Custom Cases?

[Proprietary]

I want to start making my own custom cases. Would I need aluminum casting? A 3d printer + CAD knowledge? How much would the tools cost me? 

[Proprietary]

1 minute ago, Genwyn said:

If you can bend, cut and put holes into a piece of metal you can make it into whatever you want.

But isn't it much simpler to 3d print a model and cast it out with hot aluminum? I do have basic tools like drills and dremels. I was hoping to get away with not buying power tools with aluminum casting... 

[Vishera]

DIYPerks has made videos on how to make your own case.

[Proprietary]

20 minutes ago, Genwyn said:

I mean I guess it depends on the case design. Casting anything flat would be a nightmare because of the work it would take to make it presentable. It’s easier to take a pre extruded sheet of aluminum and just cut and bend it than to cast out a sheet of aluminum with the rough shape and size you want and then spend two decades sanding at it to get it the real right shape and size.

 

Youre talking about a PC case, even a little itx case is a lot of flat and thin surfaces. That just doesn’t work with casting.

 

But how do I get more complex shapes with just bending and cutting alone

[Gmoneyinthebank]

It really depends on what you're trying to do.  The price range could be anywhere from $100 at Harbor Freight to $20,000 or more for tooling.

 

[FafnerDeUrsine]

On 11/3/2019 at 9:54 PM, Proprietary said:

But how do I get more complex shapes with just bending and cutting alone

You would need to get into machining parts to get more custom peices.

 

But as everyone else said, it really depends on what your goals are. A case made of metal is going to take a different skill and tool set than one made of wood or plastic.

[W-L]

On 11/3/2019 at 9:10 PM, Proprietary said:

I want to start making my own custom cases. Would I need aluminum casting? A 3d printer + CAD knowledge? How much would the tools cost me? 

If you have a design or concept in mind we can provide you better details of what you require as each will have their own specifics in terms of manufacturing.