Dremel question?

[fibes]

What is the best bit to use when making mod cuts in your case? Please advise for both Plastic and Metal, and part# of bit also, if possible.

Thanks

 

[upsciLLion]

I've had good results using a jigsaw. You have to start it somehow, so I would suggest drilling a hole large enough to fit the blade into.

ups

 

[Gravity]

I used the cutting wheel. I was making a hole for a 120 mm fan I salvaged from a dell server. I drilled lots of holes with a drill then used the dremel and cutting wheel to make connect the dots. Then I used the conical stone bit to make the edges smooth, or smooth enough to prevent user's from getting cut. It ain't pretty but it works just fine!

 

[govtcheez75]

I too think the cutting wheel is the best. I just cut a blowhole on my Antec Lanboy to fit a 120mm fan in, and it took me about 5 minutes, and three of those little suckers, but I got almost a perfect circle. I sanded it down just a little bit, but it's still pretty sharp. I'm too impatient to make it perfect.

Oh! I just noticed that you have a Lanboy too! I would be very careful measuring for holes and such, as components are so tightly packed in there. I also have to intake fans on the plastic window (120mm and 80mm) which I had a hell of a time getting in. The first time, the bar that goes across got in the way AFTER I put the damn fan in. I had to glue the circle plastic I cut out back on! ....And now, I had to move the two optical drive down to put my 120mm blowhole fan on, and a Vantec Fan Controller, and the bottom drive gets in the way of the fan on the side. I just took the one 80mm fan out, and covered it up with a filter. Oh well. Trial and error.
....it's sooo cool now though. I used to get very crappy temps of about 45 idle, and 55-60 load. Now I get 38-39 idle, and 48-49 load. And this is with all the fans on Low!

 

[mechBgon]

Dr. Mech reminds you to wear eye protection. Two eyes per lifetime, maximum.

 

[Ikonomi]

I have a certain hatred of Dremels since trying to cut Plexiglas right-handed (boy, molten plastic is fun!), but I think that the little cutting wheel thing would work the best, like everyone said. I've had great success with sheet metal using a good jigsaw, though. It seems much easier to steady. All it takes is the right metal-cutting blade, fine toothed with a little bit of a wave-form to it (whatever the technical term for that is).

 

[Goatsan]

a jig saw is the best for cutting metals, the dremel wheels do a good job, but they are used up to quickly.

 

[BG4533]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Dr. Mech reminds you to wear eye protection. Two eyes per lifetime, maximum.

I strongly agree. Even if just making small cuts or grinding. I dont know how many times I have been hit in the face with metal fragments and I am waiting for a cutting wheel at 30,000RPM to attack me.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: govtcheez75
I too think the cutting wheel is the best. I just cut a blowhole on my Antec Lanboy to fit a 120mm fan in, and it took me about 5 minutes, and three of those little suckers, but I got almost a perfect circle. I sanded it down just a little bit, but it's still pretty sharp. I'm too impatient to make it perfect.

Oh! I just noticed that you have a Lanboy too! I would be very careful measuring for holes and such, as components are so tightly packed in there. I also have to intake fans on the plastic window (120mm and 80mm) which I had a hell of a time getting in. The first time, the bar that goes across got in the way AFTER I put the damn fan in. I had to glue the circle plastic I cut out back on! ....And now, I had to move the two optical drive down to put my 120mm blowhole fan on, and a Vantec Fan Controller, and the bottom drive gets in the way of the fan on the side. I just took the one 80mm fan out, and covered it up with a filter. Oh well. Trial and error.
....it's sooo cool now though. I used to get very crappy temps of about 45 idle, and 55-60 load. Now I get 38-39 idle, and 48-49 load. And this is with all the fans on Low!

Thanks for everyone's input.
I also have high temps. I plan to add more fans to cool off both the case and CPU. Just how many fans do you have in your LANBOY? I love the case, but you are right by stating that everything is "so tightly packed". You also mentioned that your temps were @ 45c and 55-60c load. Are those your CPU temps? Just curious, because my CPU temps is around same temperature as yours.

P.S. I would love to see a pic of your modded LANBOY.

 

[mechBgon]

Hey, by the way... if you get cutting wheels, get the fiberglass-reinforced ones. They're quite tough, whereas the non-fiberglass-reinforced ones are prone to shattering. Personally, I've never tried cutting a circular hole using a cutting wheel... seems to me that you'd be better off with a circle cutter and a cutting bit. Of course, for that price, you might be coming up on a decent bimetal holesaw.