Mini-ITX Computer Case

thingiverse

This project, the culmination of 9 months worth of work in both design and development for my senior high school project, showcases a remarkable fusion of creativity and technical expertise. Starting from scratch, I began by experimenting with various designs before stumbling upon a similar concept on an online forum (http://www.overclock.net/t/1537934/scratch-build-node-3d-printed-case). I am grateful to the creator of that idea for providing me with the inspiration needed to shape my design. However, every aspect of the model and print was meticulously crafted by myself using a Makerbot replicator 1 and fusion 360. As it stands now, I have no reservations about the design, as it perfectly complements my current PC setup (image above). The list of required parts and step-by-step instructions to complete the project is provided below, making it relatively straightforward at this point. Please note that I will be continuously updating this information for the next week or so. Fans Mounting: Four 120 mm fans are needed for the top mount, along with a single 80mm fan for the rear panel. Heat Inserts for Holes: McMaster-Carr (https://www.mcmaster.com/#93365a154/=16gfb0a) offers an excellent solution that can be easily installed using a soldering iron. Screws for Heat Inserts: These can be found on McMaster-Carr (https://www.mcmaster.com/#90604a263/=16gfb8t). Motherboard Type: A Mini-ITX motherboard is required to power this system. Power Supply Type: An ATX (Full Sized) power supply is necessary to meet the system's demands. Storage Options: Two SSDs can be mounted on the front panel, while a single hard drive can be installed in the back, secured using glue attached to the motherboard tray. I/O: A 3.5-2 USB 3.0 port hub (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-2-USB-3-0-Port-HUB-Type-C-HD-Audio-PC-Floppy-Expansion-Front-Panel-Rack-/371589417580?hash=item5684748a6c) is recommended, although it was ultimately not used. Instead, the I/O was attached to the motherboard tray using screws. Side Panels: PDF files are available for laser cutting the side panels, which can be crafted from birch wood and a sheet of acrylic for the window. LED Strips: The Satechi Remote Control Computer LED Strip (https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Remote-Control-Computer-ST-CLEDLS/dp/B00QAX8YPY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1487717082&sr=8-5&keywords=computer+led+strips) was used to create a visually stunning effect. The strips were mounted using random pieces of wood from the cutting process and super glue. UPDATE: The PDFs, as well as their .step counterparts for the laser cut side panels, have been posted online. I intentionally left the front panel blank to allow users to add their own custom design with minimal effort.