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Completed Lone Industries L4
- Thread starter Lone
- Start date
Anodizing was completed today, and I hope to get them back by Friday. I plan to devote my Saturday on assembly and getting as much done as I can so hopefully I can start shipping the following week.
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I am considering holding off on shipping the remaining cases until I receive some UHMW tape which is being shipped to me from the US (expected to arrive in approx 5 business days August 2). I will be able to get the remaining cases ready in the meantime. If this UHMW tape does what I hope it does, then it would be worth the wait.
I've been trying all sorts of different strategies for vinyl placement, and thicknesses to aid in removing the cover smoothly and also to properly gap the cover and chassis. The big problem has been finding the right thickness of vinyl/tape (being in Canada makes things a little more difficult). That's where this .030 inch thick UHMW tape comes in.
Any questions or concerns, let me know.
I've been trying all sorts of different strategies for vinyl placement, and thicknesses to aid in removing the cover smoothly and also to properly gap the cover and chassis. The big problem has been finding the right thickness of vinyl/tape (being in Canada makes things a little more difficult). That's where this .030 inch thick UHMW tape comes in.
Any questions or concerns, let me know.
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Personally, I will follow your lead and hopefully the tape turns out well.
On my end, some extra days do not concern me. You are doing the best you can.
On my end, some extra days do not concern me. You are doing the best you can.
Thanks! If it makes a big enough difference I'll more than likely mail some pieces out to those who've already received their L4.
Here's a quick snapshot from today.
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G-Uniuqe C14 adapter, mounted so connector protrudes out the back for more clearance inside case:
Adapter G-Unique included:
Adapter G-Unique included:
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The first batch of L4 cases sold for $170 CAD (including free shipping). Unfortunately, considering the time I had to put into it, this wasn't a high enough price. I don't have any plans for another run at this time.
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It would take some doing, but I'd really love to see a Massdrop-esque site for group buying the cases we see on this forum
The time spent on creating anything is never made up for in price mate, unless you stay focused and work hard on creating optional cases, accessories and other componentry. Unfortunately most of us get tired and want to enjoy life so focus is not something obtainable all the time.
I'd suggest a few things,
#Get a mate to HD record a build log
#Record more videos and upload all to Youtube
#Create a page on FaceBook focused on your Service
#Add links on Youtube to Facebook to your webpage connecting all 3 pages
#Add share buttons to all pages connecting to all links
#Even adding clickbait links might help with small, sporadic payments to ease the financial load
In a nutshell I guess, doing all of this might attract more audience and in turn attract more buyers, and maybe get noticed enough to be able to generate a Kickstarter Campaign.
I'd be happy to pay more....definitely, I really want to build my own for my own needs, I just haven't pulled the trigger and still need to gather resources to help me along the noob ride.
Great cases by the way, I think these look just like miniature full towers, I think they would look great with subtle hair line etching to emphasis a full tower look, how subtle it would look is another thing though, and a tiny slit for subtle light extrusion @the front.
Anyway.....nice work and put me on your interest list pls
Thank you for the suggestions. I'm referring to the time put in after creating or designing it. Unfortunately, I don't just order a batch of cases and receive them all finished, assembled and individually boxed. That's probably the way to do it though, if QC works! The L4 production has been a long, tedious process, but all said and done (almost), I am happy with how the L4 turned out, even more than any past model. It's not perfect by any means, but it has come closest to meeting my goals and vision.
So basically, I'd consider doing more marketing and producing more cases if I felt I had the time and the production process working just right. With the L4 production now well into summer months it has been difficult. It has interfered with family, holidays, etc. Also, I have a full-time job that's been more busy than ever.
I may find that I have more time during the winter. That's usually when I've done production runs in the past.
The surface does have a very subtle natural hairline grain to it. The surface is smooth.
I've added you to my waiting list, thanks!
I have had a few people give feedback on the L4 now. There are a couple issues that tend to come up:
1. Use of hex nuts - The L4 uses a black pan head screw and hex nut in a few places to secure things instead of having a PEM fastener (permanent nut). They are used on the cross braces (pre-installed), power input adapter plate, and expansion slots. The reason for this was my new manufacturer did not have the ability to press PEMs in these locations (too close to face). I've pre-installed a ton of braces, and expansion slot covers (most recently), and I don't see this as being a serious inconvenience. It's not preferable, and made assembly take much longer. If I can help it I won't use them in the future. However, a hex nut isn't permanent. It means, you can always replace it when damaged, change color/finish, style, etc. There are pros to them.
2. Scratches inside - The inside of the case has visible "scratches". However, the scratches are anodized. If the part is anodized black, the scratches will be black. Anodizing does not hide scratches. The aluminum sheets that the parts are cut from have a good side and a bad side. Further, the good side is protected with a plastic coating. The bad side gets scratched from the tools installed on the CNC punch, as the machine moves across the sheet punching features. There's nothing that can be done about this. It also adds character to the inside of the case.
3. Racking marks - Just like powder coating, anodized parts need to be "racked". They have to be securely held in place so they can be placed into large tanks to be etched and anodized. Wherever these racks touch will not be anodized. These marks are usually very small (< 1 mm), but sometimes they can be a little larger. Typically these marks are not very noticeable, except under close inspection, or on black parts. Thankfully, unlike powder coating, these racking marks do not mean your anodized finish will peal. For black parts, you may consider using a permanent marker to touch up any racking marks, or any scratches or dings caused during normal usage.
So basically, I'd consider doing more marketing and producing more cases if I felt I had the time and the production process working just right. With the L4 production now well into summer months it has been difficult. It has interfered with family, holidays, etc. Also, I have a full-time job that's been more busy than ever.
I may find that I have more time during the winter. That's usually when I've done production runs in the past.
The surface does have a very subtle natural hairline grain to it. The surface is smooth.
I've added you to my waiting list, thanks!
I have had a few people give feedback on the L4 now. There are a couple issues that tend to come up:
1. Use of hex nuts - The L4 uses a black pan head screw and hex nut in a few places to secure things instead of having a PEM fastener (permanent nut). They are used on the cross braces (pre-installed), power input adapter plate, and expansion slots. The reason for this was my new manufacturer did not have the ability to press PEMs in these locations (too close to face). I've pre-installed a ton of braces, and expansion slot covers (most recently), and I don't see this as being a serious inconvenience. It's not preferable, and made assembly take much longer. If I can help it I won't use them in the future. However, a hex nut isn't permanent. It means, you can always replace it when damaged, change color/finish, style, etc. There are pros to them.
2. Scratches inside - The inside of the case has visible "scratches". However, the scratches are anodized. If the part is anodized black, the scratches will be black. Anodizing does not hide scratches. The aluminum sheets that the parts are cut from have a good side and a bad side. Further, the good side is protected with a plastic coating. The bad side gets scratched from the tools installed on the CNC punch, as the machine moves across the sheet punching features. There's nothing that can be done about this. It also adds character to the inside of the case.
3. Racking marks - Just like powder coating, anodized parts need to be "racked". They have to be securely held in place so they can be placed into large tanks to be etched and anodized. Wherever these racks touch will not be anodized. These marks are usually very small (< 1 mm), but sometimes they can be a little larger. Typically these marks are not very noticeable, except under close inspection, or on black parts. Thankfully, unlike powder coating, these racking marks do not mean your anodized finish will peal. For black parts, you may consider using a permanent marker to touch up any racking marks, or any scratches or dings caused during normal usage.
I hope you can find a way to optimize those tedious steps & return to production soon. On a side note.. are you considering Flex ATX PSU in future iterations?
James, I think you're not happy with the long processes it took and your busy time. I don't know how to cheer you up, I don't see the case in person yet but judging the pictures you posted, I can tell the quality is excellence. And I can tell you again that I don't mind waiting. You even try to fix very small problem, I'm happy/lucky to be your customer.
I hope you can find a way to optimize those tedious steps & return to production soon. On a side note.. are you considering Flex ATX PSU in future iterations?
Thanks! I haven't been considering Flex ATX.
Thank you for the support.
I received the UHMW tape this morning and gave it a try. It does what I was hoping, and gives the case a more solid feel. It might be slightly thicker than I would've liked, but anything thinner might introduce play. Once I get the UHMW tape on the parts, then I can box and ship!
After some googlefu, turns out somebody already did a Flex ATX build, albeit with L1:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1505888/build-log-brickless-lone-industries-l1
It's just that the 2.5 drive brackets had to be removed for Flex ATX (that build uses M2 drive).
@Lone ,
Just curious, in L4, say with Flex ATX, do you think we still have room to install 2 x 2.5 drives, albeit in a hackish way? (Say with velcro or heat resistant double tapes)
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Haha. Thanks for your encouragement. It may be possible to have my manufacturer do everything for me. That would be ideal. I did it myself as it hadn't been much of a problem in the past, and it's cheaper for me to do it (well, that's what I thought anyway). I already know if I had someone else do it (that wasn't an enthusiast), I'd have all sorts of quality control issues.
Ya, that's Kmpkt (formerly ilovelampshade). The L4 is better suited than the L1 for this type of build. The L4 chassis is open at the top and bottom making access easier. Also, there's a little more room in front of the motherboard.
If you're not using a GPU card, then yes... 2+ 2.5 inch drives would fit at the bottom. If you are using a GPU card, then I really don't know where you'd put even one 2.5 inch drive. Where there's a will, there's a way.
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Haha. Thanks for your encouragement. It may be possible to have my manufacturer do everything for me. That would be ideal. I did it myself as it hadn't been much of a problem in the past, and it's cheaper for me to do it (well, that's what I thought anyway). I already know if I had someone else do it (that wasn't an enthusiast), I'd have all sorts of quality control issues.
Ya, that's Kmpkt (formerly ilovelampshade). The L4 is better suited than the L1 for this type of build. The L4 chassis is open at the top and bottom making access easier. Also, there's a little more room in front of the motherboard.
If you're not using a GPU card, then yes... 2+ 2.5 inch drives would fit at the bottom. If you are using a GPU card, then I really don't know where you'd put even one 2.5 inch drive. Where there's a will, there's a way.
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