Help me mod my case

F

fortyways

banned
I would like to either do a window mod, or cut two 120mm spots out of the side of my CoolerMaster Elite 340.

I have a metal cutter and metal file, but I don't know what to buy to drill holes for fan screws or fan mounts.

I also don't know what material to use for a case window, or how to secure that material to the rest of the case.

Help?
 
You can pick up some acrylic panels for the side panel, and usually heavy duty double sided tape does the job for securing the window. As for cutting the hole, I just used a corded drill, works pretty well.
 
diduknowthat said:
You can pick up some acrylic panels for the side panel, and usually heavy duty double sided tape does the job for securing the window. As for cutting the hole, I just used a corded drill, works pretty well.
Click to expand...

Cutting the window with a corded drill? Why not a Dremel or an air compressor with a cut-off wheel?

I would try something totally different like a design in metal over top of the acrylic with the fans painted into it. I dunno though..
 
I only want to make fan mounts if the window is too expensive. I wouldn't actually mount fans, just fan grills.

I just want the inside to be visible.
 
INTELCRAZY said:
Cutting the window with a corded drill? Why not a Dremel or an air compressor with a cut-off wheel?

I would try something totally different like a design in metal over top of the acrylic with the fans painted into it. I dunno though..
Click to expand...

No I mean drilling the fan mount hole with a corded drill, like where you screw the fan onto the case.
 
I cut holes in my case for my fans with a jigsaw with a really fine metal cutting blade.I'm going to install an acrylic panel the same way maybe next week.
 
I got the acrylic panel at Home Depot and I've got the hole cut in the case. I also have some heavy duty double-sided tape, but I'm not sure I got the right type.

It's a millimeter or two thick, (or tall, depending how you look at it). So there'd be that much space between the acrylic and the aluminum (it wouldn't be flush).

Is that the proper way to attach it?
 
Is it common practice to do it without routing layers off the panel? I don't mind that much, I just don't want it to look sloppy.
 
If you do cut fan holes, don't use a jigsaw or dremel. Sure you could do it, but it will look like crap. Go out and pick yourself up a 80mm circular cutter. And make sure you drill a pilot hole first, because if you don't you won't get it centered. Draw everything out before you start to cut, and make sure to take your time!
 
I'm not sure what the names of my tools are or the ones you suggested. Here's what I have so far, I did it with the yellow thing but it still needs to be filed.

caseuw6.jpg


The original vent there is over the graphics card area, I haven't decided yet if I want to leave it and just drill screw holes or remove it and use my own fan grill.

It's a 120mm fan.
 
It actually looks a lot worse in that picture, I resized it with paint, messed up the dimensions and it got jpegged 3 times. But yeah, it'll be smooth after i hammer it out and file it.

Still not sure how I'm going to attach the window.
 
I found that a lot of people who mod cases use pop rivets to secure the acrylic window to the side panel. If you do it this way then make sure you have drill bits that are meant for acrylic so that you don't crack it when drilling through it. Also, if you use pop rivets, space them out evenly for the best look.

You could also use strong epoxy, but this may not look as good as the industrialized look of pop rivets.
 
Motoxrdude said:
I found that a lot of people who mod cases use pop rivets to secure the acrylic window to the side panel. If you do it this way then make sure you have drill bits that are meant for acrylic so that you don't crack it when drilling through it. Also, if you use pop rivets, space them out evenly for the best look.

You could also use strong epoxy, but this may not look as good as the industrialized look of pop rivets.
Click to expand...

So I shouldn't use heavy duty double-sided tape?
 
you could mount it with high epoxy glue (none flammable) that would make it flush. and u could use Plexiglas for the panel. just an idea, i did it to a tower that i sold the guy really liked it.
 
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I guess I'm going back to Home Depot tomorrow to look for some pop rivets and glue. Is that what I should ask for, just "pop rivets"?
 
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