard tray It had an ABIT AB9 attached so I didn't think to look very closely and I'd forgotten I had it. That solves one problem then!

    Now, to give it some strength I was considering making an internal frame out of 2mm and just doing the panels in 1mm. That would meant I don't need an awful lot of 2mm. If I can budget it in I wanted to get some 3mm for the front panel to give it a nice solid feel. Although I'm not certain what it's going to look like yet.

    From measuring my current case I seem to be needing a 1m x 1.5 sheet of 1mm for all my outer bits and about a 2500mm x 40mm strip of 2mm for the internal frame. This would be bent to a right angle and used for the edges if you understand. Like a car chassis with the body panels attached to that.

    I downloaded the ATX spec from FormFactors.org and it seems to have all the details I need even if they are in inches

    I'll probably have a mess around in SketchUp a bit later and see what I make. Anyone got any design ideas/themes/colour schemes they wanna throw out there/in here (to me )? And will my internal 2mm section be strong enough? I don't really want it bending...

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    Re: AS level project

    Are you using Wood or Metal ? Your best building your case so its able to mount 120mm fans as well!
    Kalniel: "Nice review Tarinder - would it be possible to get a picture of the case when the components are installed (with the side off obviously)?"
    CAT-THE-FIFTH: "The Antec 300 is a case which has an understated and clean appearance which many people like. Not everyone is into e-peen looking computers which look like a cross between the imagination of a hyperactive 10 year old and a Frog."
    TKPeters: "Off to AVForum better Deal - £20+Vat for Free Shipping @ Scan"
    for all intents it seems to be the same card minus some gays name on it and a shielded cover ? with OEM added to it - GoNz0.

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    Re: AS level project

    I'm making it out of aluminium and acrylic, I'll definitely be using 120mm fans and I have a spare 200mm fan so I may try to find a way of incorporating that into it some how.

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    Re: AS level project

    you way want to draw up a quick idea of the time it will take and the costs, for a dt project that is awesome, you way want to get a sample of what you will use and then test it as part of your coursework to see if it will take the weight, and say stuff about how you want to make it strong but light/cheap.

    have you sorted out what size you want it to be. also for the window. has your school/college got a laser cutter, cos that would give a lot better finish to the acrylic.

    for your frame, you way want to buy pre-bent pieces of steel that have holes in them and use that as a scaffold

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    Re: AS level project

    so how many fans and in which placement, you may want to have part of your testing devoted to effective fan placement. when's it in for?

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    Re: AS level project

    I think for the main structure you should think about using some Ali angle bar i.e.:



    That should give you enough rigidity, for example, 2 rectangular frames out of the Ali angle (one for each side) joined at the top and bottom front and rear with another shorter section.

    That should give you some structural strength as well as anchoring points for the other aspects of the case.

    HDD/ODD cage, PSU mount etc

    As for the main body to bend around the structure, if you bend around a 2"-4" pipe then it should add something aesthetically speaking.

    I'll do a quick piccy of what i mean (i'm not very good at explaining things)
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    Re: AS level project

    I haven't decided totally on size as I don't have a final design yet but it'll need to be big enough for an ATX motherboard, fast graphics card and a few hard drives, with some room left over for cable routing.

    My school doesn't have a laser cutter I told them to get one and they are considering it now. We do however have 2 CNC machines for some reason even though we hardly ever even use one of them.

    I can use a band saw to cut the acrylic and may be able to flame polish it if needs be.



    That angle section looks perfect. I think I understand what you mean about the pipe but it'd be better to get a picture

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    Re: AS level project

    you may find creating a card mock up useful, as you could remove the components of your current system and use that as a guide and i think it is part of development (at least it was for gcse). what have the teachers said about it?

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    Re: AS level project

    As MrIbrahimAli has said, you may find it useful to do some ghetto mock ups out of card, it really does help to visualise things (dependant on what kind of person you are )

    This is what i was thinking in regard to the main structure:



    So literally just an empty shell, you can see through the top bottom and sides , just think of it as connections between the vertices as the only thing in the support structure.


    And the front bezel bend top and bottom:



    The bend adds something extra in, without increasing difficulty really, as the support frame attaches behind the bend, so you don't need to fashion any rounded mounting platform, gives you a void to install the fans and have the ODDs hang out into, or, you could always block the sides of the void and use it as a cable stash

    Obviously, i am only suggesting one possible approach, as the field is numerous
    Last edited by TAKTAK; 23-02-2010 at 11:00 PM.
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    Re: AS level project

    My teacher's only worry was that I wouldn't be able to get the motherboard and expansion brackets all lined up and perfect and as I have a donor mobo tray that isn't a problem anymore. I've done a few card board models already. I'll get my CAD drawings done and then do one in card.

    I've got about 6 weeks to do it in, including 1 week where I have no other lessons.

    EDIT: Yeah, that's what I was thinking of pretty much

    And another thing, what about side panels? How will I mount them? The ones on my current case are all stamped and look rather overly complicated. I thought I would just have tabs that fit into slots on the front and then use thumb screws at the back to hold it on.
    Last edited by sir_axe_alot; 23-02-2010 at 11:07 PM.

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    Re: AS level project

    BTW the school probs wont have the funds, a laser cutter is about 8 grand or so.

    you could have the back plate and motherboard tray as your standard components, but it'll be better to ask first as im not sure on the assessment criteria., the front may have to be made out of a thicker material as you don't want to push it in when you turn it on.

    have you thought of your brief and criteria yet? cos itll be easier to plan this thing if you have an idea of what you want

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    Re: AS level project

    Quote Originally Posted by mribrahimali View Post
    BTW the school probs wont have the funds, a laser cutter is about 8 grand or so.
    You'd be surprised TBH, my old comprehensive managed to achieve specialist status in engineering, and ending up buying shed loads of CNC machinery (Boxford if i remember rightly as they were better and cheaper than Denford, as i accidentally told Mr Denford himself that they were, while at a competition (i had no idea it was him and that he was the main sponsor of the event :/))

    Add a few Lathes of varying flavours (some really nice top end old ones) and a milling machine, as well as the normal things like vacuum former, band saws etc. (obv, that's not a laser cutter, but there are many schools that do have them nowadays )

    And that was only a small school of <1000 pupils of which hardly any did engineering.



    Back on topic , it would be wise to plan everything out, i know it is a bore and i never plan anything, but unless you have a solid plan and design then the final product will just be a mishmash
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    Re: AS level project

    plus its worth a lot of marks

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