Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff

Building a compact (full) ATX case

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Renate:
A bit of progress.
I've transferred to the new case.
I'm still waiting for the right angle PCIE adapter. (It's in the country now, just not in my hands.)
I can't finish the back panel until then.
I have a 120 mm fan for the top front left corner, it will mount on the top cover.
I like the pushbuttons, https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/e-switch/PV6F240SS-331/EG4731-ND/2116210

Nominal Animal:
Darnit, missed this thread somehow.  >:(

I've always started with the back plane from an existing chassis, as they usually have the threaded standoffs or threaded holes for those already at correct locations, and often you can reuse the foil panel also (around the back connectors).

If you have any curved or odd-shaped holes to cut, use a sheet metal nibbler.  (I've had to hand-file the outer edges of my el-cheapo hand nibbler, to avoid marring aluminium surfaces with dark lines.  Taping the sheet with plastic adhesive can help also.)  For holes, a step drill is indispensable.

My next enclosure will have the MB well centered, so that the back connectors are about 8cm recessed into the enclosure, with a two-part soft foam barrier as "lips" around the recess.  It'll help with better airflow control (since I want it to be powerful but silent), and I think having the wires poke out between two foam barriers looks nicer too.

Renate:
Yeah, I used to have a nibbler but at some point it broke and I never got another one.
Starting from scratch is not bad. I did the layout in CAD, printed it and used it for the board standoff holes.
I only have one expansion board.
One of the worst design decisions on the ATX was to have "L" brackets on expansion boards.
If you do that then you have to have a step in the case.
I've already flattened the bracket for my video board, it will mount flush with the back panel with a screw on either end.
I haven't decided whether I will paint this black as originally planned.

Renate:
I finally spent the day and did the rear panel.
I still have to do the cutout for the horizontal video board.
Fortunately one of the six View Ports peeks over the top when the board is vertical (not shown).

Nominal Animal:
How difficult was it to get the foil panel rectangular hole placed exactly right?

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