Thread: Fabbed a custom .063 aluminum case for my VIA - *PICS*

how much is shipping to 60467?

@blk02si. You had better keep the program for the CNC machine. I'm sure there will be a few people lining up for a copy of your case.

Still looks good even if you did stuff up the first one....

I would be interested depending on the cost.

Well im back, im glad its sat.! Finally had a chance to work on the carPC case some more. I ended up starting over because I was rushing the first one and ended up with standoffs that were not in the right spot. Today I had a chance to take my time, tweak my CNC file to get everything perfect and I am VERY happy with the result now. This is actually the 3rd case, I made another one yesterday out of unfinished aluminum but I bent it the wrong way (Doh!!!) and although the 'brushed' aluminum look was cool, I prefer the finished look of paint. So here it is JS-CASE 1.0. I added the holes and cutouts for the I/O ports so that I dont need the square aluminum insert that came with the mobo (its too weak for my taste!!) I added .25 inches to the butt of the case to add my fans, and I added .15 inches to the height so I will not have to modify the Lid's lip this time (this made it weak). I think I am going to make the lid next sat because I am going to take my time and make it perfect. Im undecided if I am going to keep it like the prototype lid, add a clear piece so I can see inside, or cut a logo or some holes or something in the top to add ventilation. But i will def. be keeping the thumb screw, i like em! I found some lower profile thumbscrews that I want to use on the final.

So yeah if someone wants to buy the prototype, I can sell it for $25 shipped but you would probably be better off if you wait because their seems to be a demand for a simple slimline case and I want to make a batch of these. Just need to get the bugs worked out. I know that different MoBo's have different I/O port layouts so I have to take that into consideration when i make em. Im trying to compete with the ampie case and I can most likely do these for $75, but If i add the other hardware (standoffs, thumbscrews, fans, etc) its probably going to be more around $100

dude that looks great! i mean it looks really good! i have a suggestion and a question. suggestion: add another hole for the power supply wires to come in?out and my Question is. what if the mobo is like a mii12000 or mii10000 with the slot for cf and pcmcia? can u make cases for those?

Thank you for the compliments

I can do any layout of the I/O ports to accomodate other MoBo's. I designed this one from the VIA drawings in the manual. I could do the same for a different board. I would just have to make a copy of my CNC file then add a couple boxes and move some circles around. Very Easy.

As far as the power wiring goes im waiting to figure out where im going to install it. I may bring the power in through the bottom for a clean install if I trunk mount. If i go under the seat or something I will just come out the side that is most convient with a single 1/4 drilled hole and rubber grommet.

Anyway, I picked up a nice 350W ATX power supply yesterday for 20 bucks! so cheap at my local computer builders warehouse. So im bascially a laptop harddrive away from booting this thing and a DC-DC power supply away from having it car-ready.

I just wanted to say again that I am really enjoying the project and actually had to slow down a bit because I was becoming obsessed, i started talking about it all the time and spending cash too fast. My fiance asked me if everything was ok because I was spending so much time working on it, lol. I

dude it seriously looks great! you should offer it to everyone here on the boards. im sure youll get alot of people interested in it. So you still gonna send me the first one you wanted to trash?

Well I decided to make the lid today also, get 'er done!! Countersunk and rivited the mount plate, Added carbon fiber logo to top. Im finally satisfied and I will be using theis case. Leaving the shop now and going home to drill and tap some holes for the hardware, fans, etc.

very nice mate. wish i had access to that kind of tooling.