Tech Station Sketchup - Overclock.net

Pabs · 06-10-09

After seeing all the recent Tech Stations threads, I decided to load up Google Sketchup and make one that suits my needs. I'm kind of sick of constantly moving my case and opening the side panel to get at my motherboard etc.

I've tried to upload the sketchup file via rar, zip, gz, so you can get a better look, but I cant it just keeps saying uploading failed

. It is just a rough guide as to the form I want/need. It is nothing special but is just what I need. The acrylic cover over the motherboard, is just a dust cover for when the computer is off (Yes I turn mine off

), sometimes for a couple of days

My friend is a carpenter and he owes me a favour so he'll be able to cut the panels quickly for me. Hopefully I can get started soon.

Looking for constructive feedback/comments

crimsontears809739 · 06-10-09

Wow, that is truely awsome. I can't wait to see pics. The only thing i would change is to put like a 250mm fan on the top of that clear box things. I see you have ventilation from underneath, but heat rises and i think the air wouldn't circulate properly.

Pabs · 06-10-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by crimsontears809739

Wow, that is truely awsome. I can't wait to see pics. The only thing i would change is to put like a 250mm fan on the top of that clear box things. I see you have ventilation from underneath, but heat rises and i think the air wouldn't circulate properly.

I won't actually run the computer with the acrylic cover on, its just a dust cover. I was going to add fans to it, but it defeats my main purpose of easy access to my components. (Disconnecting fans etc).

**radodrill** · 06-10-09

Maybe add fan mounts to the sides of tech station itself to move some air across the mobo; but still out of the way to swap components.

**IEATFISH** · 06-10-09

I like it. What if you rotated the top part 90 degrees clockwise? Then you could put a fan above the fan you already have planned and it would blow straight towards your CPU cooler.

Pabs · 06-10-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by radodrill

Maybe add fan mounts to the sides of tech station itself to move some air across the mobo; but still out of the way to swap components.

This was my original thinking. See attached pictures, this is what you meant right? The only problem is all the cuts I'd have to make in the acrylic, I'm no Syrillian. And if I did do all the cuts, it would get to the point where there would be no point in having the acrylic cover, that's why I'm still considering just using it as a dust cover. Although a big Antec (22cm?) fan above the motherboard would be good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IEATFISH

I like it. What if you rotated the top part 90 degrees clockwise? Then you could put a fan above the fan you already have planned and it would blow straight towards your CPU cooler.

Unfortunately I want the motherboard facing that way, but thank you for the suggestion.

If anyone wants the Sketchup file, I will email it to you, then maybe you could kindly upload it in this post, I can not do it for some reason.

thehighlander123 · 06-10-09

hey once this project is completed would u mind sending me the sketchup file? i just completed my first tech station and it didnt turn out so well. I really want to build one of my own that would work well

i will try to contribute as best i can

first thing i would say is add some fans to the top edge of the motherboard

**radodrill** · 06-10-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pabs

This was my original thinking. See attached pictures, this is what you meant right? The only problem is all the cuts I'd have to make in the acrylic, I'm no Syrillian. And if I did do all the cuts, it would get to the point where there would be no point in having the acrylic cover, that's why I'm still considering just using it as a dust cover. Although a big Antec (22cm?) fan above the motherboard would be good.

Yeah that's what I was talking about.

Do you plan on running the system with the cover in place? If not, then you could just leave out the cutouts; otherwise, you could go with circular fan holes (rather than slots) and if necessary add fan grills to the cover.

Pabs · 06-10-09

At first I wanted fans attached to the acrylic, but then I thought that every time I wanted access to my components I'd have to unplug every fan. Then I thought about what you suggested, with fans on the motherboard tray. But I'd have to cut the acrylic and change the motherboard tray.

So I think the best thing would to run the computer without a cover, like a proper Tech Bench and use the acrylic as a dust cover when the computer is off. I'll see what happens.