Trident - Case Mod Showcasing a Custom Made CPU waterblock a

[Hg80]

-A Case Modifaction Showcasing a Custom Made CPU waterblock and SSD/HDD Cooler-
About ME
I began my working life in a toolroom working with CNC mills and lathes where I stayed for 4 years.
I am a currently a computer aided design (CAD) Engineer, working with Solidworks and AlphaCAM. I not only design items but I also machine them using Computer aided manufacturing (CAM) using CNC mills. I have been in this role for several years and have a vast knowledge of these subjects, aswell as my love for for PC hardware and overclocking.

About the Project
I have been working at home on my own custom designed water blocks and cooling components for some time now, and wanted a platform on which to showcase my work, therefore i am modifiying a Lian Li PC-P50B to complement my custom cooling products, once machined.
Using my skills above I hope to complete the project within 4-5months but as i tie down a full-time job, this may alter slightly.
I will be using my current CPU and motherbaord in the new Case, as funds are tight.

The CPU Cooler
May i introduce Trident 001 A LGA775 CPU cooler (to fit my Q9450)


It features:
Flow Plate - which can be changed/altered to alter the flow through the CPU Block
Deep Flow Channel - ensuring liquid is closer to the heat source for optimum cooling
All Copper Design - to best disperse heat.

The Blown up Image shows the CPU Mounting bracket, Top Half, 2 O-rings, Flow Plate and botom half

I Have flow simulated the design using software within Solidworks and I have also been able to do heat transfer simulations again within solidworks to prove its capable of removing the heat from my CPU

The SSD/HDD Cooler
I will also be showcasing a custom cooler which is able to take and 2.5" SSD/HDD and retrofit it into a standard 3.5" Bay while providing a large heatsink to take heat away from the Drive and transfer it into the atmosphere.



The Case
Ok, so i have taken a Lian Li PC-P50B, as i like the sleek desgin and produced a mock up of how i want it to look (Here i can only apologise as my photoshop skills are rather poor)

I Have since redesigned the Front of the Case to look like


Sponsors
I am currently gathering Sponsors but bellow your find the current sponsors to this project and their contributions.


Thanks to Eddy at EK for sponsoring me all the watercooling Blocks required to cool my Nvidia 790i motherboar

[Hg80]

The Progress So Far

So I have received the Lian Li PC50B, but much to my surprise while it is an easy case to strip down, the top was too shallow to fit both fans a radiator, therefore my first job is to somehow increase the depth case by 30mm.
First i stripped the case down to its bar bones


Within B&Q i was able to find some 30mmx20mmx1.5mm Aluminium bar, which is ideal to make up the height in the case, however i was unsure how to attach it to the case

At work the next day, i was able to find some epoxy we use to bond chassies of sports cars together so i thought i would use that to bond the bar to the top of the case.
I cut the aluminium bar to size



24/08/09
I have taken the top inner part of the case into work to bond the bar in place, and bond small upstands behind the bar to allow me to drill and tap them allowing me to secure the Case lid in place.


Inner top part of Case


Inner top part of Case now cleaned up ready for bonding


bar and upstands bonded to Inner top part of Case, bonding agent has been cleaned from visible edges

Left for 24 hours to cure

25/08/09
Drilled and Tapped M3 Holes into now fully hardened Inner top, and assembled to Case to check result.




Waterblocks arrive From EK

27/08/09

The slotted DVD-Rom, 280mm radiator , Acrylic sheets and copper are now all on their way to me, meaning next weekend should be a big weekend in both the workshop on the CNCs and at home modifying and fitting parts to the Case.
I will update you further with pictures once the parts start to arrive.
Till then I will be detailing up the stainless steel parts (Mounting bracket, flow plate and front of case) to get laser cut

[oliverw92]

Very interesting. I like the design of that block. What kind of heat were you applying to the block during simulation?

[Hg80]

i was removing 95w during the simluation (the rating for the the CPU's TDP)

[Nitrix]

Looking like this is going to be a great project

Keep us updated!

[Hg80]

03/09/09

So the 280mm radiator , Acrylic sheets and copper are now here with me (see pics) and i have been tweaking the designs of my CPU cooler ready to manufacture in the coming weeks.


The Copper Blocks


The 280mm Radiator


The dark transparent acrylic sheet - to hide the LCD


I am still waiting on the Slotted DVD-rom but that should be with me any day now.

I have machined away a slot in the inner top panel of the case to allow the hose connections to come through from the radiator and into the case it self. I used my trusty dremel tool :dremel: to rough cut it the end result shown below.
I then went on to file the slot by hand, but as i done this at work i was unable to photo this stage :miffed:.






I am still trying to finalise the front design of the case, but now its nearing a conclusion.
I'm now looking at how i will mount the LCD display and how it will sit behind the dark transparent acrylic screen at the top of the case (as shown in original design).
I have found some CAD data of the LCD in question and currently i am mocking up a model to show it in place on the final case design, and to help solve how i will fit it.

As my photoshop skills are poor i am tempted to model the case out fully in solidworks, what do you think?

More to come soon
Hg

[Hg80]

Evening Folks,
I thought i would show you how far i have got this evening with the 3D Cad model of the Case



As you Can See it is incomplete, and is missing some key features for example;

• Side Panel Window
• LCD display (Note Dark transparent Acrylic that will hide LCD is shown, at top of Case)
• reservoir fluid level window
• Switches etc

However i need a break from the PC and i think i have made some good progress with the work done tonight.
I will upload the finished model once complete, but i hope you like what you see so far.

[Hg80]

Well i have been playing a bit this evening with the Case design and have settled for a white Outer Case with Black inners, see below

:: You can see the dark transparent Acrylic at top of Case that will hide the LCD
:: I have mocked up the side panel too, Its currently a clear window but is looking into a dark black abyss of an empty PC Case

Really just wanted to show the colour scheme to you folks and see what you think?

[Hg80]

Hay guys just an update, as life has been busy!
Case mod is still on the way, i will upload photos when i get chance.
The Copper Blocks have been the sticking point, the toolmaker i originally was using hasn’t got the capability to machine the parts, but has tried and broke several cutters in the process.
This has left me trying to source a place capable of producing my components at a reasonable price!
Fingers crossed I will have more to show you towards the end of the month.

[Hg80]

An Update - 15/11/09
Ok guys as promised an Update on the case Mod.
I have been working with the toolmaker to get the best design for my water blocks which has been taking up most of my spare time, but i am slowly progressing with the case its self.

As you can see from the below pictures i have used a bumper fill epoxy to fill and smooth out the joins and slight mismatch between the custom built aluminium edging (that increases the height of the case) and the case it's self, boy is this stuff dusty!
I can only apologise for the poor photo shots as i have no longer got a working digital camera and have had to revert to taking shots on my phone, as such doesn't give the work justice, but it shows that i am progressing with the mod slowly.
I will try and get a new camera from Santa for xmas and with a bit more free time i hope to get this mod finished before the first I-series lan next year, to showcase it there.





I am also looking at if i should get my side panel window lasered or CNC Machined, and will let you know which one i choose once i have made my decision,
Thanks again for sticking with my on this mod and hope not to disappoint!
Hg