Realistically, how difficult is it to make your own case?

[Proprietary]

Isn't it just designing the CAD and sending the file to a CNC service? How much would an itx steel case roughly cost me?

 

[Freakwise]

8 minutes ago, Proprietary said:

Isn't it just designing the CAD and sending the file to a CNC service? How much would an itx steel case roughly cost me?

 

that would be the case if you just want the thing made from fully metal, and maybe add some cut out in the design if you want to add the acrylic or temper glass panel later after it was arrive

 

9 minutes ago, Proprietary said:

How much would an itx steel case roughly cost me?

honestly it was depending with the complexity but i think it was no where near $800

[LIGISTX]

11 minutes ago, Proprietary said:

Isn't it just designing the CAD and sending the file to a CNC service? How much would an itx steel case roughly cost me?

 

If you can design it to not need any bends and is just flat panels you fasten together, or that slot together, it wouldn't be that expensive if you know someone.... if you don't, I would assume it would be rather expensive as one off machine runs are typically not cheap. Maybe there are folks on etsy or something that have home routers who would be willing to do it for an affordable price... I bet there are.

 

The hard part is actually getting it right on the first try. Being itx, your obviously going for small, that makes it more challenging to design everything to fit. 

[Quackers101]

Not sure about CNC stuff

Spoiler

most of the case will cost you as much as the metal sheets you use, and how complex or big you want it.

More parts, more holes? Likely more tests and test fits, with likely more waste.

Some could be done by hand, if you also have the right tools (some might be seen in LTT workshop)

If you want to do metal or wood, or plastic? oh yeah!

 

Do you know all ways to make things line up, getting the cuts how you want it, how big or small things need to be?

Those things can take some test runs or done by hand, so it can cost you more time, and time is money!

If it's just a square with smooth corners, shouldn't be too hard and rubber feet, the inside panel and airflow can be harder depending on how you think about doing it. Space for cables and maybe need some consideration for SSDs or HDDs, cable holes, motherboard holes lineing up with enough space for your wanted cooler type and GPU method. If it's very small ITX and not closer to ATX, it can be pretty hard if you are new, but shouldn't stop people from trying if they want.

 

[LIGISTX]

Or find someone with a waterjet machine. Would be way cheaper then CNC.