Nautilus Reactor

[lochalpha]

Hey everyone. I've been working on this HTPC for a while now and wanted to share my project photos.

 

The rig is:

1 x ASUS AT5IONT-I Intel Atom D525 (1.8GHz, dual-core) BGA559 Intel NM10 Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo
1 x Thermaltake 200W SFX Power Supply (Pulled out of a Thermaltake Element Q VL52021N2U Black SGCC / Plastic Mini-ITX Desktop Computer Case)
1 x TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 PCI Express x1 Wireless N Dual Band Adapter
1 x iKross Palm-Sized Mini Wireless Keyboard with TouchPad Mouse PC Remote Control for Windows 7/Vista/XP HTPC PC
2 x Kingston 2GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 800 Unbuffered System Specific Memory Model KVR800D3S8S6/2G
1 x Western Digital AV-GP WD5000AVCS 500GB IntelliPower SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
1 x IOGEAR GBU521 Bluetooth 4.0 Micro Adapter USB

 

I was inspired to make an oil cooled steampunk mod by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfNRMVvqf8U

 

When I saw that you could completely submerge hardware in oil because it's non conductive, I knew I had to give it a shot. I also knew that I lived in a tiny space and had to keep it out of the way so I settled on trying to cram everything into a wall mounted aquarium. I sketched out the concept

and started shopping.

 

Aquarium arrives.

 

Here it is before I start doing horrible things to it.

 

The back of the aquarium. At the top are two glass pieces that are made to hold the light and lid of the stock aquarium.

 

Those get cut out to make room for the motherboard tray.

 

The side panel which will house a nixie tube clock, the hard drive, blue ray drive and a lot of the power distribution, lighting controls and the power button for the computer. It began life as a silly little tin box from hobby lobby.

 

I've already added the top of a small wooden box (also from hobby lobby) with a latch. This will cover the computer's power button.

 

I mounted an antique looking led illuminated doorbell to serve as the comp power button. It will be wired to the front panel control on the motherboard.

 

Next I picked up a porch light from the hardware store.

 

It will end up at the top of the aquarium.

[felixbearpig]

Looks cool , just don't put the mechanical hdd in the oil

[lochalpha]

A quick coat of paint really changes the look of the fixture.

 

With a bulb installed.

 

A little paint work by me and a LOT of alcohol ink work by my wife to give the bright white diffusion over the light that nice greenish patina.

 

Now to make a giant copper radiator coil! I ordered 3/8ths inch (I think) copper tubing and filled it completely with salt to keep it from collapsing and kinking when I bent it. Then coiled it around this high tech machine. (Two fat cans of bamboo shoots taped together)

 

Coil complete! (One person has stopped on the street to ask if I was building a still)

 

Once I've pulled the coil apart and bent it to the desired shape I check to make sure that the aquarium pump I've bought has the oomph to push through it. The pump will sit at the bottom of the aquarium and circulate the mineral oil through the copper coil and back into the tank.

 

It'll end up approximately there.

 

Coat of paint on the aquarium.

 

This is the plexi tray that I will mount the motherboard and psu to. I've lined it with split loom tubing to keep the edges from gouging the silicone that seals the seams of the tank.

 

The motherboard and psu mounted. I pulled the cover off of the psu for visual effect. The motherboard sits up high so that it will stay out of the oil and I'll be able to plug into the I/O panel without making a mess.

 

 

[lochalpha]

The tray in the tank.

 

Added some distress to the tank face.

 

The hose coming through the face plate of the tank is attached below the top of the tank itself, so if for some reason the oil level rises too high it will drain off into the clear vial.

 

I've cut a rectangular hole in the side panel to accommodate the IN-12 nixie tube clock that will be mounted there.

 

Here I've added some flush mounted porcelain fixtures to the top of the side panel.

 

Old fashioned light bulbs.

 

Installed a rotary dimmer that will control the middle socket. One bulb has a higher wattage than the rest so I will dim it to match. (loved the spiral filament)

 

Added an 80mm fan and grill.

[lochalpha]

Put in a SPST switch wired to all of the lights on top of the side panel so I can turn them on and off independently of the rest of the case.

 

Power switch, distressed.

 

The nixie clock.

 

It works. Shown adjacent to the LED strip lighting that will be mounted inside the aquarium.

 

Mounted the blue ray drive, hard drive, nixie clock, and fan. It's a mess in there. Yaay hot glue

 

The drive cover.

 

BD tray out.

 

So far so good. Put the cover around the nixie clock to hide the unsightly rough cut and finish it off by covering the screws with caps.

 

Mounted switch to the side panel that will be wired to the aquarium pump and air pump so that I can turn them off and on independent of the rest of the rig. It is illuminated, though dim.

 

[stevv]

Nice.  How long have you been working on it? 

[lochalpha]

LED strips mounted in the aquarium with silicone. They're remote controlled and RGB.

 

The "power box" is what I've taken to calling this piece. It's where the main power switch, voltmeter, ammeter, and USB 3.0 hub will live. Here I've cut the hole for the ammeter.

 

My dremeling skills need work.....

 

I've mounted the ammeter, and distressed it. Paint on the inside and some more alcohol ink on the cover.

 

 

Here I stuck a 90 degree pvc elbow n top of the power box and wired a voltmeter through it.

 

Voltmeter set.

 

Cables inside the power box dressed as best I could. This is where I'll stash my external hard drives.

 

Attached a pair of rubber covered light sockets to the side. One of them is wired and one a dummy. Since I didn't have the foresight to wire in an independent switch, the only way to turn off that light is to unscrew it. Ah well, I just screw it into the dummy socket upside down and it's off but still looks alright.

[notenoughtv]

This looks amazing congrats

[lochalpha]

Dressed up a pvc T joint that holds the main power plug for the whole rig at the bottom of the power box. I'll snake an extension cord up a pipe on the wall below the power box eventually.

 

 

Reactor No. 1 (There will likely never be a No. 2)

 

And the Nautilus design.

 

Another dimmer, this one will be mounted on the front of the aquarium and control the overhead light.

 

The turny bit for the dimmer.

 

Dimmer mounted inside a PVC drain cover I believe it was called?

 

Painting some decoration.

 

Tiny Van de Graaff generator!

[Memphaestus]

I am completely dumbfounded.  This is some absolutely amazing work!  Keep the pics coming!

[lochalpha]

The mostly finished product. Mounted on the wall. Still need to dress some cables but I can't complete that until I actually fill the tank, which probably won't be for a while unfortunately. I don't want to go through the hassle and make a huge mess when I'll likely be moving again in under 6 months. Ah well, just imagine the curtain of bubbles behind the glass for now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lochalpha]

Looks cool , just don't put the mechanical hdd in the oil

Definitely, good advice. I lucked out and stumbled across someone saying the same when I was initially researching this project. The HDD ended up in the side panel as a result.

 

 

Nice.  How long have you been working on it? 

I worked on it for 6 months or so on and off, but hell, I'm still tweaking around with it so it's ongoing.

 

And thanks to note and mephaestus! I'm glad you guys dig it!

[d33g33]

This is the best build I have ever seen. Ever. @Slick. We have a winner.

[lochalpha]

This is the best build I have ever seen. Ever. @Slick. We have a winner.

Wow. Thanks man, that's high praise. Really glad you like it.

[Farncir]

Mr Iochalpha, you are an artist

Build of the week.. Heck build of the year, the level of skill involved with this build is over 9000 and is well beyond the skill of the mortal man 

 

I love the steampunk, Bioshock feel from this build, like an absolute eye-gasm!

words can't describe how amazing this build is, great work 

[CommonCurt]

This is insanely cool!

 

[SuNe^]

Thats just like.. well... wow.. Thats juse pure awesome

[hiyayhi]

Dude, this is absolutely insane! awesome work

[Cyberpunk177]

Build of the week

[Serbian_Souljah]

This PC is a work of art, Some serious thought and creativity went into this!

[Lauen]

this is so awesome, good job man! 

[Quantum]

Wow, this is so awesome.  Nice job . 

[J4M35]

Oh my god, this is by far the most epic build log I've ever seen. Good work sir! Also, this gif pretty much sums up my reaction

 

[stevv]

I worked on it for 6 months or so on and off, but hell, I'm still tweaking around with it so it's ongoing.

 

 

... about the same time it took me to just put on a couple of fan shrouds  :lol:

 

Modern equipment with the "messy" look doesn't come out as graceful eh?  I also like the older (20pin) power supplies with bigger heatsinks and capacitors, especially when they are modded for show.

 

 

 

WORKING GAUGES!!!  Love the logo/badge, must be a story in itself.

[Purple Spy]

That is absolutely insane.