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Taking a reg case and making it ROCK!

CyberDruid

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Its funny but it dosent matter what crazy thing I do to a mod.. Carbon Fiber, no wires, H20...When I go to Lans people really love the Lego one, it uses a silly VIA 1000 CPU but they dont care everyone thinks its the coolest. Some day I would love to rebuild it with a bit newer hardware.

Someday I bet you will ;)
 
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thanks I am getting some from them but NOOOOO they are out of hex mesh!
 
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Mark, I see you bend alum like it's nothing, but how would you get proper results?
I saw your little tutorial on bending Acrilyc/Plexi, so I think using some proper (wooden) clamping will do to prevent damaging.
Problem is my alum plate is rather thick (1-1.5mm) and has structure on one side. I think I'll make tear marks by just bending it. Would heating up help?
 

MKmods

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The panels I use are .032 to .060 thick.(similar to 1 to 1.5mm) I have a 36" metal brake now as well as a 18" bench model.
It is not a box brake so it can be a challenge doing several bends and for them I clamp blocks of hardwood and bent it like the plastic over the edge of my desk.
Heating may be a possibility but I have never tried it, I would be afraid of warping the metal.

see if you can track down one of these
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39103
 
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Well that was a quick one!
I think my biggest concern is the structure on the plate will tear or damage:


I also saw this pic:


And found out you put a slimline drive in there. I couldn't find a worklog though. Can you share with me how you fastened that drive? :D
 
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CyberDruid

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Not to hijack but I have found that you can heat the metal with a torch then let it cool and it will be annealed (softer) and almost too easy to bend. Heating it again all over and quenching it with wet rags or a bucket of water will harden it somewhat again.
 

MKmods

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Thanks CD for the tip.

Well that was a quick one!
I think my biggest concern is the structure on the plate will tear or damage:


I also saw this pic:


And found out you put a slimline drive in there. I couldn't find a worklog though. Can you share with me how you fastened that drive? :D
LOL because the hole in the faceplate was very snug all I needed to do was place a piece of Velcro on the top of the DVD drive and Velcro it to the alum plate.

One other thing about the alum bending, try it on a small (scrap ) piece first to see how it works.
 
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Velcro! That didn't even cross my mind! Brilliant solution :D
 
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And thanks again for the bending lesson, I just tried a small piece.
I totally forgot about the curve you bend in somehow :D so no damage at all to the structure.

We've got one of these in the shed, dunno what the english word is:

but that works like a charm! 90 degrees bends are a piece of cake!

Now I've got even more ways to work out the several bracket types I need.
 

MKmods

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bench top vise, and congrats.
 
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I'm sorry I just read through the metal bending conversation and I might of missed it but how do you got nice round bends? It seems like a vise would make them pointed
 
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I got a nice curvy bend... I guess the material will do that for you if you bend it nicely :)

Pointed bent metal = broken metal I guess.
 
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I got a nice curvy bend... I guess the material will do that for you if you bend it nicely :)

Pointed bent metal = broken metal I guess.

oh ok sweet, thanks
 

CyberDruid

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True...the material itself deteremines the radius of your curve up to a point. If you round the edge of a piece of scrap wood first and clamp the metal to that it will sort of follow the curve in the scrap.
 
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True...the material itself deteremines the radius of your curve up to a point. If you round the edge of a piece of scrap wood first and clamp the metal to that it will sort of follow the curve in the scrap.

right good thinking thanks for all these helpful tips :D
 
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