NZXT Lexa –Experimental Modyssey – Project Log
To my OCN Modders:
I’ve recently joined up with OCN and have been reading your logs, and so I thought it would be only neighborly to share mine. This is my first mod and first log, so bear with me! This log was originally posted on Bit-Tech on Oct 23rd (having been started a few weeks before), and is still ongoing there. I’m copying & posting only my updates, so if something appears to be missing, or you’ve got a question, feel free to let me know. I’m open to suggestions and tips of course as well as constructive criticism. I still have more to copy and paste, so don’t worry if things appear to get stuck in time for a while.
Begin Original First Post
Figured it was finally time for me to start a project log, and post it up for some opinions, advice, and constructive criticism, and also allow me to introduce myself to those of you I’ve been reading about for a while now, and occasionally asking stupid questions of (well, somewhat more than occasionally, TBH (= To Be Honest.) I also hope this log can be used by other newcomers to the world of modding to learn from (in addition to the guides and helpful forums here at bit-tech.net) :search:
Hi! I’m ModMinded! Nice to meet you!
I know it’s unusual to have the first pic of a project log be the actual modder in all his/her nerdy glory, but I just took this today (as I start writing the log, not actual post date) with my new respirator, and modding safety is IMPORTANT, mmmkay? I’m not all that keen on self portraits, nor photogenic, so this’ll likely be the only one you see of me. Note the respirator (~$30), and safety goggles (~$3) (A safe modder is a happy Modder) and hat (free from work… keeps the paint off my bald head!) By the way, any prices you see listed throughout this log will be in US dollars.
This is my first mod (if you don’t count cutting a hole in a dell case to allow for a new psu’s switch and plug socket to be mounted/fit properly.) I really just want to experiment with modding: the materials, tools, techniques, etc to see what it’s possible for me to do. I’ve built plenty of computers, but my only shop class was back when I was 13 or so… Oakland public schools cut it out of the curriculum… :grr:. It’s an artistic outlet for me, with something I’ll use at the end of the day, not just stick on a wall or in a frame to gather dust. Plus it keeps me out of trouble. I plan on experimenting with a lot of things, making a bunch of small mods that hopefully will go together in the end to become a nice case. Hopefully I won’t be irritating anyone with bad/too many pics, bad jokes that you don’t get, or half-assed/stupid modding.
<Quick Links>
How it Began
Front Panel Wiring / Sleeving / UV
Oct 23 – PSU / Mobo Sleeving
Oct 25 – DIY UV Fan
Oct 25 Pt 2 – Fan Control
Oct 26 – Case Stripping and Plan Visuals
Oct 26 Pt 2 – Plexi Planning and Bending
Oct 26 Pt 3 – Plexi Rebend & Polish
Oct 26 Pt 4 – Case Surgery
Oct 26 Pt 5 – Painting 1
Oct 28 – Painting 2
Oct 28 – Off Topic – Pumpkin Mod
Oct 29 – Rivets and Reassembly Take 1 / PSU Shroud / UV
Oct 30 – Plexi Gluing Experiment
Nov 2 – Plexi Shaping & Smoothing 1
Nov 3 -Design Musings
Nov 3 Tooltime w/ Cheapskate
Nov 3 new tool – Scroll Saw + Mystery Pics
Nov4 Wire Fire, Questions
nov 4 mystery pic, wiring, plexi finishing
Nov 6 Tool time w/ Cheapskate 2 - Sanding Jig
Nov 12th – Situation Update & Planning
Nov 13 - LEDS
Nov 14 – LED Trials Update PT1
Nov 30th - Test Passed! Back at it!
Dec 1st – Fan mount questions, tools, workspace, plexi finishing, HD cover
Dec 2- Plexi finishing, sanding jig fail
Dec 3rd update
Dec 4 New Stuff
Dec 6 More new stuff
Dec 11th -3 layer HD Bay cover, Wire Routing
Dec 11th Pt 2 – Off Topic – Server Minor Mods
Dec 12th - Wiring thoughts, minor update
Dec 17th Update – More new tools, Workshop
Dec 19th – Wire Mgmt Thoughts
Dec 20th - Sleeving, case cutting, C-Channel, grommeting, grinding?
Dec 21st – FP Wiring, HD Bay cover
Dec 22nd – HD Bay Shaping
Dec 25th – Engraving 1
Dec 26th Pt 1 – Engraving 2, drill press sanding jig
Dec 26th Pt 1 – HD Cover and Lighting
Dec 28th – Mystery Plexi Piece
Dec 28th Pt 2 – LED experiment
Jan 6th – PPC order arrives, C Channel, minor news
Jan 9th - Micro update - FP Sleeving
Jan 10th – Offtopic – New hardware, new OS, new pics!
Jan 11th – Router experiments:
Jan 12th – Tablesaw/Router
Jan 13th – pondering
Jan 14th – Tools - Drill, Router Table
Jan 17th – Big Update – Plexi, HD/Shroud cover, Case cutting, Bending
Jan 18th Pt 1– Switch foot, Plexi, HD cover
Jan 18th Pt 2 - shop shelf, tapping, bend, HD cover options
Jan 19th Morning – router profiling, shroud HD Cover
Jan 19th Evening – Lots of plexi pieces
Jan 20th- Jan 20th Update - Test Assembly... with UV! 
oooh:
Jan 21st – UV Plexi + Options, Drill Bits Testing – Opinions sought
Jan 22nd- Drilling Plexi + I/O Panel Fab 1
Jan 23rd Pt 1 – Weekend prep
Jan 23rd Pt 2 - Jan 23rd update 2 (early AM) (nuts, bolts, drill and tap)
Jan 22nd – To Do List- To Be Continually Updated/Crossed Off
Jan 24th- big update – IO shield, Plexi Accents, CCFL mod, HD Bay Cover
Jan 26 – Weekend work update & Pics
Jan 27 – FrankenVerter
Jan 30th – Plexi finishing
Feb 1- Oops
Feb 2nd - Plexi & bits
Feb 11th - Bits n Vidz
Feb 15th - Goldilocks Update (aka Drilling Holes in Plexi & Metal)
Feb 18th -Polish Plexi & Drill Bit Vids
May 31 - Mini Update - Plexi + Planning
June 3- shopping, plexi and Electricity!
I Love Garage Sales!
<Suppliers>
Craigslist.org
Freecycle.org
Sciplus.com
Ebay.com
Ace Hardware
Home Depot
Temescal Tool Lending Library
Fry’s Electronics
Al Lasher Electronics
Performance-pcs.com
TAP Plastics - San Leandro
Urban Ore
Autozone
<Sponsors>
My Buddy - Shawn
YOUR NAME HERE
