Case Mod: Pinnacle 24: Piano Black - Overclock.net

Shrimpykins · 12-02-09

This is what it looks like today minus the PSU shield and false bottom as well as the motherboard tray extension:

Journey summarized:

The project: Pinnacle 24 "Piano Black"

Thought of the new name on 5/3/10. I've been a fan of Cowboy Bebop for a while and I always loved the Cowboy Bebop Music. Since this is a black/white build I figured why not call it Piano Black.

I chose this case because of its simplicity. That was the key factor in my decision. I wanted a case with high "modability", but also one that I could stash a number of components in and not have it look cluttered. Conventional cases were out of the question. Major companies such as Corsair, Antec, Cooler Master, none of them had what I wanted. I googled custom computer case and through some research happened upon Mountain Mods. I was intrigued when I saw how simplistic their design was yet at the same time ingenious. The modular ability was just what I was looking for. I had a blank slate and could do what I wanted with it.

I ordered a Pinnacle 24 with the quad cutout up top and a side window, brushed aluminum since I was going to mod it and couldn't have it painted yet.

I went through several designs, just for side panels first. My ambitions weren't great, I just wanted to get into a little modding and I figured I can't hurt anything if I make something new since I am not modifying anything. I took something I found on the net and re-created it in CAD, then cut it out on a CnC plasma we have in the shop.

We had just started using the machine and it wasn't properly configured to begin with.

I had all this hardware (previously set up on a tech bench), 480 GTX radiator, Heatkiller 2.0 CPU block CU, so I decided I should start learning more about water cooling and found that a shroud can increase the cooling of the radiator so I decided to make one. I have previous fabrication experience, being that I have worked in my dads shop since I was a kid. Self-taught for pretty much all of my fabrication skills.

Custom shroud (50mm)

At this stage I was playing around with acrylic panels to see what they'd look like as well as completing the shroud. I decided I wanted to marry to shroud to the radiator permanently and make it look like one piece.

Click Here

Here is some bondo action, first time I ever worked with it.

More Bondo

We were looking like this around this time in the project.

I really wanted to get the radiator perfect with smooth edges all the way around so it looked like it really was all once piece with a sleek even profile all the way around.

Then, I came to the realization that I wouldn't be able to fit the radiator/shroud and the fans inside the case. I didn't want the fans on top of the case so I decided to just build and entirely separate enclosure to house the rad. I went through so many designs, I even built 3 (I think it was 3, may have been 2 though) separate enclosures. I won't bore you with all the failed attempts. Instead I will give you the succesful attempt.

What the project looks like today (roughly, ignore the grills, I scrapped those)

I started designing grills on the side as well as coming up with my own new design for the project.

I made this:

Now we are almost up to date, what I have added since then, false bottom, PSU shield, Motherboard panel attachment to hold res and hide cables.

So... All in all..... I started with the Pinnacle 24 and a 480 GTX.

I took off one of the side panel of the Pinnacle and created a new one.
Created a custom shroud for the 480 GTX.
Married the shroud and radiator.
Created a custom enclosure to house the radiator/shroud and the 38mm Panaflo fans.
Created new fan grills, triple 120 and quad 120.
Modified the back panel to allow clearance for a yet undesigned (at the time) PSU cover.
Created false bottom to hide wires going from PSU to front of case where blu-ray, HDD, SSD, and fan controller will be.
In process of creating custom PSU 2-piece cover that will hide PSU but allow airflow, also hiding wires from the PSU.
In process of creating motherboard extension to hide cables routing from behind motherboard tray to motherboard, as well as mounting resevoir(s).

Be sure to check the last few pages, they have the most current work being done, sorry for the disorganized thread =P

Check the last page for updates. Updated 8/10/10

Shrimpykins · 12-02-09

Reserved

Shrimpykins · 12-03-09

CnC is acting up. I think it needs a new electrode for the plasma, that or a swirl ring. Went to replace it and found we were out so now I have to wait for the parts to come in before I can cut it

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Shrimpykins · 12-11-09

Can't find my damn camera... CnC parts came in and I just got it cut a few hours ago. It acted up a little because it was cold but it cut fine, needs a few touch ups with the dremel. Can't wait to post the pics it looks 10x better than the plain window. I think I may turn this into a full case overhaul since I have a full sheet of aluminum to work with. I know the front and top panels could use a rework as the cutouts are round and not the shape of my radiator.