Completed MJOLNIR: The minimalistic – but not boring – 9.7L Case

Which MJOLNIR I are you interested in?

  • Standard Version - 299 USD

    Votes: 484 74.3%
  • RGB Version (No controller) - 319 USD

    Votes: 63 9.7%
  • RGB Version (With controller) - 349 USD

    Votes: 104 16.0%

  • Total voters
    651

AlexTzone

I design minimalistic – but not boring – PC stuff
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Sep 23, 2017
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Heey guys, major prototype update! :D

Picked up quite a few parts yesterday, very happy with how they turned out! I'll meet up with local manufacturers next week and anodize 2 of the 3 prototypes in DARK color (a.k.a space gray, a.k.a dark gray). The remaining parts are on their way now and should be here some time next week, then it's assembly time baby :cool: Also, I'll make sure to film the new RGB setup in action before Saturday. But for now, grab some popcorn and marvel at what you & us have developed together:







Bana-for-scale, but not-for-sale (I know my jokes are lame).

Just for reference, the split-up prototype enclosure will be snapped together with dowels (below pic). The production model will of course still be precision cast unibody, but casting 3 prototypes is waaay to expensive.



Let me know what you think guys :)

Best,
Alex
 
Last edited:

Supercluster

Average Stuffer
Feb 24, 2016
87
127
The parts look precisely cut and nicely blasted.
It seems like sand blasting, instead of the glass beads, which makes the surfaces a bit more rough and less silky. I could be wrong, but it is no matter at this phase.

But what I'm really waiting for, and am here for, is to witness the magic of precision casting up close.
Looking forward to the production samples!
 
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Windfall

Shrink Ray Wielder
SFFn Staff
Nov 14, 2017
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I just sorta lurk around this thread, but WOW. That's awesome.

Have you considered metal 3D printing (SLS probably, may be wrong) for a full unibody prototype?
You could even do it in plastic just to get a feel for it.
 
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For_Science

Master of Cramming
Feb 16, 2018
446
612
It is really amazing quality.


BTW : What is this space for?

Should be clearance so that the board can actually make it to the I/O shield. That whole region has a thinner casing so that the I/O is not too recessed with respect to the back of the chassis.

@AlexTzone Glad to see everything is going smoothly, I've just moved to another country and still getting used to things around here so less active, but still keeping a close eye :)

Do you have any rough estimates of the case weight?
 

AlexTzone

I design minimalistic – but not boring – PC stuff
Original poster
THOR ZONE
Silver Supporter
Sep 23, 2017
1,288
2,740
thor-zone.com
The parts look precisely cut and nicely blasted.
It seems like sand blasting, instead of the glass beads, which makes the surfaces a bit more rough and less silky. I could be wrong, but it is no matter at this phase.

But what I'm really waiting for, and am here for, is to witness the magic of precision casting up close.
Looking forward to the production samples!

We suspect the back panel to be sand blasted, the other parts are bead blasted as expected. However, we'll retreat all parts at our local anodizer later this week so that everything is smooth and matching :)

I just sorta lurk around this thread, but WOW. That's awesome.

Have you considered metal 3D printing (SLS probably, may be wrong) for a full unibody prototype?
You could even do it in plastic just to get a feel for it.

Thanks a lot! Well we have actually produced a unibody prototype before, it was CNCd and welded to mimic a cast unit. However, the anodized surface wasn't perfect due to welding and therefore we decided to split it up and use dowels this time around. Sturdiness is very similar between the old unibody prototype and the new joined prototype, but the joined one looks a heck of a lot better :D

It is really amazing quality.


BTW : What is this space for?




Thanks a lot friend! That is clearance for the MOBO as per @For_Science description :)

Should be clearance so that the board can actually make it to the I/O shield. That whole region has a thinner casing so that the I/O is not too recessed with respect to the back of the chassis.

@AlexTzone Glad to see everything is going smoothly, I've just moved to another country and still getting used to things around here so less active, but still keeping a close eye :)

Do you have any rough estimates of the case weight?

Thank you friend, all the support given here is the reason things go so smoothly :D Where do you live now?

It's approx. 3.0kg for the Glass panel version and 3.9kg for the alu panel version :thumb:

I found that the AIO or fans are mounted on the bottom holes of the inner frame, can we use those holes to mount a 2.5 drive (with bracket) ? There is a bracket available on https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JGMRKOQ/?tag=theminutiae-20

That should be possible :) As long as the bracket width is within 120mm.
 

AlexTzone

I design minimalistic – but not boring – PC stuff
Original poster
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Silver Supporter
Sep 23, 2017
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Heey guys, update!

The prototypes are more or less complete, just need to send them off to our local anodizer for some final touch-ups. This is also the reason I don't want to show you the prototypes in broad daylight yet, you deserve to see perfection...nothing less ;) Buut I can show you some RGB action:





The lighting setup uses 5V and is controlled over bluetooth. The LED strips have a density of 144 LEDs/meter and are mounted with 3M tape. You can also choose between 200 lightning-effects in addition to solid colors. I'm very happy with the results as you never directly observe the LED strips, only your epic hardware basking in their light ;)

On a whole other matter, I've had some problems squeezing in the Kraken M22 & 25mm fan (NF-A12x25 PWM from Noctua), which I think can be contributed to:
  • Kraken M22s large-diameter tubes are hard to bend.
  • Kraken M22 seems to be 154mm long as opposed to the 152mm stated on their website. Can anyone please measure their and report back to me?
  • I'm terrible at cable management.
I did manage to comfortably install the Kraken M22 & 15mm fan (NF-A12x15 from Noctua) though. The Corsair H60 & 25mm fan should be much easier to work with, will order one next week.

Best,
Alex
 
Last edited:

Shinken1

SFF Lingo Aficionado
Feb 3, 2019
90
95
Heey guys, update!

I did manage to comfortably install the Kraken M22 & 15mm fan (NF-A12x15 from Noctua) though. The Corsair H60 & 25mm fan should be much easier to work with, will order one next week.

Best,
Alex

Thanks for the update Alex, were you planing to post some thermal results for the prototypes in the near future?
 
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AlexTzone

I design minimalistic – but not boring – PC stuff
Original poster
THOR ZONE
Silver Supporter
Sep 23, 2017
1,288
2,740
thor-zone.com

AlexTzone

I design minimalistic – but not boring – PC stuff
Original poster
THOR ZONE
Silver Supporter
Sep 23, 2017
1,288
2,740
thor-zone.com
Does anybody know a good anodiser & bead blaster in the European region? :) I have found a couple locally but it never hurts to find a couple more.
 

keepcoding

SFF Lingo Aficionado
Apr 16, 2019
121
134
blog.keepcoding.ch
The case looks awesome, good work!
A question regarding the glass panels: will that version still come with a metal top panel? I think it would be a bad idea to have no ventilation at all on the top side...
 
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Van0

SFF Lingo Aficionado
Mar 29, 2019
129
166
The case looks awesome, good work!
A question regarding the glass panels: will that version still come with a metal top panel? I think it would be a bad idea to have no ventilation at all on the top side...
I recall reading on a previous update that the glass top is now gone. Only the ventilated aluminium top panel will be available.