Custom Fabricated Case Company

[Curlyriff]

Hello Everyone,

I have my first question. I am in the process of designing my own case from the ground up to suit my needs. What I am wondering is does anyone know a fabricator in the UK that would be able to discuss with me my design ideas/concepts.

I have done some googling with few helpful results. I would fabricate myself but I live in a small 2 bed flat with a tenant so not allot of room/space to do anything in.

Any help would be most appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[tinytomlogan]

Yellow pages.

If its just flat panels it will be pants. If its properly custom it will cost a FORTUNE.

 

[Curlyriff]

Oh it is going to be proper custom similar to the design ethos you see on mdpc. I don't mind spending the money, am working on sketchup at moment with design ideas so will also be loading pics up here for comment and suggestions.

I had a flick on the Yell site (don't have hard copy) and there are plenty of generic fabricators but was wondering if anyone had used a specific company or knew a fabricator with computer experience so that I can work with them to get the best end result.

Also if you have any thoughts on what you would want to include in bespoke case please post. These can be wish list to basics but the more input the better to see what we can do.

Budget for me anyway's is around £1k mark. Maybe more if needed.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[Curlyriff]

OK so this hasn't got much attention and have spoken to a fabricator that will at least work with me. They haven't done PC mods or cases or anything but have done some lovely laser cutting etc.

Anyways I thought I would at least add a list of features that I am looking to include and design ideas:

• Dimensions for case to be 609.6x609.6x406.4mm (24x24x16") approximate proposed dimensions.
• All aluminium construction at appropriate thicknesses
• 10No. PCI slots
• EE-ATX motherboard support with removable motherboard tray on nylon sliders
• Seperate PSU compartment with mounting positions for either 2No. triple triple Rad side mounted or floor mounted. Custom mounting position so cables face direct towards cable management bay. Fittings for 160 & 200mm length PSU's. Tray slides out of cable management bay
• 50mm deep cable management space
• Full grommet cable management
• 3No. Full fan control blocks built into cable management area suitable for up to 6No. fans per controller block. Wired in sequence to run to front fan control unit
• Aluminium front magnetic catch door hidding 2 Rows of 9No. total 5.25" bays
• Vandal switches for on/off & restart on top
• slot loading blue ray drive position on top of case similar to murderbox mkII
• Hot swap front for 8No. SSD and 4No. HDD using icy dock systems
• rear triple fan extraction, spacing suitable for triple Rad
• Large flush perspex window to motherboard side

There are more and some probably don't make sense written down without any visual reference but most of this is still in my head atm.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[tinytomlogan]

It hasnt got much attention because there isnt much to say, and without anything visual people cant really comment or advise mate.

Saying that its your case you need to design what you want.

 

[Curlyriff]

Yeah I understand Tom.

Cheers for the replies. I was really just wondering if anyone had thought of any features that they would really like to see that maybe are missed/not common in cases out there.

I listed out a few thoughts about what size and what I want to put in there but there is allot that maybe people would like to see. USB 3.0 mounts under doors/hidden.

Anyways yeah that is what I am really trying to see. Watching pretty much most of your vids it gives some good ideas and I will make sure my window won't have a fan?

If I can get a list of all the features that would be usefull/improve what is currently out there I can then work my design principles around these as it needs to be both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

I understand it would be my case and design but I wouldn't want to miss out the obvious that in a later date I used and realise there is a giant floor because I forgot to allow for certain cable management or a rad position etc.

Kind Regards,

Adam

p.s will get some visuals up by end of week of at least dimensions of the case and the basic layout principles for what I am looking at.

 

[Master&Puppet]

I'd look at what caselabs have to offer. You can basically do anything with them which might give you some ideas. Ultimately your case will need to fit what you want.

If it was me I'd want multiple, thick, radiator support and a sensible layout with a noise reducing freestanding/ledge area for a pump or two plus some excellent cable management and a window. Someone else might want a focus on airflow for an air cooled rig. all things to all people is a little tricky!

 

[Curlyriff]

Cheers M&P.

Caselabs is definitely somewhere I started when dreaming up ideas. I then started to check out the different cases on MDPC to see what extra touches could be added.

Cheers for the input. Am certainly taking on-board the multiple rad positions suitable for 60mm thick rads and push/pull with 25mm thick fans.

Big windows is a given. Tom would eat me alive I think if I made a custom case and didn't have a giant clean window to check out all the kit inside. Should mention this is going to be a for a water cooled rig mainly but certain things such as having rad positions in the PSU zone and the motherboard zone should also mean separate airflow for people who would want to air cool their rig.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[tinytomlogan]

TBF dude Id just buy a case labs or buy a case you like and adapt it.

Making your own will NEVER have the quality or looks something you can buy will.

 

[Curlyriff]

Probably Tom.

But the fun is in trying. And to be fair I won't technically be building it. Just doing the design so the build quality should be good. It may look a little boring to some because of the funcunality but the mix between my Architecture flair and Engineering will have to balance out somewhere.

Thanks for taking the time to post though. It is most appreciated.

I am unsure on some of the details on the caselabs. The grommets I believe would look better with some rubber in the middle. I don't like the lines if I would need to add a top or bottom compartment to fit the loop in at a later date (although not likely).

I don't think the gap that the mother tray board has for instance on the M8 shows. It would have been easy enough to have taken the tray to the edge of the cutout and place some grommet locations on the tray itself.

The only case that appears to allow 5.25" bays on both the left and right of the case appears to be the MAGNUM TX10-D & V which are both too big for me and I would like to place certain items on different sides. The PSU placements and motherboard tray design are something I would like to emulate in a similar design in mine though.

The roof design I am also unsure on. I would prefer just some more height built into the case instead of creating a line that is 64/85mm from the top.

Rather than rubber feet I would like to spread the load with a larger footprint design and using a spreader plate under the case wouldn't look right.

I believe the main issue with the case labs case is I can't see one in person either to really see the quality and don't know anyone I can ask to take a look at that owns one.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[SPS]

What if you're fabricator messes up your beautiful aluminium sheets?

I would advise getting a caselabs and modding/playing with it. Surely that's more fun/less stressful?

 

[Curlyriff]

If they mess it up they would be replacing it. I don't see why anyone would settle for a custom item that has been fabricated to turn out messed up on the finishing.

I would have to sign off each stage of work to say that I am happy with the quality etc and they are local so I can go see them at any time. I am not naming the company I am talking too at the moment because it may change.

Also the cost of buying an M8 and shipping to the UK with the extras to get me going would be around £838 according to the import duty & taxes calculator.

I like to design products, it's what I do every day at work (although a completely different sector) so that is also the fun for me. No need to be stressful. If I had the cash I would get a cas labs case. Play with it, see where I could find some minor improvements and then get something fabricated to see if it works but alas I don't.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[SPS]

I suppose if it's the designing you prefer over the actual doing, then this would be the most fun route then

 

[Curlyriff]

I would be happy to fab it myself as well if I had the room but my flat just hasn't got the space to work in especially with a tenant there also.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[airdeano]

yeah, contracting labor on custom ideas really isnt cheap. when i was prototyping
before 3D printing came out, the "cost of materials" wasn't part of a fee, that's
configured afterwards...
so from custom drawings we'd build as per and if there was a change.. more time
and money. it'd never come out of contractors pocket...
so you want a custom, you gotta build it yourself, of get something close and
re-jig the design yourself...
not everyone can own a sheet metal break, sheer, and hydraulic press.. and like
your predictament, SPACE!
good luck on your quest...

airdeano

 

[Curlyriff]

yeah, contracting labor on custom ideas really isnt cheap. when i was prototyping
before 3D printing came out, the "cost of materials" wasn't part of a fee, that's
configured afterwards...
so from custom drawings we'd build as per and if there was a change.. more time
and money. it'd never come out of contractors pocket...
so you want a custom, you gotta build it yourself, of get something close and
re-jig the design yourself...
not everyone can own a sheet metal break, sheer, and hydraulic press.. and like
your predictament, SPACE!
good luck on your quest...

airdeano

Thank you. Fortunately the cost isn't as great as some would think. You just need to have an almost finished product to take which is why I was asking what ideas peeps out here have that they like and actually what may help is also what they don't.

May give me some insight in what not to do!

Also I know what you mean about custom drawing and changes. I have worked with someone before to design and build a custom tv unit.

The full cost was only £1000 and it huge with some great design ideas for the price. We included touch open storage for games/dvds, built in cable management and power connection. Construction was 50x50x5.0 SHS and welded up with a 19mm thick valchromat finish, smoked glass doors on soft close hinges etc.

Anyways yeah. I seem to have at least got the ball rolling with the fab company and because they haven't done it before their in house designers are finding it interesting and although not contracted are talking to me about design etc.

At the moment I have basic box shapes in sketch-up to at least work out the airflow, thermal ability and space for the build I am wanting to place inside the case.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[Josh Weston]

Very, very interested to see the final results Hope it all goes well for you.

 

[Curlyriff]

Cheers Josh,

As soon as I can get some more concrete details with how I am going to take this build I can fix some certain designs. Rad points and looks is what I am working really hard on while providing a window with a different.

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[Curlyriff]

Right,

I haven't had chance to do much between actual work and other social commitments but I thought I would at least load up my initial sketch design.

Hopefully this will give a better idea of what I am thinking at the moment.

Anyone have any thoughts on the look.

Notes to be made on current design that have been considered so far:

• Soft close magnetic latch side windows
• Slot loading blu ray drive to be placed in one of the 4 coloured slots
• Full spreader plate for feet
• External Dimensions: 20"x17"x16" (508x431.8x406.4mm)
• RGB LED lighting to stripe design around case
• Black and White colouring
• E-ATX motherboard support
• Vented area between central case and case legs (to be added)
• 22mm Vandal Switch

Sorry it hasn't got any further or in more detail at the moment. This is only stage 1. You can see below how these stages are planned although I haven't given time scales like I would on customers jobs.

Stage 1 - concept design. Working the way through different styling, geometry and material finishes that can be considered

Stage 2 - Prototyping. This would be hard modelling to make sure it all fits as drawn and how to get the best cable management. Can also test the airflow and thermal efficiency of vents and fan placements.

Stage 3 - Full engineering drawings. Full working drawings completed with cabling and fabrication drawings. These may be produced either by myself or the fabricator depending. Still to be discussed.

Stage 4 - Finished product. Hopefully when we will have the completed package.

Anyways next up on my list to do is;

Mounting areas for either a top or front mounted triple radiator or one triple and one dual radiator. Sorting the details for the motherboard from the mounting positions to the required voids and grommets.

After that I have decided that I will not have any front visible bays but have them side loading internally into a custom hot swap support for 6No. SSD and 4No. HDD drives. Should give plenty of room to change about what I require

White Raven I believe is going to be the case name and logo design needs to be decided upon.

If anyone does design a logo and I use it on my case I will have a 'designed by' and your signature printed on the case like an art piece if wanted?

Kind Regards,

Adam

 

[B NEGATIVE]

Get the things you need,mobo tray,back panel,drive bays...that kind of thing,from an old case and build the frame work around it.

A lot cheaper and less time consuming than trying to make your own.

Forget fabbing up a whole case unless you have won the lottery....

Scroll saws and drill presses are quite cheap nowadays and are vital for any real chance of doing it yourself.

Im making a scratch build next year,im using Thorlabs optical rails for the framework then cladding it.