Mini by Ninja

[remember300]

Well you should be proud.... I am seriously investigating this idea, I really wanted something unique to add to this small form factor build aside from the fact that its quite possibly the smallest... now you have given me the perfect IDEA!!! still have no idea how feasible this is yet

for reliability id not mess with springs, except to add loan to the flaps so they dont open when transporting, as you said you wanted to take your case places

a dummy load with a wire going to the rod in a motor wrapped around it then going to the flaps to open up, id have to build a circuit or something to open at a set temp, could possibly rig an aurduino to do this, which i have lying around the house and some temp sensors from my cooling node which i dont use, would be better if i could get it to read from the cpu temp though. and once circuit is done leds are no problem

 

[MiNi NiNjA]

see my previous edited post for pics on page 4!

 

[remember300]

Well you should be proud.... I am seriously investigating this idea, I really wanted something unique to add to this small form factor build aside from the fact that its quite possibly the smallest... now you have given me the perfect IDEA!!! still have no idea how feasible this is yet...

EDIT:

------ Idea update/poll ------

What does the forums think of this?

Before:

After:

Closeup:

Basically like some gimmicky case builders are wont to do....servo actuated vents for airflow, when the computer is off, they would be closed to keep dust etc out. When the computer is turned on, the vents open to allow exhaust air to escape the top of the case.

What does the forum think? pros? cons? yay? nay?

cheers
Ninja

if they are light enough the fans could lift them if not using a cable along the tips could lift them easy and you know i love this idea lol

 

[MiNi NiNjA]

if they are light enough the fans could lift them if not using a cable along the tips could lift them easy and you know i love this idea lol

It would be more like this with a push rod:

arrow indicates the movement of the rod to open the flaps, obviously reverse is to close them. this might not pan out but im having fun in sketchup for once!

And the circles on the edges indicate the hinges

Edit: no that config wont work... the tab that connects to the rod needs to be inline with the hinge DOH

 

[remember300]

It would be more like this with a push rod:

arrow indicates the movement of the rod to open the flaps, obviously reverse is to close them. this might not pan out but im having fun in sketchup for once!

And the circles on the edges indicate the hinges

Edit: no that config wont work... the tab that connects to the rod needs to be inline with the hinge DOH

if you hinge them higher but keep that rod there they would work, just they would open more into the case.
and im taking apart a calculator to see how i can connect it to my arduino for temp control lol as i want a screen for feed back:/
if your clever you make them out of clear acrylic so you can light it.

 

[Innocent159]

Really nice build so far

 

[alpenwasser]

Oh, I like where this is going. Subbed!

 

[MiNi NiNjA]

if you hinge them higher but keep that rod there they would work, just they would open more into the case.
and im taking apart a calculator to see how i can connect it to my arduino for temp control lol as i want a screen for feed back:/
if your clever you make them out of clear acrylic so you can light it.

Hmm Im hesitant to use acrylic, I want to go for the matte black/steel industrial look, been thinking about it alot and unfortunately this kind of stuff does fall into the second phase of the build and it doesnt make sense to work on it at the moment.

then again I think I have other ideas you might like! keeping them a secret at the moment though

Really nice build so far

Thanks!

Oh, I like where this is going. Subbed!

Thanks alpenwasser! On a side note I am hugely impressed with both your build logs, hope you get better soon and get back to modding! Ive subbed to both your build logs too!

 

[alpenwasser]

Thanks alpenwasser! On a side note I am hugely impressed with both your build logs, hope you get better soon and get back to modding! Ive subbed to both your build logs too!

Thanks for the kind words mate, they are much appreciated. We'll find out next
week how things are going to go forward (or if ).

 

[remember300]

Hope things work out for you alp. And the metals cool too. Just a counter balance maybe required if they end up with a relatively high mass. But im always here to bounce ideas off of. And when I get some more work ill be building simular to you and ive found my doner case lol

 

[MiNi NiNjA]

-----------small update-----------


Just managed to mount the power switch and power socket on the back of the case, these were donated from an old psu I found off a friend, unfortunately this means the riser card I have will not reach the motherboard, currently talking to a few electronics places to see if i can get a custom riser card made.... my wallet is sad

Cheers
Ninja

-----------small update 2-----------

Just been going through a design phase as to what my final case will look like, here is one Iteration in sketchup that I kind of like, what do you guys think? I havent decided to keep mesh for the sides yet or to try gun for the movable vents....

Front:

It will have perforated steel plate, probably cut out of one piece with a flowjet.
The hole in the front is for a modsmart vandal switch, the red one

Side:

Again not sure what Im going to go with here, I am leaning towards perforated steel again, just make the case very open and just fans on the front to blow air in and out the sides.

You may have noticed there is nothing at the rear, a friend of mine has a TIG welder, these pieces are going to be welded together as is and the whole computer will slide inside and screw in at the rear. I have decided to go with this design to solve the problem of a really cramped workspace when you work in an ITX case, at the moment it really is a pain in the butt to put parts in and out again, so a removable motherboard tray that also holds the PSU, SSD's and GPU is on the agenda now.

Hope you have enjoyed the build so far! Stay tuned for more!

Cheers
Ninja

 

[AverageNinja]

Hey there fellow ninja!
Very nice sketches, this is going to be a great build
Keep it up!

 

[remember300]

looks great if you dont like the mesh you could put a tube in the front that sucks air in from the sides. you could even use this to create air flow helping to better cool your case

 

[MiNi NiNjA]

Sorry I have been AFK for a bit, University is really getting to me at the moment but the build is still on! had to undergo some design changes and a few things. I am trying to get a fabricator who can cut out the panels for me, with a flowjet or plasma cutter? Does anyone in know of any places that would do this sort of work in Sydney?

There will be a small update tonight by the way

Cheers
Ninja

 

[MiNi NiNjA]

UPDATE

Sorry guys Ive taken so long to get back to you all! Things have been beyond hectic in my life at the moment!

First Ive been working 14 hour days at a new job in the IT industry in Sydney, dropped out of university to do that, then had two deaths in my family that were sudden and shocking. Needless to say the build got put on the back burner and everything went to the back of my mind for a long time but I'm back now and have a few updates for you all.

Firstly the objective of the build has changed, this is now a STEAMBOX build, that means only 512gb of storage is needed obviously through an ssd but heres the kicker, I was thinking of how to reduce the amount of cabling in a system and came upon the asrock z87e-itx motherboard that has an msata port underneath the motherboard. I am saving up to buy a 512gb MSATA SSD. I do not have any other components to change other than the motherboard which will now be the Asrock (I really wish the Maximus Impact had msata then I would be sold on it)

Next on I may try to design my own cpu cooler, I have a fair bit of experience in metal working and that may get its own thread. Doing a custom shroud like the alienware x51 may not be too bad. but I want to have very good airflow but not use any of the side panels for fans so the case can be stacked either vertical or horizontal.

Finally. This is now a scratch build. I will design and build the case from scratch, the old case just wasnt long enough to fit the 450 watt silverstone PSU inside it. so I plan to use the mobo tray of the old case as a removable motherboard tray in the scratch build! I am teaming up with a friend at a metal fabrication shop to build the case soon! will keep you all updated properly!


Again I am sincerely sorry for the hiatus and hope to get this build back on track very soon!

Cheers
Ninja

 

[Feronix]

No need to be sorry mate! Sorry to hear about your family members, hope you're alright now

You have some pretty interesting ideas to be honest. Not sure if making your own CPU cooler is such a good idea, but the rest of your plans sound good.

Are you getting the short cable kit with that PSU?

 

[MiNi NiNjA]

No need to be sorry mate! Sorry to hear about your family members, hope you're alright now

You have some pretty interesting ideas to be honest. Not sure if making your own CPU cooler is such a good idea, but the rest of your plans sound good.

Are you getting the short cable kit with that PSU?

I have alot of ideas I want to try out, I would be making my own cables from scratch, have a whole bunch from mdpcx for crimping, sleeving but for this build there will only be cutting wires to exact length and crimping them. so things go smooth.

I agree making my own cpu cooler may not be the best idea but it certainly is cool! when work calms down in the next week or two I should have parts to show you all. currently have test servers set up for a client and that needs to be done asap

 

[wassupdoc]

I agree making my own cpu cooler may not be the best idea but it certainly is cool!

Was that a pun? xD Glad to see you back in action mate