CyberDruid

Yep that is where I a headed. Off to Lowes to get some 1/4" acrylic and some fiberboard to replicate the parts. They deffo can ship flat.

Any type of hardware can be used.It does not have to be hex head bolts. I just happen to have them in quantity and they make it easy to get good and tight.

__________________
Current Project: CalligaCab: TV stand/bookshelf/PC-case

DaCrusader

good good, i will check in tomorrow on your work! it being 11:05 PM here now.

also: subb'd

__________________

Nubcake

I love the tags :P "Acrylic wonderland" Looks good CD. Where would you be cutting corners to make it $150 besides the 1/4" plex?

CyberDruid

An excellent question. I would need to see a high demand and then I would need to have the parts made enmasse at the laser cutter to eliminate labor on my part. I would then be cutting drilling and tapping aluminum angle, packaging hardware and packing units to ship. At that point since I could factor maybe an hour per unit of my time I could effectively sell them for cost plus a percentage.

An honest tradesman can always afford to be transparent: here is a total cost breakdown for the 1/2" and 1/4" units.

The LL Mobo tray cost me about $38. I would love to find them cheaper but after shipping that is what they cost me. PPC has them sometimes. When I orderd my 4 only Silver PC had them. Feel free to check cost after shipping.

2- 14" x 14" panels
2- 9" x 13" panels
1- 4" x 13" panel
Misc smaller parts
This tears through most of a 48" x 24" piece of material. So.....

24" x 48" of 1/2" Plexi http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/var...ant%5Fid=44386
Cost me about $100 after shipping

24" x 48" of 1/4" Plexi http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/var...ant%5Fid=44363
Cost me about $45 after shipping or I can get it at Lowes for $40 after tax. I prefer the one from US Plastics because it cuts better.

Then there is a 13" piece of 1" Acrylic rod: $2 I have to buy 6' at a time.

Aluminum Angle
4 x 9" = 3'
2 x 4" = 8"
Miscellaneous small pieces for brackets

This eats through 4' of angle. 8' costs me about $30 at Lowes or $20 plus shipping so $15 in angle

Hardware and consumables...I estimate $5-10 in hardware. I use Torx head 8-32, plastic washers, regular washers and hex head 1/4" and a pair of thumbscrews. Factor in sandpaper and bits and blades $10 is about right.

Then there is the Silverstone HDD caddy which is a pull from a TJ07. To get something similar would be about $20

The materials cost at this point is $180.

Factor in 20 hours of my labor. You can see right off that I am paying myself $5 an hour to do this. Would you do this for $5/hour? If so you might have a new job

And there you have it. I can shave off $50 cost by dropping to 1/4"

I can shave off some time by replicating the units from a master pattern.

But it had better be a lot of time if I want to hit the $175 price point. I don't want to do this for free....

There has to be a HDD caddy...and the only ones I have seen that are quick release are Lian Li parts and this Silverstone. They all cost. Making one would be too labor intensive.

Hope that helps you understand what you are paying for.

__________________
Current Project: CalligaCab: TV stand/bookshelf/PC-case

Indignity

With your skills and tools, could you not somehow fashion a tray & I/O panel of acrylic? Or maybe utilize rails for securing the PCI cards like many of the stations do?

__________________

CyberDruid

Well sure but my labor is worth more than the $38 tray. For the price it's impossible for me to make anything near as nice.

I just completed the 1/4" unit. It is 100% complete and ready to ship. I have $125 in materials in this one and it took me about 4 maybe 5 hours.

I was able to do a neater job with thinner material and now it fits two optical drives and the PSU niche is simpler and neater looking. I used a Lian Li HDD caddy on rubber mounts and put a 90mm TT fan over the in the side panel. It looks great.

Uploading some pictures in a bit.

I would need $175 for this one. I would be willing to modify it with additional fan holes, or a simple rad bracket or switch holes at no charge. The protective film is still on this one and I will leave it that way to avoid scratches unless the buyer wants me to take it off.

__________________
Current Project: CalligaCab: TV stand/bookshelf/PC-case

ender475

It seems the Photo Log link is not working.

__________________
g0t pwnt?

Like cars as much as you like computers? check out http://www.carforum.net

Member of the OCN Diablo III Club

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/e.../enderxlol.jpg

ender475

NVM... its up and working now.

__________________
g0t pwnt?

Like cars as much as you like computers? check out http://www.carforum.net

Member of the OCN Diablo III Club

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/e.../enderxlol.jpg

CyberDruid

Here are the basic parts (except for the PSU niche).


Here it is assembled except for the HDD caddy and side fan.



As you can see the Optical drive fits either side (thanks to the smaller LL HDD cassy).


Basically identical to the one of 1/2" stock.


90mm TT fan directly over the HDDs.


Fan looks pretty cool.


Here I have two bay devices in the slot. NO angle or thumbscrews for this one: use velcro or just let it sit there.


Plenty of room to access the lower compartment from the top.


Room for DDC type pump under the PSU or two one side of the Optical drive.


Tray in ready to ship. No acrylic rod. This one uses thumbscrews. I can add the rod for free if the buyer wants it.


Ready for hardware.


That's a wrap. $175 and it's yours


here is where a MCR320 could mount. Either upright...


Or flat.


The side panel beside the ports could get a hol to route the tube to the CPU WB.

So what do you think of the lighter one?

__________________
Current Project: CalligaCab: TV stand/bookshelf/PC-case

dasparx

Mate, its great! i'll definately buy one in august!

__________________
Got a free PCI-E x1 Slot, and want to do more folding? Click here!