Scratch: Plastic Tech Station - Overclock.net

nathris · 09-03-09

Ok I just finished the first "mod" to my little "techstation", so I figured I would start a work log. I'm not sure if its technically from "scratch" but I'm not using an actual case so I figured it would be appropriate.

All it really is is 2 paper trays I got from staples that can be stacked on top of each other. I got them both for $10 from staples a while ago.

I'm forced to use them right now because my stupid 4870 (I hate you XFX) is shorting out on the metal of my case, so I have to use a non conductive material.

Unmodded it was actually pretty good, I could stick my motherboard on the top tray and have my psu and drives on the bottom!

There are a couple of problems however, the first being that since its plastic, it dips in the middle. Its actually deforming my motherboard a little.

The second obviously being that the motherboard is unsecured. The only thing thats even remotely holding it in place are the little tabs coming off the IO plates on my TV tuner and 4870.

The third being that with the lack of a backplate there isn't anything to stop my TV tuner and 4870 from wobbling back and forth.

Then there are numerous other things like cable management I would like to fix.

Now, enough with the intro!

To Do List:
-properly reinforce the middle of the trays
-add holes and clips for wires
-secure HDD and DVD-RW on the bottom tray, add support for more HDDs
-secure PSU
-CAT PROOF IT!!!
-PCI slot retainer
-get airflow to the bottom rack, particularly the HDD
-lighting?

Done:

September 3, 2009:

I went to home depot today and picked up some 6-32 1 1/2" screws and some nuts, some strange plastic washer things and a pack of cutting disks for my dremel, along with some PVC pipe. It turns out that 6-32 is the same size as case screws, so I totally lucked out there.

My plan was to use the screws as support. I would use one nut to secure the screw to the top tray and then use another nut about a cm from the bottom to hold up the motherboard.

I marked out the place where the holes that support the motherboard are supposed to go and drilled the holes. Unfortunately the bottom of the tray not only slopes a bit, but its ribbed. Of the 7 holes I drilled 2 of them were way off and 3 of them came through at an angle and I had to bend them a little to get them straight. It worked out pretty well though, and now my motherboard is sitting securely 1" off the tray

The next thing I decided was to use the PVC pipe to cut some supports for the middle. A 3 1/4" to go in between and a 1.5 cm one to go underneath. Unfortunately I couldn't find a good saw anywhere so I had to cut through it with my dremel's cutting disk. Basically that means its totally screwed up, and I probably inhaled a little too much burning PVC. I got the pieces cut but they were the wrong size and uneven. I managed to salvage the 1.5" by using it to prop up my motherboard, but all in all its a total failure. I'm going to have to give it another shot, I might even just cut a hole right through the bottom tray and use a larger piece.

I'll get some pics up as soon as I can find my mother's camera.

All I have are these old pics from when I first got it:

Its mostly the same, except I have the PSU at the back now and the hardware is a little different.