Custom Case

[vopos]

Hey guys, this is my first post and I'm thinking of building a pc case out of aluminium, (what are the advantages and disadvantages?) I also have no idea about what I want it to look like and I have come here for advice. Thanks in advance.

 

-Vopos

 

I also have a few questions:

What is better anodising (to get black to you have to anodise and dye it?) or powder coating (can you anodise over powder coating?)

Sand blasting or glass blasting

How do you get curved sheets

How will I put the case together

What colours should I use, what would look best 

 

[Lord Pantaloons]

use lego's, much easier

[StormtrooperStu]

Aspire to this

 

.http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/49076-model-01-completed/

[Stonep11]

Hey guys, this is my first post and I'm thinking of building a pc case out of aluminium, (what are the advantages and disadvantages?) I also have no idea about what I want it to look like and I have come here for advice. Thanks in advance.

 

-Vopos

 

I also have a few questions:

What is better anodising (to get black to you have to anodise and dye it?) or powder coating (can you anodise over powder coating?)

Sand blasting or glass blasting

How do you get curved sheets

How will I put the case together

What colours should I use, what would look best 

I do not want this to sound bad, but have you ever built anything?  I understand this is your first case, but going straight into a custom aluminum case is not an easy task.  You might want to try building a wooden box PC and figure out how putting one together works first, because getting steel custom cut is not cheap.  Do you have the ability to create a computer 3D mock up of the case? That way you could figure out how it will look with different colors and dimensions before you actually fabricate it.

[Thecrazyswede]

Aspire to this

 

.http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/49076-model-01-completed/

 

The design time alone makes my head hurt.

[StormtrooperStu]

The design time alone makes my head hurt.

 

Think of the cost involved. Unless you own a metal shop, spray shop and a design studio it would have cost a fortune.

[Thecrazyswede]

Think of the cost involved. Unless you own a metal shop, spray shop and a design studio it would have cost a fortune.

 

I work at one of the largest automotive maker in the world friend, all those three you just wrote i can do for free, and the materials are somewhat cheap, but the design alone is several weeks of measuring, designing and testing.

[vopos]

use lego's, much easier

Haha I used to love legos

[vopos]

Aspire to this

 

.http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/49076-model-01-completed/

Thats why I want to build a case

[vopos]

I do not want this to sound bad, but have you ever built anything?  I understand this is your first case, but going straight into a custom aluminum case is not an easy task.  You might want to try building a wooden box PC and figure out how putting one together works first, because getting steel custom cut is not cheap.  Do you have the ability to create a computer 3D mock up of the case? That way you could figure out how it will look with different colors and dimensions before you actually fabricate it.

Does Google Sketchup count?

[Lord Pantaloons]

I think this is another case of someone grossly underestimating the amount of work and skill required to build something like a PC case from scratch

[Stonep11]

Does Google Sketchup count?

I am not very familiar with that program, but I checked it out, it would be a great starting point for you to do some visual thinking without wasting any money on material design.

[StormtrooperStu]

I work at one of the largest automotive maker in the world friend, all those three you just wrote i can do for free, and the materials are somewhat cheap, but the design alone is several weeks of measuring, designing and testing.

 

Then what you waiting for. If you can get all the build done for free it lust leave the design and parts to pay for.

 

Cant wait to see what you come up with. Would it a a Volvo logo on it by any chance ?

 

That's the answer, get them to sponsor it.

[Thecrazyswede]

Then what you waiting for. If you can get all the build done for free it lust leave the design and parts to pay for.

 

Cant wait to see what you come up with. Would it a a Volvo logo on it by any chance ?

 

That's the answer, get them to sponsor it.

 

If i would use my workplace machine park it would be strictly off work hours and that means maybe 3-4 hours per occasion and a written authorization every time i bring something with me outside the regs.

 

it would easily take me over a year to have a completed case that will be a  simple and somewhat usable case, and i just do not have the time atm.

[vopos]

I think this is another case of someone grossly underestimating the amount of work and skill required to build something like a PC case from scratch

So should I mod a case instead

[Lord Pantaloons]

So should I mod a case instead

It's never a bad idea to start small

[vopos]

Ok what color scheme?