Custom Mini-ITX case. Thoughts?

[LordDecapo]

First off hey guys! I'm new to these forums, but I have been watching Linus videos on YT for a while now.

On Saturday I began designing a new custom cylindrical Mini-ITX case. I wanted a case that was unlike anything out there. This started after I rewatched Luke's Fallout Bomb case build on LTT YT. It is a semi-modular case which allows for the brushed aluminum shell to be slid off to reveal an internal support structure, to make upgrades and using it as a test bench easier. And YES it had built in supports to zip tie all wires to the side walls of the case to get them out of the way of airflow. (Case is highly airflow optimized)

It currently supports;

Any Mini-ITX MoBo (the backIO ports for which will be jumpered down to the bottom back side of the cylindrical case)

CPU cooler up to 70mm tall (60mm recommended for best air fow)

A GPU upto 10" long

2 laptop sized HDD's

2 SSD's

Any SFX power supply

Thin Slot load optical drive

2way Key switch for power/sleep

4 USB 3.0 ports + 2 thunderbolt ports + Headphone + mic (all on the top of the cylinder)

There will be RGB LED strip hidden under the vents, that will fade from Blue at idle temp, to red at high temps, and blink red if the CPU or GPU temps get dangerously high.

All of this in a cylinder 210mm diameter  and 390mm tall

Case will have 2 Noctua 140mm fans (1 pulling air in from vents on the lower portion of case, and 1 pulling air out at the top. These fans produce enough airflow and pressure to replace all the air in the MoBo/GPU area of the case about 3 times a second). Will also have a single 60mm Noctua fan to move air through the drive/psu area.

I only plan to have a GTX 960 and an I5 6600k in mine and I won't being doing that much OC, so I didn't add any water cooling Rad support, but it can be added simply.

My main reason for this post is to ask if anyone has any ideas of features that I missed that you think I should add, as well as ask if adding Rad support is a must or not. I have a group of 4 friends that will be buying one of these from me, so I want them to get a good bang for their buck.

[UnlimitedTMD]

although building a case seems easy, there is a lot more to it than you might think.

Like cable managment (holes), vents, rubber grommets, filters, weight distrubution, but also weight.

It's cool to do, but be sure to put a lot of thought in it, maybe use sketchup to perfect it.

[LordDecapo]

I have a pro subscription to OnShape CAD software that I am making it in to make sure wire management, vents, air flow, clearances are goos as well as make sure the PCIe riser won't be too long (only needs a 8mm riser)

I have done A LOT of research on for factor standards and mounting to make sure it's upgrade friendly and that everything fits well.

I also own a Rostock MAX v2 3D printer that I will be using to prototype all the pieces of the case before I machine them out of metal.

[wng_kingsley7]

Well assuming you're making a custom cylindrical pc chassis, the width of your case will inherently always be the width of the M-ITX form factor which is 6.7" inches sq.

I'd take after the original column style case the Mac Pro or MSI's recent reveal of their Vortex.

Personally if you could elongate the height so that it's much taller then most HPTC cases you could mostly mount everything vertically & with the natural convection of airflow should work.

[Narnash]

Sound good rounded so far ! Do you make/have sketches with your components in it already? And all I can say don't underrestimate the needed space for your mounting solutions and cables!. 

 

Wich materials you want to use? Can you open the Case only by the top/bottom or can it be craked up in half? How you form your, i guess metal sheets?

 

I'm just asking cause I build on my own ITX case, and if you go on and build you can end up with huge problems. But I personally like the chimney effect using Case idea, but a round case with rectangle parts in it can make mountings a bit tricky.

 PS: My ITX-Case will be a half cube with an open case design solution, imagine the Seasonic Fanless PSU as a Case, nothing special)

 

 

[LordDecapo]

I didn't want it to be TOO tall as the base is about 8 1/4 diameter. If I made it too tall it would be too top heavy, which is why I limited GPU length to 10".

It does SLIGHTLY resemble the Mac Pro, just taller and a slight wider (I don't have the luxury of custom MoBo for factors lol). Instead of have a triangular inner frame, it will be 2 cards (MoBo & GPU) facing the middle to pus air in and straight up.

[LordDecapo]

19 minutes ago, Narnash said:

Sound good rounded so far ! Do you make/have sketches with your components in it already? And all I can say don't underrestimate the needed space for your mounting solutions and cables!. 

 

Wich materials you want to use? Can you open the Case only by the top/bottom or can it be craked up in half? How you form your, i guess metal sheets?

 

I'm just asking cause I build on my own ITX case, and if you go on and build you can end up with huge problems. But I personally like the chimney effect using Case idea, but a round case with rectangle parts in it can make mountings a bit tricky.

 PS: My ITX-Case will be a half cube with an open case design solution, imagine the Seasonic Fanless PSU as a Case, nothing special)

 

 

I attached a picture of  my current design. NOTE!!! This is a design from 2 days ago, and it has changed a bunch since then to have different cooling fans, and a slightly different layout.. I have also started modeling the support structure, and modifying the intake/exhaust vents).

The final product will be made out of aluminum. The prototype will be 3D printed in black ABS.

As for opening it, the entire inner structure will be independent of the putter shell, in order to open it, u undo a couple screws up top.and the shell just slides up to give u full access to all boards, parts, fans, and wires.

I have left LOTS of room in the current design to run wires.

As you mentioned, I have to leave a good bit of room for stuff, which is why I'm 3D printing prototypes first to make sure everything fits and mounts properly.

[LordDecapo]

Also, I should add... I have a lot of design, prototyping and building experience. 

[imkinger]

5 hours ago, LordDecapo said:

Also, I should add... I have a lot of design, prototyping and building experience. 

Make it happen.