Well, if durability is a concern, there's always wood veneer.
Still, I don't think real wood panels for the case would be a problem if it's not handled too much, and the corners and edges are finished properly.
General Design and Manufacture Discussion
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Still, I don't think real wood panels for the case would be a problem if it's not handled too much, and the corners and edges are finished properly.
Ha. I mean, I am not good at working with wood, innuendo accepted. My bird house also fell down, caught fire and exploded.
But then, I am distracted today. EKWB sent me some toys for my Nano! Shiny!
That means I don't have to learn a CAD program, or make someone insane trying to do that for me. I will just make a case out of real parts.
I also failed metal shop, but at least that will not explode. Until I plug it in
Oh man you have too much fun stuff to play around with and you still waste time making explosive birdhouses !
I think wood is one of the most easy-to-learn material to build stuff out of, due to it's force and labor requirements more in tune with the human body's capabilities. Aluminium being a close second though, but it can be quite expensive to go beyond the standard beam, frame or strip.
Personally I'd still want to go the 3D printing route, but I'm not motivated enough to get my lazy ass to do something after work.
I think wood is one of the most easy-to-learn material to build stuff out of, due to it's force and labor requirements more in tune with the human body's capabilities. Aluminium being a close second though, but it can be quite expensive to go beyond the standard beam, frame or strip.
Personally I'd still want to go the 3D printing route, but I'm not motivated enough to get my lazy ass to do something after work.
I'm also an expert at dealing with food, by which I mean stuffing it in my mouth. I'm not so good at cooking but not terrible, more in the realm of "mastered reheating, novice at cooking, might be deserving of a spice rack".
Nice to see people's other skills. Be sure to post something in the off-topic section !
Nice to see people's other skills. Be sure to post something in the off-topic section !
I know this was asked a while ago, but to get back on topic:
Lian Li did not decide between Aluminum or steel, they were an OEM, making aluminum CD cases at first, it was only aluminum. Mr. Lian Li saw the cases at the time and saw they were ugly. As he knew Al, he used Al, just more. He made beautiful cases
The clips are made in house. The method of attaching the knobs was invented and perfected by us. I don't know about the grabby bits, but most of that is made by us too. Just the spring bit is bought.
Hope that helps.
(PS. "I am also a Chef" is a movie quote
I bake a cookie if you know the movie)
LOL, CD players. Remember then big grey things you used to put in the Computer Machines that would play the round floppies? They made the enclosures for them as OEM. They were nothing special. But they did know how to fold aluminum.
I do say that Lian Li is not a tech company. They are an origami company, they just use aluminum not paper
I do say that Lian Li is not a tech company. They are an origami company, they just use aluminum not paper
LOL, CD players. Remember then big grey things you used to put in the Computer Machines that would play the round floppies? They made the enclosures for them as OEM. They were nothing special. But they did know how to fold aluminum.
I do say that Lian Li is not a tech company. They are an origami company, they just use aluminum not paper
True dat, their chassis are arts. I only buy Lian-Li chassis and I wish I could afford an E-ATX server board to fit inside my unused PC-V1200. By the way, Do you still make the original 5.25" bay cover for that case ?
That gives some inspirations for concept cases: a 'single piece' aluminium case, formed form a single sheet of folded and punched Aluminium (would have to be short run due to the acute folds, couldn't be machine assembled with a regular press-brake); and a 'self assembling' case using pre-stressed joints (or separated Aluminium structural panels bonded to either side of an internal flexible 'hinge' sheet) and shape-memory or routed Bowden cable actuation, similar to a reverse of the system used to 'unpack' stowed solar panels for spacecraft.I do say that Lian Li is not a tech company. They are an origami company, they just use aluminum not paper
In Win made a "folded" case for a ridiculous amount of money: http://www.inwin-style.com/en/goods.php?act=view&id=S-Frame
But an origami-style case would be a first !
But an origami-style case would be a first !
If you guys would only speak English....
If anyone has a design concept for such a thing, more the 'single piece' aluminium case, not the space self assembling part I will take it to Mr. Wong.
If anyone has a design concept for such a thing, more the 'single piece' aluminium case, not the space self assembling part
I will take it to Mr. Wong.
Found a neat video on building a sheet metal enclosure:
It's focused on manufacturing one-off enclosures for prototyping/R&D so some stuff doesn't quite apply to volume production but it's a good overview of the different steps involved in making a case.
It's focused on manufacturing one-off enclosures for prototyping/R&D so some stuff doesn't quite apply to volume production but it's a good overview of the different steps involved in making a case.
Well you can build manual breaks quite cheaply if that's your thing.
Interesting video, didn't know that was how powder coating worked either and he brings up some important points about bend-to-cut clearances.
Interesting video, didn't know that was how powder coating worked either and he brings up some important points about bend-to-cut clearances.
Great video!
Also, great thread—I think it should be stickied.
I did a quick search, and I've only been able to scan the thread so far. I wanted to ask if anybody knows about extrusion?
I have a bare bones case design that I'd like to move forward with (most likely as a personal project, but I'd be open to going through the whole process if people were interested enough), and have been considering all the manufacturing options. I looked into square aluminum tubing, and really like the idea of using it as the front-bottom-back-top shell, and then having side panels that screw into the shell, and a skeleton that you could build the system on and then just slide into the shell and secure.
What I'm curious about is what exactly goes into extrusion, if there are any one-off companies (like Protocase but for extrusion),if it would be practical, maximum allowable dimensions for this sort of thing, et cetera.
Let's put aside cost just for the sake of discussion.
Cheers!
Also, great thread—I think it should be stickied.
I did a quick search, and I've only been able to scan the thread so far. I wanted to ask if anybody knows about extrusion?
I have a bare bones case design that I'd like to move forward with (most likely as a personal project, but I'd be open to going through the whole process if people were interested enough), and have been considering all the manufacturing options. I looked into square aluminum tubing, and really like the idea of using it as the front-bottom-back-top shell, and then having side panels that screw into the shell, and a skeleton that you could build the system on and then just slide into the shell and secure.
What I'm curious about is what exactly goes into extrusion, if there are any one-off companies (like Protocase but for extrusion),if it would be practical, maximum allowable dimensions for this sort of thing, et cetera.
Let's put aside cost just for the sake of discussion.
Cheers!
I highly recommend reading over the trials and tribulations of Open Beam if you're interested in extrusions: https://terence-tam.squarespace.com/
Here's one of their posts: https://terence-tam.squarespace.com/blog/2012/05/17/the-first-openbeam-extrusion
Some quick searching seems to show that $1000-$10,000 is common depending on quantity and complexity of the design.
Here's one of their posts: https://terence-tam.squarespace.com/blog/2012/05/17/the-first-openbeam-extrusion
Some quick searching seems to show that $1000-$10,000 is common depending on quantity and complexity of the design.
We're planning to revamp the Guides section in the near future but be sure to check it out: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/resources/categories/guides.9/
Also this model is a good starting point to make sure the parts fit: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/resources/accurate-blank-motherboard-pcie-card-models.25/
Also this model is a good starting point to make sure the parts fit: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/resources/accurate-blank-motherboard-pcie-card-models.25/
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