Looking for advice and mechanical specs for case build

[Armand Karlsen]

I'm thinking about building my first custom case and I already have some idea of what it's going to look like but I need accurate mechanical specs for all the gubbins that will go inside it so I know exactly where to put the mobo stand-offs, expansion slot holes etc... Also, can any of you recommend a simple design and/or 3D modelling app that I could use to put the design down before I start cutting? ( I need to be able to create shapes to exact dimensions, of course)

[Allan]

What materials are you thinking of using?

[Armand Karlsen]

Alu or steel.

[Armand Karlsen]

I'm having serious problems already. I can't find an app to design the case that's easy enough to use without taking a whole course to learn it and I can't even find all the mechanical specs I need. http://www.tauniverse.com/ubb/harvey.gif

[cloasters]

Building a case from scratch is quite an accomplishment. It's too bad that one would need to borrow/buy a case to take the measurements from. Unless it's a school project or suchlike that demands not only a finished case, but the blueprints too!

[Armand Karlsen]

I was trying to use the design app to make sure I could do what I was thinking of doing before I started cutting. I already have a generic case, but I thought taking measurements from that with a ruler (what else? ) would be too inaccurate.

[SadisticWarrior]

I'm building one now from Lexan using pic's I found while surfing and rough measurements from my box. I made a few skeches then made a few changes and started laying out the Lexan and cutting. I'm taking pic's along the way and will post them all on my site when the box is complete. If you stop and think about it , it's only a box.

Good luck with your project.

[Armand Karlsen]

What about getting the expansion slot cuts correct in the back panel of the case?

[SadisticWarrior]

Originally posted by Armand Karlsen
What about getting the expansion slot cuts correct in the back panel of the case?

AS far as I know all ATX boards are created equal when it comes to expansion slots (some have more, some have less) so things like that are where getting measurements off my case come in. Same goes for the PSU holes.

[Aedan]

The information I think you're looking for can be found in the ATX Specification 2.1 document This covers things like the layout of the board supports, the expansion slots and more.

Go get it!

AidanII

[Armand Karlsen]

I looked in there. It doesn't say how big or where to make the expansion slot cuts.

[Random Nonsense]

Yes it does Just checked it myself they have a little diagram of spacings etc.

[Armand Karlsen]

Spacings between slots or spacings from the edge of the mobo to the back plate of the case where the cuts are?

[Armand Karlsen]

Is there anywhere I can buy things like motherboard trays (with expansion slot mounts attached) seperate from cases?

[cloasters]

Originally posted by Armand Karlsen
Is there anywhere I can buy things like motherboard trays (with expansion slot mounts attached) seperate from cases?

Not as far as I know, which ain't necessarily very far. You can buy dirt cheap cases that feature a slide-out mainboard tray. However, the last one of these that I bought required the purchase of a set of needle files. PCI cards simply didn't line up properly with the seven slots in the rear of the case. Cutting and filing of the steel "tangs" of the cards was needed to make cards seat properly in the mobo and fit through the PCI and AGP slots at the same time.

And the mainboard tray and the rear slots were ONE PIECE. The best moment with that case was hearing it rattle down the garbage chute. Really.

I dunno if this will help much: Antec has exploded mechanical drawings of its cases. Just poke about for a bit at www.antec-inc.com .

[Armand Karlsen]

Originally posted by cloasters
And the mainboard tray and the rear slots were ONE PIECE. The best moment with that case was hearing it rattle down the garbage chute. Really.

Is that bad? Wouldn't it make sure that the slots and mobo standoffs were aligned?

[drow_elf]

if you happen to have a working (or at least nonworking parts) for a computer take measurements of them then build a mockup (cardboard or thin wood) and see if it fits.... you can always be a bit on the big side...

[Armand Karlsen]

What exactly do you mean by "a little on the big side"?

[Dave]

how about buying a really cheap and tacky tower from ebuyer, for about 13quid - you can then use it for bits and pieces like power LED wires and standoffs and mounting screws, and you can measure it to see where to position things.


also, they come with 250/300w PSUs that are good for powering fans or if youre a tightarse like me they can be used to power your system.
you gotta have guts when turning the thing on, a case with a 300w PSU for 13quid hardly screams "quality" does it?

[Armand Karlsen]

I already have a generic case I can use for drive cages, but I'd like something like a globalwin 802 for the mobo tray.