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[Project] Monotone [Updated 9/9]

5K views 35 replies 21 participants last post by  HOTDOGS 
#1 ·
Please check post #2 for updated pics


So.. Since i have a new fetish for benching. It seems like a huge hassle removing stuff from my case to set up a LN2 or Dry Ice run. Therefore i decided to make a tech station. I spend the better part of the whole last week planning the layout.

Had a few revisions till i finally settle on a 3-tier design instead of a 2-Tier. Anyway.. i finally have the "basic" look of it mapped out here.. basically i wanted something that will last me a LONG time. Not something that i have to change when i get more equipment... heck it could even be my rig's new home. I gave it alot of thought.. my Tech station will have to hold Dual 1k+ watt size PSU.. dual 3x120 rads and 7+ HDD.. I have 6HDD atm not counting my SSD coming in the mail next week. But anyway, going to scourge for materials later on this week, Will most likely use MDF board for this. Just wanted to share with you guys


These are all my previous revisions.. But i scraped them all together for a 3 tier. Below is just layout for first tier.


and on to my final revision. Everything is to scale.. I actually spend the time and measure every little part down to the millimeter. /doh

These are just the layout etc.. The outer wall hasn't been mapped in. I'll do that down the road after i look for materials.

This is the Front view of the bench. Here you can see 4x HDD on each side, A fan controller on top to control fans on the rad and ofc optical drive. Thing sticking out top is the PCI bracket holder


Same view but different angle.


One more on other side.


Here is the right side view of the bench. Again you can see the HDD on one side and dual power supply on the back. With Dual 3x120 size rad on tier two.. each having 3x 38mm fans and shroud. The pump will most likely be on tier 1 so it will never run dry. I'll probably have 2x EK res on the side.


Here is the backside of it. Two power supply at back on tier 1 and the other rad facing back. I lift the mobo actually 1" off the top tier so i have enough room to squeeze in all the insulation for DICE and LN2 run.


Opposite Back side.


Here a view front top down.


And finally a X-ray shot.


Theres the photos.. I hope i can get this done right.. Modd'd cases before, but never build anything from the ground up. Wish me luck
 
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#2 ·
#3 ·
reserved.
 
#9 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Syrillian View Post
This is gonna be great!

*subscribes*
WooT! Got a pre-approval from one of the best modders on this forum.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Duxx View Post
What are you going to make this out of? Looks very sexy. 8)
I'm not really sure yet.. i have to head to home depots and lowes later on this week and look for material.. I will most likely use MDF boards and put a couple layers of finishing coat on there.. Since i am on a really tight budget.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidsquirrell View Post
legos?
I should make one from legos


Quote:

Originally Posted by gazza30 View Post
was thinking of building tech station myself cases are just a pain to swap stuff out.
Looking forward to updates on the build good luck
Thanks man, looking forward to seeing yours too when you start it.


Quote:

Originally Posted by jackeyjoe View Post
this is going to look aewsome when you built it if you build it. I hope you do get around to it. O've been designing a case as well and maybe i will get around to it. If i do it will be an OCN exclusive

Same to you, would love to see it. Prob give me more ideas on a rev 2.0 if this turn out to be fail.
 
#10 ·
Well just a small update for you guys.[/QUOTE]

Worklog: Day 1. Getting the materials and measure/ Cutting.

Went out to home depots and got some material.. decided to get everything there so i wouldn't have to make another trip to lowes. Should've taken pics before i started working on it.. but the top two layers of MDF are already cut.
I got
1 piece of each 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" thick MDF board measuring 24" x 48"
A 3 foot 6/32 threaded rod
Some PVC 1" Spacers
Some "Anti-slip" Grippy cloth for my HDD rack.
A 3 foot long aluminum for the PCI holder.
Some finishing nails


Outside measuring the board prepping it for cutting.


Jigsaw actually works pretty damn good for cutting MDF boards


With a little bit of sanding, the sides looks pretty smooth and flat



Didn't get a whole lot done today due to the weather. I was working outside the whole time, had to stop because it started raining. Didn't want to work in the garage since MDF dust is a b***h to clean.


Thats it for now till the weather gets better.
 
#13 ·
Quote:


Originally Posted by GapTroll
View Post

Dang, look at that stack of Coca Cola.

That's some nice Coca Cola.

OT: Good start - sub'd

It's what keeps me going when i don't have beer around


Quote:


Originally Posted by MCBrown.CA
View Post

Very nice SketchUp renders... I love that app!

Looking forward to seeing this project progress. I'm starting to have my own tech station ideas after checking out this log.



Thanks! The renders itself took me about a day to make


I'll keep you guys posted for sure.
 
#14 ·
Worklog #2: Day 3- My cordless saw blows.

Just did a little more work today.. but my cordless saw freaking blows.. it's getting old -_-. 2 fully charged battery didn't last me 30 minutes of cutting. :O Time to head out tomorrow and find some new batteries for my unit.

But Anyway.. this is what i have done today.. I managed to cut a few more pieces and have the lower level's "outer frame" worked out. Didn't get to the internal parts yet.. but i like how it fits together.

A few pics showing the progress.

Shot of the front left corner. The two flat pieces will be cut later on.. gotta make holes for the rad



Here is the right side of it


and a shot from the rear.
 
#17 ·
Thanks guys!
Worklog #3: Day 5- Structure is 98% done!

Got a ton of it done today, couldn't finish it all. Don't wanna disturb the neighbors. But pretty much 98% done. All is left is the pci bracket holders.

The HDD rack "plates are all fabbed. Just need to paint them then i can mount them



The 5.25 bay support and bottom part.. couldn't get to the two vertical boards yet.. i'll do that tomorrow or the day after.


My tier-2 cut out holes for wire/ tubing passage.


The fan holes are cut out too.. I only did 1 in the back since i havn't gotten my 2nd rad yet, so i don't know the dimensions. But the front fits my Thermochill PA 120.3 rad perfectly



Finally on the top shelve, i decided to raise the mobo off the top level a little bit.. the little box will help me hide the wires as well.


My mobo tray.


Tray on the "mobo raiser" :lol:


A shot from the back


Also, i think i may just use these for my case feets.. got these from cutting the fan holes.. They don't look too bad either.. 3/4" thick.. maybe if i just stack two of them together



Thats it till my next update

 
#19 ·
I love MDF

very nice work. I've been wanting to build a tech station for a while.

keep up the great work. cant wait to see it finished.
 
#20 ·
Worklog #4: Day 7- Zzz, Never paint MDF again.

So i spend the last 11 hours painting it. Good way to spend Labor day eh? I swear, i am never ever gonna paint MDF again. These boards suck paint like a sponge, it's hard to get a even coat, I think i have a few more layers to go before it looks acceptable.

But anyway, i decided to go with a black and white look. White surface boards and black vertical boards.. It should look pretty sweet.. or i hope


This pic is taken after 2nd layer of primer. I did light coats so the MDF board won't swell up.


So is this one.


I didn't take any pics in between.. but this is how i have it atm.. I'm setting it in the garage to dry overnight before i sand them down and apply a few more layers of paint.

I lost count of how much paint i appied.. I think i put on like 7 layers of primer.. and 6 coats of paint already.. It still looks a little spotty atm. The board soaking up the paint is killing me, it doesn't look even on the black boards.. the whites look pretty darn good.

If the blacks didn't turn out the way i want them to be after sanding and painting tomorrow.. i think i might have to do it all over again. Primer it and re-paint -_-

But anyway.. pics!



 
#21 ·
Worklog #5: Day 8- WeeEE done with painting.

Lucky it turned out okay.. I spend majority of the morning respraying everything.. Probably about 10-12 coats of paint alone alltogether. Added like 4 layers of clear coat and it literally blings :lol:

The black ones didn't turn out looking as good as the white panels. It's slightly spotty (but you have to look hard and at a specific angle to notice them. Not worth sanding down and redoing the whole process imo :evillol:





I'm leaving them in my garage to dry a little more. Heading to work atm. Once i get off tonight, i'll start putting them together
 
#26 ·
Worklog #6: Day 10- Frame all assembled. Now only the minor stuff left!

My dad was nice enought to lend me his nail gun to assemble the frame. Else i had to do it the old school way. Big thanks to my dad.

The nail gun he was nice enough to lend to me.


Didn't take pics in between but here's some pics of it fully assembled.











Putting some items in it to get a feel of how it looks like when equipped








Now all that is left to do is just the Psu mount brackets and fan brackets for the HDD/ Pwm/ ram area!

While my dad was here helping me today. We talked about building a few for the community. Trying to gauge interest, if we can get a minimum of 10 order.. We might start popping these out at $250 a pop (Made with real wood, not MDF
)
 
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