Cray C916 (supercomputer) scratch build - NAS

[HCP]

Cray supercomputers are probably not a new name for anyone.
As on my other builds i make something strange or odd, so will this be

I´m not sure yet if i´m going with a ITX motherboard for it or taking a NAS and remove the case from it. The future will tell
I have eight 2TB S-ata drives waiting for a housing, dont know if all will fit but atleast 6 of them.

It all started with a email to CRAY asking for measurements for their old computers and casings
Then i told the story, im a fan of older big computers with some soul in the case and wanted to make a working scale version of it.

I get alot of questions why and how i can manage to keep all this projects alive, and why i dont make one done before starting another.
So here it is, before i get the same question again
I do not have a job after a heart attack and a back injury, im at home with my 4 y.o. kids and the hours when they are on kindergarten and late night i need to fill with something to do (except for my company i spend some hours on), and there it is. I have probably 10 times more time for this than other modders.

Enough of the text, here my first sketch of the C916 based on information i got.
I still need to put into some more changes and details for it.

Rough rendering

Cray systems picture of it.

 

[HCP]

Did some planning, i will probably go with a ITX mobo and six 2TB drives. I have a 3-ware raid card somewhere in low profile that fits pretty good. Now i have the basic footprint size done, time to cut it in 4mm acrylic
2x120mm fans in front of the harddrives pushing air in, over pressure when the case its not air tight it will work perfect.

Did some templates for cutting the acrylic and noticed one crucial part... The PSU.
So, instead of cutting panels its time to check up a PSU that fits into this creation.
I know i know, planning first, making later

I have 140x90mm "floor" space and about 20cm high, i probably go with a SFX or TFX from Be Quiet!
The SFX measures 125 x 100 x 63,5mm and the TFX 70 x 85 x 177mm, probably need to run the power into the case as its impossible to fit the PSU to a panel for connecting the power cable.

5 minutes rendering, dont know why i rendered it in the first place, but here it is
The white box is the SFX PSU size.

It begins...
This is the base i going to add fiberglass to
ops, out of focus. Better pics later when its cut to size and braced.

 

[seumasbeathan]

I look forward to seeing where this goes

 

[alpenwasser]

im a fan of older big computers

That makes at least two of us . Very fascinating stuff to me.
Subscribed - and eagerly anticipating the rest of this.

 

[sheroo]

Subbed, I love these scratch builds of yours, but I want to see that WOPR finished as well.

 

[wassupdoc]

Another epic project! what do you do with all these replica computers? haha

 

[alienware]

Subbed, I love these scratch builds of yours, but I want to see that WOPR finished as well.

Yes this.

 

[HCP]

​Started out with making a template for the shape.​
Its only half, i flip it to get 100% accurate bend on the part im cutting.

​And the tops parts done, time fore some gluing!​
The smaller ones are internal to hold the front pieces. (need 20 of them)

 

[Mark3Max]

Very cool design , this should be interesting. Keep us posted .

 

[HCP]

Some more parts cut in acrylic.The case will NOT be transparent, i use it to get stiff plastic to hold it up.
Time to start gluing the puzzle

So it begins...

 

[FredEx]

I have the time like you, wish I had the money. Even if I had the bucks I'd not have the patience with attention deficit disorder to build this kind of stuff. OCD kicks in too.

I think your work is fascinating. Keep it up and I wish you well on any health issues.

 

[paulstung]

Looking forward to this one.

 

[HCP]

Glad to see my strange creations is interesting to see

And, one of three almost done.
This is just the external shape, internal they will look different depending on where it goes.

nevermind the pipe, the real one is drying from fiberglassing

The real deal...

 

[leathart123]

it is looking really interesting

 

[HCP]

Really advanced gluing, got to make some jigs and parts to get spacing correct and at the same time angle in two dimension at the same time holding it so the glue could bite
Not sure if im satisfied with this, will see later after the internals of this parts is there and some paint.

Some parts missing, its 1.25 AM here so my neighbours probably dont like me starting the table saw
More work laters!

 

[Mgutierrez33]

omgomg this is gonna be awesome when finished! Sub'd!

 

[JayCobs]

Sub'd

 

[HCP]

The one part where the drives go. Only one fan here.
Primed to see where i need to make some changes...
Its still missing the front panel that goes outside of the fan.

Its coming along pretty nice now

 

[sheroo]

That really does look like a factory manufactured part. Coming together nicely.

 

[dalewakelin]

This looks amazing, i cant wait to see this done