@mrfess @fminus @CC Ricers thanks for such an awesome feedback!
I would love to see some of these ideas in your case
-lightweight
- place for G-Unique internal AC-DC unit and NO graphics card
- place for total of 4 ssds if wanted
- a cool retractable handle on your case would really separate it from the crowd- not sure if it’s needed though
- My main suggestion is different pattern options for the top and bottom, something more modern and serious looking, with lines cutout as vents or something
- i like the clear option idea by CC Ricers also.
It's a great idea to make a version focused on storage! In such version graphics card could be replaced with G-Unique AC-DC unit and 4x SSD drives (maybe 1x 3.5" dirve as well). I'll consider a handle as an option in the future. Anyone else feels like top and bottom panels need different hole pattern? I guess I'll make a couple of versions and present here for everyone to vote.
Not really a fan of the wrap around bezel design. Does it really need to go all around the case? Wouldn't it suffice to have it just wrap around the front/sides?
What I would be really interested in is a service which allows you to design your own bezels. Maybe I want I a solid wrap around with slanted vents. Or perhaps holes in the front for usb ports. That being said, what is the cost of printing a bezel for you?
*Edit. Also would like to see space for a HDplex in there.
Also, from the photos, it doesn't really look like the top panels aligned with the case. I assume this is just standard protoype routine?
I would have screws for the bottom panel and use magnets for the top to give it a better look aesthetically.
Wrap around the front/sides is greatly suited for metal bended cases. Wrap around bezel is as far as I know the best compromise between design, strength, cost and functionality of 3D printed cases.
I love the idea of giving an option to add holes for USB ports on the front - it can be easily done. Changing the whole design of the bezel (e.g. changing venting hole patterns) is a good concept but in the real world much more difficult than people realize. I've tested solid bezels (no venting holes) - they can't be printed because part warps and quality of the product would be horrible. The same situation goes with standard round shaped holes. I'll consider it in the future but options for differents designs will have to be limited. I haven't count the cost of the bezel just yet. Bezels are manufactured all by myself and I'm optimizing the finishing process.
Version which would have the space for HDplex will be released for sure. I'm sure there is a demand for it.
You are right that top and bottom panels aren't aligned with the bezel - this is one of the problems with early prototypes. Cutting bigger holes for screws in panels should solve the problem.
Believe it or not, I've prototyped a couple of cases with panels mounted on magnets. To be frank I was a little worried that magnets could damage the hardware worth of thousands of dollars.
The biggest difference I can think of is making the GPU face up so that its cooler takes air from the same side as the CPU cooler. That will require a ~15cm long flexible riser.
Another idea, allow 40mm of space in front of the motherboard for someone to install a sideways Mean Well 200W AC-DC unit.
There are pros and cons of making the GPU face up. If I'm correct S3 mini was made that way but it wasn't as popular as S4 mini.
Are there versions of Meanwell PSU's suitable to power up 1080 mini? 400-500W? HP AC-DC unit from Gury can't reach more than 300W unless someone uses two in parallel. There will be around 40mm free space on front of the motherboard in xCase 1080mini - if there would be an AC-DC unit fitting into that space it would be a great combination.
