Building my own Case

[imported_Uber]

So I'm planning on milling out my own Small Form Factor case in a shop class I'm taking. I figured it would be a good way to get away with doing soemthing more computer oriented than the class generally is. However I am concernaed about the safety of the guts inside a homebuilt case. Should I leave them in there, or transfer them to a professionally built case. Any comments? Opinions welcome, as that was the original point of this topic.

 

[pkrush]

You'll probably want to pull a motherboard backplate from an old case instead of making your own, since that's easily the hardest part to make yourself. Other than that, just make sure that everything is secured well and that you don't screw the motherboard directly to a sheet of metal without standoffs.

 

[pkme2]

A friend of mine built a computer case out of Koa Wood. It was a work of love, not to mention how beautiful the wood grain looked.

I'm practical, but it was very spectacular in the least.

If you got the creative juices flowing, go for it. Only you can really appreciate the results. Good building.

 

[TerryMathews]

I am certainly not one to dissuade anyone from building something with their own hands - something you build yourself has a certain value to it that you just don't get when you buy.

That said, a computer case isn't something you want to make yourself if you plan on actually using it. Unless you're using computer-aided tools...

With a computer case, you've got at least 21 screw holes and 7 precision-cut holes that have to be very accurate (<1cm?), and that's not accounting for a way to get into the case, IE a cover.

If you really want a computer project, a better one might be a non-traditional way of housing the parts, like a monitor base. That way, you don't have to accurately account for the typical trappings of a traditional computer case. You could make your base and then place the parts how you want them to sit and cut away.

 

[vanvock]

Go for it

 

[Zepper]

You know what you want better than anyone else so why not. Just educate yourself to the basic requirements of any case: 1- hold mobo in proper relationship to card slots, 2- hold drives in proper orientation (less than 5 degress off from horizontal or vertical), 3- provide a unifying ground (all components grounded to true Earth ground either thru the chassis or black leads), 4- provide some RFI/EMI shielding to prevent interference with your or your neighbors' other equipment, 5- provide for decent cooling of drives and components; and you'll be fine.

.bh.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Zepper
You know what you want better than anyone else so why not. Just educate yourself to the basic requirements of any case: 1- hold mobo in proper relationship to card slots, 2- hold drives in proper orientation (less than 5 degress off from horizontal or vertical), 3- provide a unifying ground (all components grounded to true Earth ground either thru the chassis or black leads), 4- provide some RFI/EMI shielding to prevent interference with your or your neighbors' other equipment, 5- provide for decent cooling of drives and components; and you'll be fine.

.bh.

As Zepper said its a very good idea as long as you have all the bases covered!!

Remember there really is a reason why nobody has built a case out of limburger cheese......honestly.....

 

[Skott]

Cheese case! LOL

I too think its a great idea if you know what you are doing, know what to expect (like knowing it wont exactly be a money saver), have the right equipment and tools, and got the time and desire to do it. Be sure to get pics of your progress and post them here!

 

[imported_Uber]

Well, I'm gonna build it, but I may not actually USE it, depending on the final result.
I will post pictures here.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

Originally posted by: Uber
Well, I'm gonna build it, but I may not actually USE it, depending on the final result.
I will post pictures here.

:thumbsup:

 

[YoungGun21]

Sounds like a neat project! Not something I would try though, seeing as I have little knowledge about all this stuff and I've never worked with metal like that. I would rather build my own computer desk since I am very picky as to how it looks and where everything goes lol.

Good luck!