Adding speed holes to case

[Rybo]

I've got this case:
https://www.newegg.com/black-apex-mi-series-mini-itx-tower/p/N82E16811154091?Item=N82E16811154091

It does not leave enough clearance for a decent air cooler, so I'm going to add a 120mm AIO.  I'm hoping beyond hope that the thing can be affixed to one of the side vents on the case in which case I can just use some double sided tape or something and avoid any metalwork.

In the near certainty that it won't fit, though, I'm prepared to mod the top of the case to add some mounting holes and, as the title said, add speed holes to it.  And by speed holes I, of course, mean additional ventilation through which the fan can pull in some air.  

 

I'm planning on using one of the templates in the FAQ for the mounting holes and just drilling out a grid of more holes to allow some airflow, but the only thing I can think of to make this a more stable operation is to rest the metal on a piece of wood to limit deformation of the case.  Does anybody have any experience with this who could perhaps offer more tips or a better recommendation?  I entertained the idea of just cutting a big hole out and putting a fan grate over it, but that's Yet Another Thing™ to buy, and I'm still going to have to drill mounting holes anyways, so I figured I'd treat that as a plan B if my current plan A crashes and burns.  

 

Thanks for any tips you can offer!

[Intergalacticbits]

Just punching holes through with a punch might be messy if your doing a large area for ventilation even with the wood under it for support.

 

I'm not an expert but I would just say for steal use fast drill speed, oil and sharp new bits. Drill from the outside in and file the inside where needed.

 

I've seen videos where they would do it with the wood supporting underneath but they drilled it out instead. First laying out a pattern then drilling with a very small drill bit. Following that with a step drill bit to the right size. Something like a 1/4" holes.

 

I vented the front of my case by drilling. It was plastic though so it had to be done a little different with much slower drilling speed. I thought about cutting a big hole and using a grate also. I thought it would be a kind of sloppy look unless I also framed the hole somehow.  Which would be more time consuming to do so I went with the drilling instead.

 

[Rybo]

5 minutes ago, Intergalacticbits said:

Just punching holes through with a punch might be messy if your doing a large area for ventilation even with the wood under it for support.

I've seen videos where they would do it with the wood supporting underneath but they drilled it out instead. First laying out a pattern then drilling with a very small drill bit. Following that with a step drill bit to the right size. Something like a 1/4" holes.

 

I vented the front of my case by drilling. It was plastic though so it had to be done a little different with much slower drilling speed.

 

Whoops, "punch" was a brain fart.  I did intend to drill  Drilling pilot holes first is a great idea, though.  Should have thought of that myself, now that I think about it...

[Intergalacticbits]

I hadn't posted my reply yet when you replied to me. 

How did you see my reply before I posted it?

[Rybo]

Seriously?  That's strange...maybe the forum is posting when it saves a draft or something?  I just got a notification that you had responded and replied back.  

[Intergalacticbits]

No I hadn't finished writing my reply and had not hit the "SUBMIT REPLY" button yet.

 

Weird.  

 

[Rybo]

A complete success, and it was pretty easy, too.  I'm honestly a little shocked.  Stuff like this tends to be a bit of a nightmare.

[chrisjames61]

I would have used a hole saw and cut the appropriate size for your fan and then thrown a cheap fan grill over it.

[artuc]

Yeah that or a mesh over it.

 

That is really obstructed and going to be limited in how much air it can get through it.

 

Just pulling a figure out of thin air but say 2/3 of the fan area is obstructed.

[Raptor_Fawr]

I did something similar to an old computer that had no mounting holes for any kind of fan. Since I have no sewing tools at home and I'm under quarantine I used some iron nails and a hammer and this is the final result. I need to put some kind of safety grill in the front and call it a win

[cachethrash]

Forstner bits are the way to go. And if you've won the lottery recently you might even be able to afford a 120mm one. 

[artuc]

8 hours ago, cachethrash said:

Forstner bits are the way to go. And if you've won the lottery recently you might even be able to afford a 120mm one. 

Huh ?

 

Forstners drill a fairly precise depth morticed hole and are meant for wood.

 

Sure you could probably make them work in metal.

 

Easier and cheaper to use a holesaw, get the rpm right and some cutting fluid if you like.

 

 

 

 

 

[Rybo]

On 3/28/2020 at 7:00 AM, artuc said:

Yeah that or a mesh over it.

 

That is really obstructed and going to be limited in how much air it can get through it.

 

Just pulling a figure out of thin air but say 2/3 of the fan area is obstructed.

I agree, but it doesn't appear to be a problem at the moment.  I'm not overclocking, so even under full load I'm seeing temps in the ~60's.  I've seen maybe 1 spike over 70.  (PS: You're not even seeing all of the obstruction.  The only place where I could store the cables is immediately below the rad fan, so it's having to fight to get air through that mess as well. 

Having said that, I will eventually cut more holes in it. I want to do the fan grill thing, but I don't have a cutting implement that can make that cut cleanly.