[Build Log] Synthetic Anatomy

I hate useless noise as much as the next guy, so the grills had to go.


Cut.

Needed to get the water out of the case somehow. It had to be practical and look good at the same time. So I needed more holes in this case. That alu is thick, but there's also the steel frame within the FT02. So had to cut that out also.


QDC's installed. (that's dust not a scratch)

Mobo and water cooling parts installed.

I am no pro like Lutro, but damned if I didn't learn from his vids and guides. I sleeved everything in this build. The CCFL's, case wires (except the USB3, they are soldered on and the connector is too big) you name it. All sleeved with FTWPC sleeving 2.0

I even sleeved the tubes... yes the tubes. But not paracord sleeving, I had to give myself a real headache over this one. I wanted shiny sleeving. Every tube had to be prepped before installation. It was a real hassel to get all this done. My fingers were purple from the knurled fittings. Everything had to be first mounted to determine tube lenghts, then unassembled and sleeved. And the sleeving was a pain to cut. The Compression fitting rings had to be modded to fit the extra millimeter of metal sleeving. And worst of all was getting the compression fittings to actually screw in. In the end, it can be done with enough resolve!

So now to assemble fully fitted tubes. I had to assemble the tubing outside of the case and then install it in the case. The actual installation had steps to follow, else I'd be stuck with an unscrewed fitting in a very tight space. I also forgo the shortest possible tube routing law for this one; because why wouldn't I?!

Now to test for some leaks. Well while we do that, I might as well play around in the puter. What am I missing? Ohh right, the lighting!


Close up.

I tried for some money shots even if I'm not quite finished. I'm really liking the end results. Quiet happy actually.












Also changed the top grill. A lighter color will hide the cables hopefully.

Alright, basic tools and supplies.

- Dremel
- Glove(s) (with a plastic layering of sorts.)
- Tubing
- Steel Sleeving (TOS prohibits me from linking the e-bay where the item is sold I think. So google: STAINLESS STEEL OVERBRAID SLEEVING HOSE 19mm)
-ROTARY Compression fittings (as you'll need to install the tubes once they are complete)




First things first, you'll want to deremel the inside of this ring. That's without damaging the threads, I screwed two up in the whole fit. So if possible, get a couple extra fittings so you have extra rings.




Once you have those done, tape the end of your sleeving, dremel one end to have a straightcut ( (or as straight as possible). The tape on ALL cuts will help avoid a little fraying, and you want to avoid as much of it as possible for a nice job.




Once you've cut the end off, take your measurements for the next cut. The next step is to enter your tubing into the sleeving (gloves come in handy as of this step). Stretch the sleeving tight over the tube and tape it down. Painters tape works rather poorly, duck tape leaves residue (that metal sleeving warms up with you fiddling about with it, bad with duck tape) electric tape isn't that bad but you can't see where you have to cut. So I resorted to a marker for the cut line and painters tape, if anyone has some good tape they know will work speak up!




Once it's cut to perfection (lol) push the tubing in about 3" to 4".




Take the sleeve and your fitting. Hold the sleeving to compress it a little (round if possible as the steel can deform if you apply too much pressure). It'll make it easier to get the rings on the sleeving and avoid some unwanted fraying.




Put BOTH compression fittings over the sleeving, as once one is on you WILL NOT be able to get the other ring over the tubing without fraying the sleeving. If you have an end that might fray or caught in the compression rings threads, start screwing/unscrewing the ring over the sleeving. It'll get over it better without causing as much fraying.




Now you want to put the compression fitting into the tube, pull the sleeving over to the edge of the tube (not over the fittings threads!!). Bring the ring to the fitting and crew the fitting into the ring. That way the sleeving doesn't move and you can tighten it down.




See that glove, it avoids PURPLE fingers. Well it helps. That and the prickely end od the sleeving sometime startles you when it gets you good. Not fun.

The SLI bridge cover made by Dwood.  Awesome stuff right there!

Quick pic update. Got the SLI badge from Dwood, and needed to get a couple things done first. The acrylic and stainless were not in one piece so I had to glue them with epoxy, word of advice; don't use super glue with acrylic, it doesn't work.



Then used velcro to get the badge to stay on the SLI bridge. Now just got my LED's wired up and I'll sleeve them now. Afterwhich I'll take pictures tomorrow evening as final pics for the build.




Just some quick shots with the badge installed. I'm taking the money shots tomorrow. The rad is almost ready, just need to bleed it.

Didn't know which shot I liked best, I'll edit this for the final cut, I really like the way the tubing looked.



Clear image of the badge


As a whole with lights on.


P.S. I haven't dusted this rig in three months. The FT02 is just amazing!

Now to bleed a rad so I can take pics with the rig on... =P