Recent content by Colinreay

Hey all, just wanted to give a quick update on the case's status. Here are a few more photos of a complete build in the first prototype. I've been using the computer for CAD and schoolwork for the past week and it has been running great. I just ordered a second prototype that expands the...

Hey all, As I wait for my power distribution PCB to arrive for my initial prototype, I want to share the progress I'm making on the revised, production-ready design. Here are some things I've changed over the original model: Increased the volume by 1.3L to 11.7L. Added support for 305mm long...

Thanks! I'm a huge fan of your designs. The sheet is tack-welded behind the cutouts in the top panel, with several tacks on each side. I used Protocase for the prototype; they stock 20 ga. aluminum perforated sheet. Here's a photo of the tack welds on an example part.

Thank you! Adding 3-slot GPU support is high up on my priority list for the revised, production-ready design. The front panel attaches magnetically, which would make it very straightforward to order custom panels through a site like Ponoko for a reasonable price. I think offering one or two...

Hi all, I hope you’re doing well. I want to share a new case project I’m working on, a 10.4L “classic” layout in a horizontal orientation. This layout is inspired by cases like the SG13, which have proportions I find very satisfying. I have prototyped two front panels out of wood. One panel...

Thanks for all of the input! Adding some clearance for front-mounted SSD's on the other side of the front bracket would be awesome. This would shift the front panel back ~6mm but that wouldn't be a huge deal. Definitely an idea to explore in the future! Good point on the .step file. I designed...

Hey iFreilicht, it's great to see you back on the forums! I don't love the asymmetrical Cherry profile either, but options for power symbol keycaps are pretty sparse. The .step file for the case is in the resources section, but I plan to update that file soon. I've made some changes to...

That render is beautiful! I wasn't aware of the golden ratio until now, but it explains why some cases just... look right to me. This is shaping up to be one of them! Excited to follow along.

Ha, probably not. Apart from both using acrylic, our internal layouts are pretty different. I consider Lazer3D the gold standard for acrylic SFF cases (in terms of user experience, website design, design creativity/aesthetics, etc.) and find a lot of inspiration in what they do.

Hi all, I hope you are doing well. I'm excited to share my new case design, comprised of aluminum extrusion and acrylic panels. All the exterior panels attach via magnets to minimize the number of visible fasteners. First, some photos: I'm a huge fan of acrylic cases (Lazer3D...

Colinreay submitted a new resource: MK2 - MK2 is an acrylic and aluminum inverted tower enclosure Read more about this resource...

Update 12-8-20 The MK2 file is now a .zip with basic documentation (still needs some editing + revisions), gerber files for the PCB, .stl and .dxf files for manufacturing, a BOM, and the native .f3d fusion file! Everything you need to complete the case is now there. Thanks! Update 12-5-20...

Thank you both! You just saved me a lot of frustration and money. Yeah, the Metis and my design definitely share the inverted tower layout with rounded edges. Hopefully, some of my design choices make the case unique! The overall dimensions are 281x170x254 (or about 12.1L). I'm a huge fan of...

Thank you for the advice, Till! I am using Fusion 360 for the renders. I appreciate your insight into the potential problems with cutting 3mm aluminum - I was definitely not aware of that. I'll need to do some more research. An acrylic version would be a great, lower-cost option without having...

Hi all! I am excited to share my new project. Meet Mk2. My goal is to create an affordable, elegant case that is easily modifiable by the end-user. The enclosure’s frame is built around the 3mm thick aluminum front and rear panels, connected at each corner by a curved aluminum extrusion...