Prototype Isogrid/Aerospace inspired open case concept

[One Works]

Hi All,

Long time no post. I’ll start with the good stuff, some photos (please excuse the nerf darts and ancient test fit hardware):

Concept:

For many CNC machinists, aerospace work is the pinnacle. It doesn’t get much cooler than making parts that end up in space. But as a one-man shop, those opportunities are rare, and when they do come along, you’re definitely not allowed to show off your work.

This case takes a different path than the usual flawless bead-blasted aluminium finish. It’s a celebration of the art of machining itself. The toolpaths, the textures the tools create, the geometry that comes from designing with a purpose. No disguising, no heavy post-processing. Machined parts straight to finishing.

Prototype specs:

• CNC Machined aluminium plate and carbon tube construction
• Disassembles to a flat pack for lower (but still expensive, because New Zealand) shipping costs.
• 254.22 × 156 × 347 mm
• 280 mm radiator support
• ~330 mm GPU length support (oh how GPUs have grown since I designed this…)
• ~55 mm GPU width (easily adjusted since the centre plate slides on carbon tubes, and the tubes can also be made longer)

I also have concepts in mind for enclosed variants, one with machined aluminium panels and another with carbon panels. So while it's at the prototype stage, it's also still at the concept stage.

Backstory:
I played with a couple of case ideas back in 2020/21 but shelved them due to high tooling costs (one needed an expensive extrusion die).

This concept is also from that era. I built the first prototype in June 2022, and aside from posting some photos in September 2022 (bad day, chasing that sweet social media dopamine), it’s mostly sat idle. The post got more traction than expected, a bunch of likes, comments, even a few shares.

Since then, I’ve been busy with my CNC machining jobshop and other projects. I’ve opened and stared at the design numerous times and tweaked the design a few… Actually 18 times, because Fusion is in fact counting. But haven’t pushed it further. A few months ago, a friend mentioned his brother wanted one, which got me thinking about whether it’s worth producing. I’ve also been considering a rebuild myself, since my GPU is currently suffocating (and complaining loudly about it) in a Fractal Define Nano S.

The questions:

• Is there still a market for boutique/high-end SFF cases, now that mainstream options have gotten so much better?
• From a design perspective, what do you think of this concept as well as the layout? Is the sandwich layout still favoured? Any deal-breakers?
• What kind of hardware are people squeezing into cases these days?
• If this were to reach production, it wouldn’t be cheap. Do you think there’s appetite for that in today’s SFF market?

Keen to hear your thoughts, both on the concept itself and on whether the timing/market still makes sense for something like this.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[msystems]

It's a beauty

 

[msystems]

I dig it

 

[confusis]

Oh that's cool AF!

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

With an optional "converter" setup you could probably turn this into a traditional layout as well, for pure air cooling bliss, but also even side-mount an 280 or 240 AIO.

Looks-wise, I dig it, too. It's sitting right on the borderline between open frame and classic air-flow oriented case

cu, w0lf.

 

[MarcParis]

Very interesting concept!
Thanks for sharing it!

I'm just completing my answer/feedback.

• Basically your proposed design is similar than Sliger SM580, in more refined version..
• I suppose that the best point of your creation is the architecture flexibility.
• For GPU compatibility, at max, aim for 4 slots, up to 360m length is pretty neat. One very important point though, think of a locking mechanism (riser & gpu bracket) to adjust GPU position with fan just near the side panel. This is capital to optimize GPU airflow. Also for RTX FE model, it is great to leave empty space (20mm) between the motherboard and the GPU
• For the CPU cooling, , aim for the 78mm height for best cpu cooling in reduce size.
• In terms of motherboard size, why not making a version up to ATX?

I'm really curious how flexible your concept could be!

 

[One Works]

Wow, thanks for the write up on the main page confusis, was honestly shocked to see that when I came back to the site. Also thanks to everyone else for the kind words and feedback so far.

With an optional "converter" setup you could probably turn this into a traditional layout as well, for pure air cooling bliss, but also even side-mount an 280 or 240 AIO.

Looks-wise, I dig it, too. It's sitting right on the borderline between open frame and classic air-flow oriented case

cu, w0lf.

I have put some thought into making it fairly modular, with common components reused across different configurations. As mentioned, I’ve considered enclosed versions using the same side panels and a variation of the centre plate. I’d also thought about a traditional layout (mainly because I’ve been leaning towards a chunky air cooler for my own next build) but always pictured it as a separate design in the same theme.

That said, I’ll have a think about whether parts of the current design could carry over. I do worry about adding too much complexity in an effort to cover as many configurations as possible and driving cost up across the board. It’s a tough balance between flexibility and keeping it achievable. Definitely a lot to think about here.

Very interesting concept!
Thanks for sharing it!

I'm just completing my answer/feedback.

• Basically your proposed design is similar than Sliger SM580, in more refined version..
• I suppose that the best point of your creation is the architecture flexibility.
• For GPU compatibility, at max, aim for 4 slots, up to 360m length is pretty neat. One very important point though, think of a locking mechanism (riser & gpu bracket) to adjust GPU position with fan just near the side panel. This is capital to optimize GPU airflow. Also for RTX FE model, it is great to leave empty space (20mm) between the motherboard and the GPU
• For the CPU cooling, , aim for the 78mm height for best cpu cooling in reduce size.
• In terms of motherboard size, why not making a version up to ATX?

I'm really curious how flexible your concept could be!

I thought the best point was just looking cool encouraging to hear comments on the architecture too!

This was originally designed during the 30-series era. Looking back through the Fusion history, I did revise it last year with 40-series in mind, stretched GPU support to ~355 mm and opened up space above for the AIO. Given how big cards are now, 360 mm sounds like a good target.

We don’t get the FE models here so I hadn’t considered that flow-through design requirement. But you’re right, and many non-FE cards use it too, so leaving space behind makes sense.

Scaling up to ATX is possible. I’d just found a local supplier of 300 × 10 mm extruded flat bar which would be a more cost effective option for machining the panels than plate stock. Great fit for ITX (and maybe an air-cooled mATX version), but a touch too small for full ATX. The lack of ITX boards this generation, at least here in NZ does make me wonder if exploring at least mATX would be a good idea.

 

[Alloy Craft]

Looks great, love me some ISO grid. Personally I like small holes at the nodes for ISO grid pattern though, I think it adds something. I really like the infinitely adjustable spine design, however not sure how it is affixed in place. I think the design needs a front panel that matches the awesomeness of the side panels. There is a market for high end boutique chassis, just look at Xikii, their chassis are in the 1K price range and seem to be selling. As for the finish, you as a machinist/engineer may love the look of raw machined aluminum, I do too, but the majority of your customers will probably want it painted. Raw billet looks great fresh off of the machine but it never ages well as it oxidizes quickly, scratches easily, and finger prints can etch into it.

 

[One Works]

Looks great, love me some ISO grid. Personally I like small holes at the nodes for ISO grid pattern though, I think it adds something. I really like the infinitely adjustable spine design, however not sure how it is affixed in place. I think the design needs a front panel that matches the awesomeness of the side panels. There is a market for high end boutique chassis, just look at Xikii, their chassis are in the 1K price range and seem to be selling. As for the finish, you as a machinist/engineer may love the look of raw machined aluminum, I do too, but the majority of your customers will probably want it painted. Raw billet looks great fresh off of the machine but it never ages well as it oxidizes quickly, scratches easily, and finger prints can etch into it.

Yeah, I went back and forth on whether to add the holes. Originally I skipped them because they didn’t line up in useful mounting positions, but you’re right, visually they add something. I’ll include them in the next iteration to see how it feels. Definitely also keen to explore enclosed panel options for those who prefer that look.

For the spine, I tried a bunch of clamping designs, most ended up too bulky. Ultimately I decided to test a really simple approach: O-rings gripping the carbon tubes. It works well, but I’m still experimenting. Might circle back to clamping again if I can find a slim, elegant solution.

Thanks for pointing Xikii out. I remember seeing the FF04 when it came out, I think the ProArt variant was the first to come out or at least get wider attention. At the time I couldn’t imagine a case designed around a specific GPU being viable. Great to see they've continued on and developed more designs.

Absolutely right on the finish front. Raw aluminium would be a nightmare to keep in good condition. I’ve put scratches in a diamond-cut aluminium surface just by wiping it with an expensive microfiber cloth. I should have been clearer in my initial post: the plan is to go straight from machining to anodising (possibly electroless nickel as an option), without bead blasting or brushing, so the machining is highlighted but the surface is still protected.

The prototype in the photos was left raw because I later found out the specific grade of material I chose wasn't suitable for decorative anodising. A good lesson in reading the datasheet properly

 

[Alloy Craft]

I like the orings for keeping the spine in place, nice an simple, also cheap to do. Would love to see this chassis with some paint or anodize on it. I personally am a a fan of Cerakote though.