PROJECT LOG 7Cubed, a mitx WC scratch build

Hi, welcome to 7Cubed

I recently got out of the planning stages and onto building and hardware.

First a brief rundown of my idea,

A perfect (well kinda, you'll see) 7" cube the houses a mini itx motherboard, all the standards and is water cooled. The material is 1/8" steel welded together.

Inspirations for this case are: Oliverw92 (and more specifically his MINIME case), Janik M. aka Xien16 and http://www.million-dollar-pc.com/sys...-janik/037.htm, and many others.

if you want to see about in some more detail the design challenges that faced this project see
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=194611


Current state


Hardware
Core i3 530
H55N-usb3 motherboard
Zotac GPU
Corsair 4gb ddr3 dominator at 1600mhz
Lite on slot load dvd burner

For some visuals


Sides which will be CNC plasma cam cut
Right

Holes are for cords and tubes that will run outside of case because of the 1/20" space between the sides and the motherboard.
Don't worry they will look purty

Okay enough with the conceptual time for some hardware


the base

an h55n


The PSU it's so cute. It's also an FSP270 flex atx

Installed with corsair dominator memory


and an i3 530 to top it all of, IT"S MY FIRST INTEL CPU AND IT"S SO SMALL


Checking to make sure everything's in order


Thanks for looking I'll have pics of the beginning stages up by tomorrow.

Bang up job so far...subscribed!

hokiealumnus said:

Bang up job so far...subscribed!

Click to expand...

Thank you, I hope to get filing the edges and drilling out the holes (to make cleaner ones) by tomorrow.

this looks very cool

I'll be keeping an eye on this. I really like the look of it; small but easy to access for maintenance or upgrades

nice looking design, i would love a mini itx build with water cooling!

j0rd said:

this looks very cool

Click to expand...

thanks, I hope it turns out

the_cultie said:

I'll be keeping an eye on this. I really like the look of it; small but easy to access for maintenance or upgrades

Click to expand...

Thanks, the accessibility is one reason I don't have a motherboard tray, I'm trying to figure out how to conceal the PSU/mount the optical drive, and one of my designs may slightly hinder accessibility, and thats the reason it's still just an idea.

plantarms said:

nice looking design, i would love a mini itx build with water cooling!

Click to expand...

ME TOO

Glad you like it


Did a little bit of drilling and filing today, broke a bit, but besides that not worth an update, (don't want to bore you guys). Hopefully I'll get more done tomorrow or Thursday, though the weekend is when I get to work in the shop.

Looking Forward to seeing this Scratch Build, like the design concept

Jolly-Swagman said:

Looking Forward to seeing this Scratch Build, like the design concept

Click to expand...

Thanks

Sorry it's been awhile, I've been really busy, but I have got some stuff done.

I filled and drilled out the cord holes, and I practiced cutting the sata connectors to fit.

I also received a pci-e extender and a 4 pin extender, courtesy of ebay




This needs some work, as it sticks out too far, and it doesn't fit in the dimensions. Sanding will take care of that.

I also cut out and tapped tabs that will be welded to the sides, and where the standoffs will get screwed in.



The front left standoff will get screwed into a post (because the left and front are doors) that is attached to the bottom, unfortunately tapping a hole in .25 steel square rod is difficult, as these two taps can attest too, it has yet to be conquered.



On another note I got the new back cut out and the left (one with the grill) and the front cut out, the left and front still haven't been finished.



these will be welded together separately and will open off of hinges on the back

Very cool project. Keep us posted!

ChanceCoats123 said:

Very cool project. Keep us posted!

Click to expand...

Thanks, glad you like it.


I actually got the door tacked together and the mobo tabs mounted, but of course one doesn't line up properly. , it's not too hard to fix though

After that happens I will probably have another update to post, and then I might have to buy the rest of my hardware

I have been trying to get into welding, but time has been an issue to do proper research. What kind of welder are you using on this size steel?

I do a lot of prototype work and use a bridgeport and lathes frequently. If I was to make one suggestion, ditch the taps you are using now and order some that are made from HSS or carbide. The ones at Home Depot or local hardware stores are not what you want to use. A good tap will be much shinier. Here is an example. I have tapped 1/4" steel with the one on the bottom. The top one is from Home Depot and I can feel it flex when tapping 1/8" aluminum if not careful.

noxqzs said:

I have been trying to get into welding, but time has been an issue to do proper research. What kind of welder are you using on this size steel?

I do a lot of prototype work and use a bridgeport and lathes frequently. If I was to make one suggestion, ditch the taps you are using now and order some that are made from HSS or carbide. The ones at Home Depot or local hardware stores are not what you want to use. A good tap will be much shinier. Here is an example. I have tapped 1/4" steel with the one on the bottom. The top one is from Home Depot and I can feel it flex when tapping 1/8" aluminum if not careful.

Click to expand...

I'm using a nice lincoln eletric tig/arc welder (It's not mine but I wish it was), on 1/8" sheet metal. I'm using the tig aspect of the welder (arc is to heavy duty and industrial, and I don't like the look of a MIG weld as much as a TIG). If you are just thinking about getting into welding, I would go MIG/ Wire fed welding. Tig is really hard, and complex; MIG Is just a good easy catch all. But a good MIG welder will be expensive, there are some other wire fed alternatives.

Yeah, we soon came to that conclusion that the taps I was using aren't cutting it , even though they are HSS (I would have to say ****** quality ones though). They did work for the 1/8" plate but broke when I went to do the support beam. I'm probably going to get some nicer ones soon, and make myself a tapping block to keep the tap straight. Thanks for the info, I/the shop doesn't do much machine work so we don't have any really nice ones on hand.

PS: I want a lathe and or a bridgeport

Sorry It's been a while, I've been really busy. But thanks for all your support.

I created a mobo template so I can weld all the tabs in the right places.



See like this,


one tab mounted

Wow, this is awesome!

trueplaya4ever8 said:

Wow, this is awesome!

Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm hopping to get more done during fall break.

Hi,

I Got all the tabs welded on in the right place as well as the coluom, After i got it tapped. ( I cheated and went up a drill bit size to make it easier, not as tight as fit but a lot easier and works for my purposes).

Here's some pictures






Pretty tig welds


Everything installed


I've got one hole for the psu drilled out, more to come

So long

loving the case!! wish retail cases could come with the motherboard raised to you could fit drives etc below them!! most mitx cases have the motherboard on the bottom, it make lots of space at the top, but that space normally gets wasted,

cant wait to see the end result!! looking good so far!

markp1989 said:

loving the case!! wish retail cases could come with the motherboard raised to you could fit drives etc below them!! most mitx cases have the motherboard on the bottom, it make lots of space at the top, but that space normally gets wasted,

cant wait to see the end result!! looking good so far!

Click to expand...

Glad you like it,

I can tell you one reason they don't have the mobos raised, it's a pain to fit. On a flat surface you just place the mobo down and put the holes where you need them. Not here, it was such a pain to make sure all the tabs were in the right place, in the x,y, and x axis.

But then Again when you have thousands of dollars worth of fancy machines just to make cases it can't be that hard.


On another note I ordered my mesh for the intake grill, and I'm about to order my hinges for the door, I'm going with aircraft quality stainless steel piano hinges.

Got some stuff today in the mail,

Some perforated mesh for the grill on the side and the I/O shield.

they are 1/16" holes, and Though I wish they were a little closer together it will work.

The hinge for the door, this is a stainless steel, aircraft piano hinge. I only need about 4 inches but it comes in sections of 3ft so I have a good amount extra.



It will get rivited on (i'm sorry not welded)