Custom case for Nano-ITX board?

[Synomenon]

I'm planning on making a case out of this:
http://www.atechflash.com/products-G5.html


for my VIA nano-ITX board:
VIA EPIA NX15000G
http://www.via.com.tw/en/produ...otherboard_id=470#spec


These nano-ITX boards don't come with I/O shields though since all nano-ITX cases seem to be made for specific nano-ITX boards and have cutouts already for the board they're made for.

I want to do this "nicely" and make it as neat as possible. The board comes with a DVI port dongle and I'll be using one of those USB header to PCI slot brackets to bring the USB ports to the back. Everything else: audio ports, PS/2 port, composite, s-video, component video ports are all also through dongles that connect to their respective headers on the board. The only actual port on the back is the ethernet. So, I'll have to find a way to arrange all the ports the way I want them, then design an I/O shield that will work with the way I want the ports arranged.

Anyone know of a company that will make custom I/O shields?

 

[Zap]

Find any place in town that does metal work... probably... I've made my own using aluminum flashing and metal shears, but you might want yours to look a bit nicer.

That's a nice looking flash reader. Please take pics of your build and post them here after you're done. I think it'll turn out pretty awesome!

 

[gorobei]

Could you make it out of plexi?. I think Tap Plastics does some fairly sophisticated custom drilling/cutting of plexi. Rough it out in some of the thin creditcard type plastic sheets, then send the final version to Tap. Maybe use a mylar mirrored type acrylic and it could help with EMI.

Or if you have access to a drill press, drill out the major holes and corners out of hardware store roof flashing and dremel the rest of the lines. I would put the sheet metal between two pieces of plywood during drilling to prevent warping and funky bits of shaved metal marring the finish.

 

[alfa147x]

Wow thats a good idea; cant wait!

You should install os x86 on it

 

[Synomenon]

It shouldn't be too difficult. Drilling the hole up front for the power button, reset button and USB port will probably be the hardest part. If I can't find anyone to make a custom I/O shield, then cutting out holes for the ports on the back will be the most difficult part.

The front of it now (with all the cutouts for the card reader) will be the back and the back of it now (with the single USB B type port) will be the front. I'll probably use that cutout for the USB B type port for the power button.

I wish the back (the side with the USB B type port) had all the perforations too since that would look good as the front of the case.

Originally posted by: gorobei
Could you make it out of plexi?. I think Tap Plastics does some fairly sophisticated custom drilling/cutting of plexi. Rough it out in some of the thin creditcard type plastic sheets, then send the final version to Tap. Maybe use a mylar mirrored type acrylic and it could help with EMI.

Or if you have access to a drill press, drill out the major holes and corners out of hardware store roof flashing and dremel the rest of the lines. I would put the sheet metal between two pieces of plywood during drilling to prevent warping and funky bits of shaved metal marring the finish.

I'll be using that card reader I linked to above. I'm going to gut it and use the empty, G5 style case as the case for the nano-ITX board.

 

[gorobei]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
It shouldn't be too difficult. Drilling the hole up front for the power button, reset button and USB port will probably be the hardest part. If I can't find anyone to make a custom I/O shield, then cutting out holes for the ports on the back will be the most difficult part.

The front of it now (with all the cutouts for the card reader) will be the back and the back of it now (with the single USB B type port) will be the front. I'll probably use that cutout for the USB B type port for the power button.

I wish the back (the side with the USB B type port) had all the perforations too since that would look good as the front of the case.

Originally posted by: gorobei
Could you make it out of plexi?. I think Tap Plastics does some fairly sophisticated custom drilling/cutting of plexi. Rough it out in some of the thin creditcard type plastic sheets, then send the final version to Tap. Maybe use a mylar mirrored type acrylic and it could help with EMI.

Or if you have access to a drill press, drill out the major holes and corners out of hardware store roof flashing and dremel the rest of the lines. I would put the sheet metal between two pieces of plywood during drilling to prevent warping and funky bits of shaved metal marring the finish.

I'll be using that card reader I linked to above. I'm going to gut it and use the empty, G5 style case as the case for the nano-ITX board.

I read it and saw the link. I was talking about making the I/O plate.

 

[Synomenon]

Ah ok. I've never seen an I/O shield made of plexi. I guess it could be wrapped in aluminum to make it shielded, but it might be too thick after.