cathode

Right now I've got 4 PCs that are currently being used as servers for various purposes, I'd like to conserve some space by rackmounting them, but I can't afford to purchase rackmount cases for them. My idea is to build my own rackmount cabinet with new materials, and retrofit the existing cases to make them rackmountable.

They all have micro-ATX motherboards and 2 of the 4 have passively cooled CPUs (older PCs I got for free from friends & co-workers). I figure I could get most of the stuff I'd need as used (60mm and 80mm fans for example) for cheap. The theme here is inexpensive. I have tools already to do virtually any type of work that I can think of for this project, aside from welding, which I won't be doing anyway as I want to be able to disassemble the cabinet to be able to move it.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with such a project and any tips you may have before I start.

Kamakazi

This would be quite the project. I agree that racks and rackmounts are ridiculously expensive and I would certainly be interested in what you come up with.

I don't see why if all the cases are for instance Mid-towers that are the same size why a simple racking mechanism couldn't be figured out. All you would really need is some angle iron riveted or bolted onto the front and back on the top and bottom which woudl then hook into the rack.

I would also suggest looking into used racks. Sometimes if you live near a college or you are good at hunting on ebay and craigslist you can find surplus stuff pretty cheap. Maybe even cheaper than buying all the materials yourself. The stuff you will need to make the rack, some sort of 90 degree angled steel, lots of bolts/screws/rivets and lots of other fiddely bits won't come cheap.

Shane1244

How about just a tall MDF shelf, with the shelves on ball-bearings (Like pullout keyboards)

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bobfig

check local creags list. i have looked at one in the past on there and there were like $25 for some that i found. after that make the custon shelves that hang off them.

EDIT here is a rack mod some one did to give you an idea on this. he bought the case tho
http://www.overclock.net/case-mod-wo...mount-mod.html

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cathode

That guy did an awesome job, now I'm even more inspired

Originally I was going to make a short (12-16U) rack that could be put on a desk like that, but after thinking about it for a bit I realized that I could kill two birds with one stone and build a 7' open (4-posts, no door/sides) rack that doubled as an adjustable shelving unit, since I need more space to put my junk anyway. I'd probably mount my equipment at the top and/or bottom and use the other space for 3-4 shelves with stuff on them.

EDIT: Getting order together on mcmaster, see attached image. Also, project has been changed a little - instead of 4 uprights there will be 6, to hold two columns of equipment/shelves.

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WarlordOne

I have seen people make their own rack mount cabinets from scratch. I think it was back when I was researching A/V racks for my home theater.

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cathode

Ok, just ordered the materials for the rack itself. Total came to $153.31 plus approx. $8-10 shipping.

Rack will be exactly 39" wide, 86" tall, and 28" deep. 1" on the top and bottom are reserved for the horizontal bracing, which leaves 84" of rackmount area, or 48U, in both sides for a total of 96U.

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zaccaglin

I hope you have the best of luck with this, if you need help with you U sizing and balancing, let me know, because i just got a 7' Hoffman Cabinet.


Also, can you let me know how you end up putting brackets on your cases? That's a good idea, it would work great for my Linux server and Firewall.

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The one and only Zaccaglin!

AM 7.26.09 MZ

cathode

I just got done disassembling a crappy old Ultra brand steel case which is about 16.25" x 17.5", and I'm gonna completely redo it into a 2U rackmount case. Basically using the two side panels as the top and bottom and then using dremel and other scraps of steel to create sides and front/back. I'll throw some pictures up of the disassembled parts, I can't start on the dremeling until tomorrow because I don't think my (probably sleeping) roommate would appreciate the noise of cutting steel.

cathode

I put up some pictures of the case which will undergo conversion from tower to 2U rackmount.

pictures here:
http://cid-fa836e406f3519ed.skydrive...Case%20Modding