Worklog: Project Expression

c.f4 · 10th March 2012, 6:54 PM

Hey guys,

I have been tasked by the missus to provide an HTPC and within then and now I have thought of more projects.

This is build number 1 of 3 scratch PC cases. The first being a HTPC, second being a fileserver/media server and third being an office PC.

They will all be based on the ITX form factor as I have recently been fascinated by such a lot of power in such a small footprint (for my task anyway!).

This is the first time I've worked with wood - I used to do a lot of work with aluminium and copper back in the UK. Wood is a different breed of animal... So excuse the messiness and I shall clean it up

The HTPC will be tasked with watching blu-rays/web browsing/small file photo editing/recording free to air (future proofed to record HD)/gmote server.

Insides:
i3 2100 w/ Stock HSF
Asrock H61M-ITX
8GB Generic RAM
LG BD Player
Card Reader
~~30GB Kingston SSD~~60GB Adata S511 SSD
AverMedia CaptureHD
160W PicoPSU

WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW (09/04):

Without further ado:

Click to view full size!

Basic M/B backplate with screws for LG BD player and SSD mount.

Click to view full size!

Frontside

Click to view full size!

Rearside

Click to view full size!

SSD Mount

Currently waiting for some glue to dry before I proceed. Waiting on my TV capture card before I proceed with more fittings.

Cheers.

KriiV · 10th March 2012, 7:11 PM

Should be quite an interesting build. Make sure you keep the pics coming

c.f4 · 16th March 2012, 9:57 PM

Hey guys,

Been a bit slow this week - mainly due to techbuy waiting for some backorder items.

However I've been working slowly on the frame:

Click to view full size!
Also replaced the stand-offs. Mobo now sits 15mm from back plate rather than 18mm.

Click to view full size!
Fairly sturdy frame so far.

Click to view full size!
Top and bottom plate fitments.

Click to view full size!
Front and back plate fitments.

Click to view full size!
Some more playing around to make sure its all snug.

Click to view full size!
Got to make sure it fits like a glove.

All in all probably spent around 6 hours today sanding and making sure everything is perpendicular to everything.

I wish I had a man cave with all my wood working tools! My wood working tools are coming over from the UK albeit very slowly...

Now I just need a man cave...

On that note I finally applied 6mm pine edging to the panels:

Click to view full size!

Currently working on stealthing the BR player.

brayway · 17th March 2012, 11:07 AM

Love these scratch builds

and I see you have a few to make, will be good to see how they turn out

it's looking good so far too

c.f4 · 18th March 2012, 5:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brayway

Love these scratch builds

and I see you have a few to make, will be good to see how they turn out

it's looking good so far too

Thanks and yeah you spoke a bit too soon!

After a bit of herp and derp yesterday and attempting to saw whilst intoxicated I had to go to bunnings today.

Click to view full size!

This stuff works wonders! Although I know a lot of the elite woodworkers frown upon it

I guess it helped out a bit of my drunken stupor.

Click to view full size!

Will most likely still do touchups along the way, but wanted a fairly snug fit but not so snug that the BR drive can't push the wood out.

Click to view full size!

Front panel complete!

Will end up tidying it up once I place all the panels back together. However I want to get all the fitments together before I sand the finished product properly.

Reaper_1994 · 27th March 2012, 11:37 AM

A wooden shuttle???

c.f4 · 28th March 2012, 10:31 PM

Hey guys,

Have been slack with the updates and the progress so far.

I was getting pissed off waiting for a belt sander to arrive so I ended up getting a finishing sander.

I have managed to put it all together.

Here is the one shot of primer, sand and then another coat of primer. Will most likely sand, prime and sand again. Need it to be as smooth as a baby's bottom. Probably going to head up to 1000grit on just primer alone.

Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

Where I lack expertise in woodwork I make up for it in paint finish

I will get up more when I get some daylight tomorrow

brayway · 29th March 2012, 5:26 AM

Looks really good painted!

c.f4 · 29th March 2012, 9:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brayway

Looks really good painted!

Thanks but still plenty more to go

Finished product would have had some 2000grit sandpaper on it

c.f4 · 30th March 2012, 8:08 PM

Sneaky little update.

Found a 60GB Adata S511 in my cupboard (unused and still in box!) updated firmware ran a few SSD benchmarks (480+ Seq reads, 180+ seq writes) and swapped it out for the 30GB Kingston SSD!

Also received the PicoPSU today and working on the backplate to accommodate for the DC in.

Whilst that was happening (it was bloody windy in Brisbane today) I had a few more derps with paint application and had to apply paint in between gusts of wind.

Which can be a bit difficult when you live on the top floor.

Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

This is 2 priming undercoats, 3 layers of white gloss with sanding between 400-1000grit and first layer of hi gloss clearcoat. Still heading towards a semi mirror finish but will get sanding tomorrow

slobber · 30th March 2012, 8:15 PM

Nice

c.f4 · 9th April 2012, 2:39 PM

Slow update:

Currently painting the other panel. Pretty much almost finished putting it all together.

Wanted some lines to break up the paint job - When asked by the wife why it wasn't as clean as I said it would be I blamed my tools and the surroundings. You know the saying

Left & front panel finished

Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

This is the brains of the equipment. Unfortunately one of my cats gnawed the shit out of one of the supports and the other cat ripped one of the supports completely off.

However it made the backplate slide in a lot easier than previous attempts!

Click to view full size!

The TV card will be screwed onto the right & back panel which is currently undergoing painting.

Click to view full size!

And all of it shoved together minus the right and back panel.

The R&B panel will hold the TV card and DC in (Power connector)

Thanks for now

slobber · 9th April 2012, 5:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c.f4

This is the brains of the equipment. Unfortunately one of my cats gnawed the shit out of one of the supports and the other cat ripped one of the supports completely off.

So what do your cats do for fun ????

10th March 2012, 6:54 PM	#1
c.f4 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 4152/Wakeboard Posts: 317	Worklog: Project Expression Hey guys, I have been tasked by the missus to provide an HTPC and within then and now I have thought of more projects. This is build number 1 of 3 scratch PC cases. The first being a HTPC, second being a fileserver/media server and third being an office PC. They will all be based on the ITX form factor as I have recently been fascinated by such a lot of power in such a small footprint (for my task anyway!). This is the first time I've worked with wood - I used to do a lot of work with aluminium and copper back in the UK. Wood is a different breed of animal... So excuse the messiness and I shall clean it up The HTPC will be tasked with watching blu-rays/web browsing/small file photo editing/recording free to air (future proofed to record HD)/gmote server. Insides: i3 2100 w/ Stock HSF Asrock H61M-ITX 8GB Generic RAM LG BD Player Card Reader ~~30GB Kingston SSD~~60GB Adata S511 SSD AverMedia CaptureHD 160W PicoPSU WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW (09/04): Without further ado: Click to view full size! Basic M/B backplate with screws for LG BD player and SSD mount. Click to view full size! Frontside Click to view full size! Rearside Click to view full size! SSD Mount Currently waiting for some glue to dry before I proceed. Waiting on my TV capture card before I proceed with more fittings. Cheers. Last edited by c.f4; 9th April 2012 at 2:41 PM.

10th March 2012, 7:11 PM	#2
KriiV Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,053	Should be quite an interesting build. Make sure you keep the pics coming __________________ Intel Core i7 3820 \| Asus Rampage IV Formula \| G.Skill 16GB 1600Mhz \| Gigabyte GTX680 \| Cosmos S (Modded) \| Corsair H60 \| HX1000W \| Intel 40GB SSD \| 3x1TB WD Caviar Black \| 2x Acer X243H \| KRK Rokit 6 Studio Monitors \| Logitech G9x \| Filco Majestouch 2 (Cherry Blues) Blank Keycaps \|

27th March 2012, 11:37 AM	#6
Reaper_1994 Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Townsville, QLD Posts: 1,812	A wooden shuttle??? __________________ Main Rig: WC'ed Intel 2600K @ 4.5GHz, 1.34v (XSPC Raystorm) / WC'ed HIS (EK6970+EN) + XFX HD6950 (EK-FC6970) / Gigabyte Z68X-UD7-B3 / Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 / Thermaltake Element G / Corsair HX850 Add me on Steam: ^1Reaper_1994 OCAU HWBot Team

28th March 2012, 10:31 PM	#7
c.f4 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 4152/Wakeboard Posts: 317	Hey guys, Have been slack with the updates and the progress so far. I was getting pissed off waiting for a belt sander to arrive so I ended up getting a finishing sander. I have managed to put it all together. Here is the one shot of primer, sand and then another coat of primer. Will most likely sand, prime and sand again. Need it to be as smooth as a baby's bottom. Probably going to head up to 1000grit on just primer alone. Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Where I lack expertise in woodwork I make up for it in paint finish I will get up more when I get some daylight tomorrow __________________ LAND: 370Z \| WATER: H200SS \| OFFICE: ASUS EP121 \| PLAY: WAKEBOARDING/FISHING HOME: 3770k/GENE V/32GB TRIDENT/GTX 590/REVODRIVE3 X2 480GB/SSS 1500W/2x SAMSUNG 204B + LG W3000H Last edited by c.f4; 28th March 2012 at 11:53 PM.

30th March 2012, 8:08 PM	#10
c.f4 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 4152/Wakeboard Posts: 317	Sneaky little update. Found a 60GB Adata S511 in my cupboard (unused and still in box!) updated firmware ran a few SSD benchmarks (480+ Seq reads, 180+ seq writes) and swapped it out for the 30GB Kingston SSD! Also received the PicoPSU today and working on the backplate to accommodate for the DC in. Whilst that was happening (it was bloody windy in Brisbane today) I had a few more derps with paint application and had to apply paint in between gusts of wind. Which can be a bit difficult when you live on the top floor. Click to view full size! Click to view full size! Click to view full size! This is 2 priming undercoats, 3 layers of white gloss with sanding between 400-1000grit and first layer of hi gloss clearcoat. Still heading towards a semi mirror finish but will get sanding tomorrow __________________ LAND: 370Z \| WATER: H200SS \| OFFICE: ASUS EP121 \| PLAY: WAKEBOARDING/FISHING HOME: 3770k/GENE V/32GB TRIDENT/GTX 590/REVODRIVE3 X2 480GB/SSS 1500W/2x SAMSUNG 204B + LG W3000H Last edited by c.f4; 30th March 2012 at 8:15 PM.

16th March 2012, 9:57 PM	#3
c.f4 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 4152/Wakeboard Posts: 317	Hey guys, Been a bit slow this week - mainly due to techbuy waiting for some backorder items. However I've been working slowly on the frame: Click to view full size! Also replaced the stand-offs. Mobo now sits 15mm from back plate rather than 18mm. Click to view full size! Fairly sturdy frame so far. Click to view full size! Top and bottom plate fitments. Click to view full size! Front and back plate fitments. Click to view full size! Some more playing around to make sure its all snug. Click to view full size! Got to make sure it fits like a glove. All in all probably spent around 6 hours today sanding and making sure everything is perpendicular to everything. I wish I had a man cave with all my wood working tools! My wood working tools are coming over from the UK albeit very slowly... Now I just need a man cave... On that note I finally applied 6mm pine edging to the panels: Click to view full size! Currently working on stealthing the BR player.

9th April 2012, 2:39 PM	#12
c.f4 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 4152/Wakeboard Posts: 317	Slow update: Currently painting the other panel. Pretty much almost finished putting it all together. Wanted some lines to break up the paint job - When asked by the wife why it wasn't as clean as I said it would be I blamed my tools and the surroundings. You know the saying Left & front panel finished Click to view full size! Click to view full size! This is the brains of the equipment. Unfortunately one of my cats gnawed the shit out of one of the supports and the other cat ripped one of the supports completely off. However it made the backplate slide in a lot easier than previous attempts! Click to view full size! The TV card will be screwed onto the right & back panel which is currently undergoing painting. Click to view full size! And all of it shoved together minus the right and back panel. The R&B panel will hold the TV card and DC in (Power connector) Thanks for now __________________ LAND: 370Z \| WATER: H200SS \| OFFICE: ASUS EP121 \| PLAY: WAKEBOARDING/FISHING HOME: 3770k/GENE V/32GB TRIDENT/GTX 590/REVODRIVE3 X2 480GB/SSS 1500W/2x SAMSUNG 204B + LG W3000H