Project: Deuce

Just an FYI.... Just because I have not been updating like a good boy, does not mean that I have not been working the mod! ;)

I have made a LOT of progress on the internal acrylic structures. Several prototypes of designs that I wanted, bared out the fact that there was simply not enough space for that particular vision application! (Glad I did the prototypes!) So, after some rethinking, I rebuild a few things, and came up with some new stuff!

As I am exhausted and in desperate need of a shower, so no pics tonight.
I have acrylic dust in places I did not know I could get it! ;)

But I think you will like where this is going!!
Hold on tight!
-=TD

No pics = bad update... and sad Peter. :(

"Tired Girlfriend" = "Sad Peter" too. :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by proxops-pete

No pics = bad update... and sad Peter. :(

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Cripes... keep you pants on... it's coming! ;)

For those that were wondering what I was gong to do with the video cards... well... here is a taste!

https://www.sharkyforums.com/

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/vc_shroud3.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/vc_shroud4.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/vc_shroud5.jpg

I'll process the rest of the pics tomorrow. These were from tonight.

WoWser, looks pretty good there. You most love your new toys. Any news on the Light Pipes you was working? Good news I shall also have an update tonite on My Little Devil, buddy has finally finished.

I have a plan on the light pipes that will integrate them into several points on the case. Due to how I plan to use them, it will be one of the last things I do.

:)

Welll.... how did I build the card shroud?
Read on...

First thing though.... It's not totally done. I still have to get a fan mounted in the bottom of this thing, under the Palit logo.
Secondly... I need to get my bolts to properly screw in and hold in... that is always challenging! ;)

But enough about the technicalities... here's how this all went down.

Starting with the blue, 1/4" acrylic, I drew out the design on the protective paper, then cut it out in a general, more manageable form from the 24"x24" panel.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build1.jpg

I made the design so that I had flames wrapping around the tubing paths leading to the MAZE5 GPU block. Knowing that the OD of the tubing was 5/8", I grabbed me a spade bit of equivalent diameter and put it on the drill press, and made the preliminary holes for the tubing... keeping in mind that with bending and sanding, the shape of the flames would likely change.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build2.jpg

I then dropped in some manuvering holes to be used while working the scroll saw. My thinking was to put them in places that I may have difficulty turning the acrylic on the saw.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build3.jpg

After the initial scroll saw cutting, the rough shape is defined. I was not totally concerned about missing my lines on the flames, as flame work sometimes takes on a life of it's own... and if I had a few flames that were not perfect... I was cool with that! Sanding will refine the shapes as I progress!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build4.jpg

For measurement sake, I kept referring back to the card to make sure my perspective was correct. The "P" logo on the right is for Palit, the vedor that is graciously letting me mod some of their product! :)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build5.jpg

Got the P logo cut out, and then compared it against the print out of the logo... not bad! There will be a bit of sanding here to refine the edges. Same concept here... I drilled holes in strategic places on the acrylic to allow me to manuver the scroll saw in some of the tight places.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build6.jpg

Take off the paper protector to see how badly I've butchered this piece.... and was pleasantly surprised to not have any cracks or splinters! But... oh my, do I have a lot of cleanup and sanding to do! ;)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build7.jpg

Just did the first bend on the side facing the card slot. I also had to cut a notch for the DVI ports. I used the acrylic bender to heat the bending line, then used two blocks of wood to press and hold the bend. My second shroud will be produced a bit differently on the bending technique, as the wood grain left some unwanted imperfections i nthe surface of the acrylic. I'm going to build me another bending jig to mimic the size of the video card and the height that I need.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build8.jpg

I flame polished the edges of the entire piece. Lemme say, that it can really, really, *really* make the edges look good.... or it can throw a horrible wrench into the appearance if you over cook an edge. It is a very delicate dance that you must perform, *especially* on the thiner pieces (in my case the flame tips).
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...oud_build9.jpg

Looking underneath the first bend and checking my clearance.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...ud_build10.jpg

Flip it over and visualize.... I started seeing problems with my tube inlets in this shot, and started investigating....
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...ud_build11.jpg

I <3 this shot... ;)
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...ud_build12.jpg

I dropped in 2 sample pieces of tubing to see how they would fit, and saw that they were not passing through as freely or as straight as I had hoped. So, I ended up taking my dremmel's sanding drum, and sanding/enlarging the opening to better accommodate the tubing. I also reshaped many pieces of flame work, then re-flame polished the edges.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce...ud_build13.jpg

After some more adjustments, I ended up with the below unit. Notice the flame next to the PCI power. I Had to bend a flame lick to insure that it would not impede any power cabling. Because I kept it, I May reshape it to wrap it around the cable line...

*ding*

Actually, I have a sweet idea for integrated cable management for the PCI power. I'll have to build it off of the top card since it requires a long piece of acrylic to be pulled and shaped from the main body... heheheh, fun fun!

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/vc_shroud2.jpg

Looks very nice. Love the blue acrylic...

Wow... that is freakin' awesome dude!! :D

:)

Glad I could make you happy, pete! ;)

Pete... dont read... no pics~!!!!!!~~!!!!
;)
As I have had a TON of time to work on this mod, I will have a pictorial update for you in the next day or two.

I have disassembled my primary rig (the one that housed all of my hardware that is going into Deuce) and have been installing and removing all of it in an effort to better visualize and route all of the cabling.

Well, in the coming days, there will be some good and exciting pics that I think you will like, as well as some serious movement.

To give a brief synopsis,

1) My plan for the pumps was not going to work. I mis judged the width of the motherboard and where the backs of the video cards were going to be.... but trials can bring inspiration when routed properly, and I came up with a *****en solution for the pumps! I think you will like!

2) Chemical "WeldOn" is drying on the last joint of my reservoir brackets! I took one of the completed units and the one prototype that I did many weeks back, and placed them in the 5.25" bay area to see how they would work... and I am happy! I eyeballed those dimensions perfectly!!!

3) SLI bracket on the video cards is going to be a bit of a pain in the tookus.... since the cards each have their own full cover, I have to find a way to route the SLI bridge through the flamed acrylic *without* messing up the flow. This only impacts the top card, since the SLI bridge must cut across the flames to make it to the bottom card. I think I have an idea to minimize the flame impact.... we'll see.

4) I ordered fans for hte video cards, and unfortunately I recieved the wrong type. I am awaiting the replacement correct white LED fans.

5) In all of the hoopla of placing my case, I had the epiphany that, "Oh crap! I dont have room for an optical drive!" DOH!!! But I found an excellent item that will work the solution, an eSATA/USB chassis that will hold the CD/DVD drive. I have to check out my SATA ports on the machine, and if that wont work, then I will have to use it as USB. Fingers crossed....

more to come... but that is about a summary of what all is going on!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tech-Daddy

Pete... dont read... no pics~!!!!!!~~!!!!
;)

5) In all of the hoopla of placing my case, I had the epiphany that, "Oh crap! I dont have room for an optical drive!" DOH!!! But I found an excellent item that will work the solution, an eSATA/USB chassis that will hold the CD/DVD drive. I have to check out my SATA ports on the machine, and if that wont work, then I will have to use it as USB. Fingers crossed....

more to come... but that is about a summary of what all is going on!!!

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LOL... thanks for the warning Tech-Daddy! :D
But yeah, that's a very good alternative solution... using SATA DVD drive and hooking it up via eSATA. Ingenious! :D

Now, go get me some pictures dang it!! Git! :p LOL... J/K. I love seeing your stuff and Taztg's stuff... gets me all pumped up... too bad my skills suck! :(

Pics up tonight... I'm about to fall asleep on my keyboard! :)
You would not believe the number of times I had to re-write stuff just to get the pics up!

I will add full text after I have had some sleep!

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/placement1.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/placement2.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/placement3.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/placement4.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/placement5.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/placement6.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/placement7.jpg

https://www.sharkyforums.com/

https://www.sharkyforums.com/