Anyone cut holes in their aluminum case? (got guts?)

[MichaelD]

I bought a LianLi PC65B. (Black PC60, with a window, basically.)

It has a top mounted 80mm exhaust fan, but the "grill" if you want to call it that, sucks. See pic here.

I am thinking about cutting a normal hole in the top and putting a snazzy grill up there...but this is a $120 case. :Q I'd be just slightly miffed if I mucked it up. I can cut out regular fan grills with ease...but I've never used the ol'Dremel on a pricey case.

Experiences? Suggestions? Words of wisdom?

 

[Blooz1]

Michael, it's very easy to open up that hole by cutting out the "louvers", and it also increases the exhaust flow by about 50%!

I did this mod to my PC-65b with a Dremel. Just put a few layers of masking tape around the area of the hole to prevent "slip" damage, and carefully cut each bar. I did a little cleanup sanding with a grinding bit, and lined the edges of the hole with rubber "C" moulding.

The Panaflo H1A is mounted using the standard push pins. They are too short to try and use for holding the fan <U>and</U> a grill, so I just glued a wire grill to the top of the push pins with "superglue".

I think it looks much better, has better airflow, and, best of all, is MUCH quieter!

 

[cheapgoose]

dude, just be careful and GO FOR IT!

man, it'd be exciting to cut into a $120 case.

 

[MichaelD]

Hey, thanks, Blooz1! You got :camera:? I'd like to see some if you do, please.

In a review of this case on Newegg, I read that this guy yanked the plastic rivet dealies and just used regular case screws. Regular case screws are long enough to go thru the grill, case and mount into the fan on the other side. That's been my experiences with Antec cases...hopefully it works with LianLis' as well!! *crosses fingers and toes*

Cheapgoose: I'm gonna piss myself if I screw it up!

 

[cheapgoose]

well, just think of it this way, if you fvck it up, then you can make it a 92mm blow hole, fvck up again, 120mm blow hole, what's next? anything better than 120mm, well, I just made yourself a top window with fan.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: cheapgoose
well, just think of it this way, if you fvck it up, then you can make it a 92mm blow hole, fvck up again, 120mm blow hole, what's next? anything better than 120mm, well, I just made yourself a top window with fan.

Hahah! I like the way you think.

"Gee Mike, that's an interesting looking Hectagonal window you got there...how'd you come up with that design?"

"Um.......er.......you don't wanna know."

 

[0roo0roo]

i've seen a mod site where t was done right. he used a drill to drill a guide hole. then use a hole saw for a perfect cut.


when i did it, i was cheap so i used the dremil i had and just finished the less then perfect cut with car door edge trim.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i've seen a mod site where t was done right. he used a drill to drill a guide hole. then use a hole saw for a perfect cut.


when i did it, i was cheap so i used the dremil i had and just finished the less then perfect cut with car door edge trim.

Hmm. 80mm translates to about a 3-inch hole, right? I have the grinding bits as well as the cutoff wheels for my Dremel...the hole would be smooth, but getting it ROUND is more important.

Metal holesaws are not cheap. I have a bunch for wood though...

 

[0roo0roo]

use google and search for fan templates AND 80mm you can print some out. the best ones for dremils are the slightly rounded squares. that way you onlyhave to cut roundish corners, much easier when doing a dremil. thats how fans are shaped on the bits thta matter anyhow. i've fonud the screw holes are a bit off when i print em, use the fan as the template for those.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
use google and search for fan templates AND 80mm you can print some out. the best ones for dremils are the slightly rounded squares. that way you onlyhave to cut roundish corners, much easier when doing a dremil. thats how fans are shaped on the bits thta matter anyhow. i've fonud the screw holes are a bit off when i print em, use the fan as the template for those.

Thanks man!!! That's good info.

 

[mechBgon]

If it were me, I'd go ahead and port it out to 120mm if there's room (check with a drive in the top bay first, I s'pose). That should leave no trace of the square hole that it comes with, and you can put a 120mm Panaflo L1A on there and run it at 7 volts. Maybe have a ping-pong ball floating on the updraft too LOL!

 

[lchyi]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
If it were me, I'd go ahead and port it out to 120mm if there's room (check with a drive in the top bay first, I s'pose). That should leave no trace of the square hole that it comes with, and you can put a 120mm Panaflo L1A on there and run it at 7 volts. Maybe have a ping-pong ball floating on the updraft too LOL!

Oh man, that would be the ultimate if you could get a ping pong ball floating.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: lchyi

Originally posted by: mechBgon
If it were me, I'd go ahead and port it out to 120mm if there's room (check with a drive in the top bay first, I s'pose). That should leave no trace of the square hole that it comes with, and you can put a 120mm Panaflo L1A on there and run it at 7 volts. Maybe have a ping-pong ball floating on the updraft too LOL!

Oh man, that would be the ultimate if you could get a ping pong ball floating.

Heh, don't tempt me! :evil:

Seriously though, I never considered putting a 120mm monster up there...that's an idea. *scratches chin* Do you think that would seriously screw up the airflow in the case? I mean, it will pull seriously more air than the 80mm in the back will.