[Q] Advice needed with a full acrylic/perspex side panel for a PC Case

[rhodestech]

Hi Guys,

 

I own the Fractal Design Define R4 case, and I'm thinking of making a full clear side panel. My question is, how would I fix the side panel to the case? 

To be clear, this would be the left side panel, which would have all of the devices on view.

 

Also, how thick should the Acrylic/Perspex be? As acoustics and heat would be a concern.

 

Image of the side of the case:

 

http://www.fractal-design.com/media/ef9dac71-61d7-4af0-a5aa-4395001eac53

 

I appreciate the advice,

 

Matt

[Izaya Orihara]

 

 I'm thinking of making a full clear side panel. To be clear

 

 

See what you did there. 

[RML Futuristics]

Hi, Matt

 

Well if you are cutting out the centre of the case frame (leaving a small part so you have a border) that way as long as your edges of the metal are nice you can fix it with sime double sided stick tape as the border will hide that, or you can drill through the side and screw it on.

 

If however you are actually looking to make a full side panel out of plastic then you will need to know how to mould and shape it, as for thickness i would say 3-6mm should do it, maybe slightly more or less but that is about standard sizes it changes from brand to brand, just to save you the time, i take it fractal dont make a pre done window side panel for the case - just covering all the bases for you!

 

Hope this helps

 

Sir DrowHunter

[rhodestech]

Hi, Matt

 

Well if you are cutting out the centre of the case frame (leaving a small part so you have a border) that way as long as your edges of the metal are nice you can fix it with sime double sided stick tape as the border will hide that, or you can drill through the side and screw it on.

 

If however you are actually looking to make a full side panel out of plastic then you will need to know how to mould and shape it, as for thickness i would say 3-6mm should do it, maybe slightly more or less but that is about standard sizes it changes from brand to brand, just to save you the time, i take it fractal dont make a pre done window side panel for the case - just covering all the bases for you!

 

Hope this helps

 

Sir DrowHunter

I have the version with the side panel that features a window. But I have my side panel off all of the time, as the window is quite restricted with the view. I can get a single piece of acrylic/perspex custom cut to size.

[RML Futuristics]

Hey Matt

 

i would be one to suggest something along the lines of what i said get one cut, dremmel the side of your case to make a square but make sure you leave a boarder than you can double sided tape the window on, and to make it look nice, you could grab some bolts of eBay with a chrome finish and glue to the side of your case along the window line, that way you can have a industrial look.

 

How does that sound?

 

Sir DrowHunter 

[Guest GRRigger]

So first off, it needs to be there pretty tightly and easy to remove. I guess magnetic tape alone wouldnt cut it like with prodigy window mod..

Well, you can start drilling holes in acrylic.

 

Or, you can use a magnetic tape all around it. You would have to have some kind of small square C shaped peaces, that would sit in those holes on top and bottom, and be attached to the magnetic tape via glue or something. So you just lift side panel up and pull away.

 

Or my imagination is just too big right now and that wouldnt work at all But right now i cant think of any technique that wouldnt require extra standoffs, drilling or something i dont even know of...

[rhodestech]

So first off, it needs to be there pretty tightly and easy to remove. I guess magnetic tape alone wouldnt cut it like with prodigy window mod..

Well, you can start drilling holes in acrylic.

 

Or, you can use a magnetic tape all around it. You would have to have some kind of small square C shaped peaces, that would sit in those holes on top and bottom, and be attached to the magnetic tape via glue or something. So you just lift side panel up and pull away.

 

Or my imagination is just too big right now and that wouldnt work at all But right now i cant think of any technique that wouldnt require extra standoffs, drilling or something i dont even know of...

Hm, that could work, if I get the acrylic cut to the same complete size of the side panel (480 x 427mm), around the banding where the side panel lock-in cut outs are, I could run magnetic tape around that area.

[Guest GRRigger]

Hm, that could work, if I get the acrylic cut to the same complete size of the side panel (480 x 427mm), around the banding where the side panel lock-in cut outs are, I could run magnetic tape around that area.

i swear i saw tutorial on youtube on prodigy "mirror" mod... cant find it

must be youtube taken it down

[rhodestech]

i swear i saw tutorial on youtube on prodigy "mirror" mod... cant find it

must be youtube taken it down

Yeah I tried to look, seems the original uploader was "ArtX38".

[Guest GRRigger]

Yeah I tried to look, seems the original uploader was "ArtX38".

found it this is valuable video lol https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=211006752420031

[rhodestech]

found it this is valuable video lol https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=211006752420031

Thanks! Watching it now

[slasher0161]

Window modding a side panel is far easier than making a full acrylic Window as getting a clean finish on the mounting + edges of the acrylic isn't the simplest task if you have never done it before. If you take a picture of the side without the side panel and with paint circle what exactly you want to see I can give you some ideas. If you want a full side panel I would personally use glass.

 

Glass window would work with an aluminium strip folded around the edge painted the same colour as the case and chrome headed bolts through into the case to secure it, however it won't be easily removable. Acrylic could work with the same idea as well with a 3mm sheet.

[rhodestech]

Window modding a side panel is far easier than making a full acrylic Window as getting a clean finish on the mounting + edges of the acrylic isn't the simplest task if you have never done it before. If you take a picture of the side without the side panel and with paint circle what exactly you want to see I can give you some ideas. If you want a full side panel I would personally use glass.

 

Glass window would work with an aluminium strip folded around the edge painted the same colour as the case and chrome headed bolts through into the case to secure it, however it won't be easily removable. Acrylic could work with the same idea as well with a 3mm sheet.

 

I was thinking of full acrylic/perspex sheet that would be around 6mm thick, and surrounding the edge with black magnetic tape. I would consider a glass version in the future, this would be the first iteration of the side-panel mod. A similar design to 760T.

[slasher0161]

I was thinking of full acrylic/perspex sheet that would be around 6mm thick, and surrounding the edge with black magnetic tape. I would consider a glass version in the future, this would be the first iteration of the side-panel mod. A similar design to 760T.

You might find 6mm to be to large slightly, 4-5mm is probably the sweet spot, either way document it and upload results to the case modding section. I might make a guide on how to drill a hole in glass at a later point since i have 3 coffee tables to make in the near future but i will need to fix my drill press first as i don't fancy doing all the holes by hand for 3 tables.

[rhodestech]

You might find 6mm to be to large slightly, 4-5mm is probably the sweet spot, either way document it and upload results to the case modding section. I might make a guide on how to drill a hole in glass at a later point since i have 3 coffee tables to make in the near future but i will need to fix my drill press first as i don't fancy doing all the holes by hand for 3 tables.

Yeah it may be, I was concerned with acoustics and thought a thicker material would be appropriate. Yeah, get to making that guide!

[slasher0161]

Yeah it may be, I was concerned with acoustics and thought a thicker material would be appropriate. Yeah, get to making that guide!

It funnily enough is quite simple just rather unorthodox. The trick is copper pipe and lots of water. Now i just need to finish the tear down on this engine and decide if i sandblast it or just hand prepare it. I do love that people around here destroy cars left right and centre never a shortage of parts for projects (most usually either get dumped or dropped off for recycling fetching around about 8c/kg because people lack the vision to repurpose them.