Update 8.12.20
We are back at it with a pretty major update. I wanted to condense the overall design and really push the modularity concept. Some big changes happened and are listed below:
V.2 Changes
— CNC'd Main Plates ( may return to a sheet metal concept given the machining complexity )
— Reduced Volume by ~30%. Now just 12.6L ( opted to streamline the core product and allow for greater expansion )
— Added Exterior Paneling and Front I/O
— Developed 7L "Caddy" for air/water cooling and component expansion ( not sure if anyone would ever want to but you can add as many caddies as you want )
— Removed reliance on thumb screws for module adjustments
— Simplified PSU Mounting
Primary Renders:
v2 Specifications
Dimensions (H x W x D)
Main Chassis: 235mm x 148mm x 362mm
Caddy: 235mm x 82mm x 362mm
Volume
Main Chassis: 12.6L (Exterior)
Caddy: 7L (Exterior)
Material
2mm Aluminum Sheet
CNC Aluminum or Acrylic
Motherboard
mITX
PSU
SFX
CPU Cooler
~58mm (Primary Layout)
~140mm (w/ Caddy)
GPU
Length 330mm (2-2.5Slot)
Fans
4x 140mm or 4x 120mm (Primary Layout)
6x 140mm or 6x 120mm (w/ Caddy)
Radiator
1x 120mm (Primary Layout)
1x 120mm + 1x 240/280mm (w/ Caddy)
SSDs
4 Mounts (Primary Layout)
ALOT (w/ Caddy)
So yea... a lot has changed. I appreciate the feedback I have received so far and look forward to the continued responses. Thanks so much!
Cheers!
We are back at it with a pretty major update. I wanted to condense the overall design and really push the modularity concept. Some big changes happened and are listed below:
V.2 Changes
— CNC'd Main Plates ( may return to a sheet metal concept given the machining complexity )
— Reduced Volume by ~30%. Now just 12.6L ( opted to streamline the core product and allow for greater expansion )
— Added Exterior Paneling and Front I/O
— Developed 7L "Caddy" for air/water cooling and component expansion ( not sure if anyone would ever want to but you can add as many caddies as you want )
— Removed reliance on thumb screws for module adjustments
— Simplified PSU Mounting
Primary Renders:
v2 Specifications
Dimensions (H x W x D)
Main Chassis: 235mm x 148mm x 362mm
Caddy: 235mm x 82mm x 362mm
Volume
Main Chassis: 12.6L (Exterior)
Caddy: 7L (Exterior)
Material
2mm Aluminum Sheet
CNC Aluminum or Acrylic
Motherboard
mITX
PSU
SFX
CPU Cooler
~58mm (Primary Layout)
~140mm (w/ Caddy)
GPU
Length 330mm (2-2.5Slot)
Fans
4x 140mm or 4x 120mm (Primary Layout)
6x 140mm or 6x 120mm (w/ Caddy)
Radiator
1x 120mm (Primary Layout)
1x 120mm + 1x 240/280mm (w/ Caddy)
SSDs
4 Mounts (Primary Layout)
ALOT (w/ Caddy)
So yea... a lot has changed. I appreciate the feedback I have received so far and look forward to the continued responses. Thanks so much!
Heyo!
Been working on this project for a month now and I am excited to get some feedback. I am a long time lurker of the forum and long dreamed of designing a case but never got around to it. Given the times I figure it was a perfect opportunity to learn something new so I downloaded Fusion 360 and got too it. I have experience in digital design (graphic/product) but never 3D.
The original goal was to design an SFF case optimized for water-cooling as my current pc, although showing its age, is water-cooled and I am looking to downsize and upgrade in the somewhat near future. This soon evolved into a greater challenge: designing a malleable case able to adapt to different cooling and hardware needs/desires.
So introducing...
Modal
An adaptive ITX chassis.
Current Specifications
Unkowns/Future Goals
Excited to hear some feedback on anything and everything. My experience in case design is obviously in its early stages to pointers, advice, and criticism is welcomed. Also, would anyone be interested in seeing this adaptive approach focused on a smaller chassis, perhaps one that focused less on water-cooling support?
Been working on this project for a month now and I am excited to get some feedback. I am a long time lurker of the forum and long dreamed of designing a case but never got around to it. Given the times I figure it was a perfect opportunity to learn something new so I downloaded Fusion 360 and got too it. I have experience in digital design (graphic/product) but never 3D.
The original goal was to design an SFF case optimized for water-cooling as my current pc, although showing its age, is water-cooled and I am looking to downsize and upgrade in the somewhat near future. This soon evolved into a greater challenge: designing a malleable case able to adapt to different cooling and hardware needs/desires.
So introducing...
Modal
An adaptive ITX chassis.
Current Specifications
Dimensions (H x W x D)
271.5mm x 168mm x 392mm (no exterior/panels)
Volume
17.9L (Exterior)
Material
2mm Aluminum
Motherboard
mITX
PSU
SFX (Vertically or Horizontally Mounted)
CPU Cooler
Up to ~140mm (Expand Layout)
GPU
Length 360mm (2-2.5Slot)
Fans
4x 140mm or 4x 120mm (All configurations)
Radiator
1x 280mm/240mm (60mm Fan+Rad)
1x 140mm/120mm (60mm Fan+Rad)
Unkowns/Future Goals
Exterior
Dabbled with some ideas but wasn’t satisfied with anything yet. Definitely the hardest part of the build so far. Open to suggestions/inspiration.
Orientation
It started vertical… went horizontal… thinking vertical again. Biggest drawback of a vertical orientation is the additional height needed to clear the I/O. Already feel like I am at the outer limit of the dimensions to be considered SFF so don’t want to add any more.
Pump Locale
Currently would be a pump/res combo mounted behind the PSU on the sandwich layout, haven’t thought much more beyond that.
Excited to hear some feedback on anything and everything. My experience in case design is obviously in its early stages to pointers, advice, and criticism is welcomed. Also, would anyone be interested in seeing this adaptive approach focused on a smaller chassis, perhaps one that focused less on water-cooling support?
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