Project: Phoenix (PC-101 Orange Case Mod)

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Yeah, that's what I thought too, I expected it to be around the $50 - $75 mark too. This is just the exterior of the case though, not any of the inside, so maybe that makes a difference? :dontknow:

How do you plan on not getting it on the inside??? When powder coating, the part has to have an electrical charge, and that is what draws the powder to the part, and helps make it stick. Something else to keep in mind Blake, there can not be any kind of plastic in or on the case, because the case will have to be put into a powder oven at 400F for 20 to 30 minutes.
Also ask them what brand of powder that they use! Cardinal is probably the best in the business, so if they are using Cardinal, then I really have to believe they are going way cheap!

[gvblake22]

It sounded like I could just put masking tape over the openings and leave the side panels on (the tape would just burn off in the oven, maybe). I'm not sure what kind of powder they use, I'll have to double check.

Do you think I would be better off going to a regular paint shop and having it professionally painted with a clear coat? I just liked the idea of powdercoating because of the durability.

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

It sounded like I could just put masking tape over the openings and leave the side panels on (the tape would just burn off in the oven, maybe). I'm not sure what kind of powder they use, I'll have to double check.

Do you think I would be better off going to a regular paint shop and having it professionally painted with a clear coat? I just liked the idea of powdercoating because of the durability.

They make a special tape that withstands heat in excess of 1000F, and most powder shops have supply of this.

Painting would be ok, but as you said, powder coating is so much more durable!!!!

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by stinger608

They make a special tape that withstands heat in excess of 1000F, and most powder shops have supply of this.

Well, it doesn't really matter if it all burns off in the oven anyway does it? I mean, the powder has already been applied and it's not going anywhere once it goes into the oven. So does it really matter?

And no, there is no plastic on the case. It will be all aluminum and rivets when I turn it in to be powder coated (or painted).

[gvblake22]

OK, update time!
Started off by finishing the motherboard window, here it is all cut out:

and this is with the window installed (yeah, it's clear, not easy to photograph)...


I drilled and tapped like 6 or 7 screw holes to secure the window. Here is a close up of the screws that hold the acrylic to the mobo tray...
FRONT

BACK

The piece of acrylic make the mobo tray surprisingly rigid, I think it's gonna work out ok. Of course, I will use smaller screws, this is just preliminary test fitting.

Then it was back to work on the front panel. This time I decided to tackle the fan mounting bracket behind the actual front panel; here is the design:

And with the cutting finished:


It will hold two 120mm fans and still leave just enough room for three 5.25" drive bays at the top of the case...

yes, that's actually an old optical drive with the faceplate removed just above the fan mount. IT FITS!
Lian Li was kind enough to make a nice, even bracket at the front of the drive cage with holes already drilled. I just used these existing holes to secure the fan bracket to the case...



Again, the screws are too long, but they are just in there for test fitting.

That's all for now though. We are getting hammered with snow and I may not be able to get any more work done this weekend.

[Yellowhello]

Wow, excellent job with the cuts! how did you get the cuts so straight? Looks almost laser cut...

I thought the mobo acrylic was gonna be orange?

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Wow, excellent job with the cuts! how did you get the cuts so straight? Looks almost laser cut...

HAHA, thanks. It's all about the file man. I used a dremel and fiberglass reinforced cutoff wheel to make the initial cuts. I cut inside the lines, not on them so that way I can finish it off with the file and make it straight. Once the cuts have been filed straight, I used 320 grit sandpaper to smooth the edges. It's a tedious process, but asolutely necessary if you want good results. If you had seen what it looked like after the dremel you wouldn't have been very impressed, trust me!

I want to add also that the front fan mount bracket as you see it above is not finished. I only made preliminary cuts with the jig saw, I still need to file and sand it, as well as drill a few more holes for mounting it to the case.

Originally Posted by yellowhello

I thought the mobo acrylic was gonna be orange?

I decided to go with clear on the actual mobo tray, but the side panel will have the orange and mesh. So when you look at the case fully assembled, you will be looking through the orange acrylic.

[screwballl]

looks great, keep up the good work!!

[RA1D]

looking good blake! what material is the fan bracket made from?

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by RAID

looking good blake! what material is the fan bracket made from?

Sorry, forgot to mention that. It's just some scrap cheap-o clear acrylic I had laying around. I'll be using a lot of the orange and black material I have for the rest of the case and didn't want to run out, so I used something else.