Re: Stencil Cut Windows
actually, the red flourescent window was something I regretted
the way I had originally invisoned it was to have a red dye that actually looked good under UV light so that only the tubes/coolant would glow under the light... thus there would be a clear window and the lines of coolant would be 'blood veins'
sadly, the clear acrylic piece I ordered from PPCS was cracked... didn't bother with a RMA and just went ahead and started ordering from mcmaster-carr
now I only order from there! the acrylic I received was spectacular! I could literally roll the acrylic at a ~25* bend and it wouldn't crack or even stay that way, it would just flex back (normally acrylic would crack...) and it isn't flexible for some reason, yet it does flex under extreme pressure... crazy!
drilling is easy and causes no cracking and same with cutting!
I just actually ordered 10 pieces of 12" x 12" acrylic of various colors for my possible foray into a computer modding business which would fabricate case windows (custom stencil cut windows, hence the name of this thread [I accidentally name the wrong threads the wrong titles lol]) by hand for a cheaper price then those associated with major manufacturers
anyways... thanks for the great compliments! the blood splatter effect is very very simple, you should try it if you have a spare case or some sheet metal, you'll see anyone can do it!
all you have to do is to spray red spray paint into the circular cap for a few seconds, then you just fling the cap at the case (without letting go, just the motion) and the paint will hit and splatter like blood drops! its beautiful and I might even consider making a video because I received a lot of positive response about it on OCN and at first glance it might seem difficult
I really regret that I didn't put nearly as much stuff on the outside of the case as I had planned... originally the black window on the left panel was going to be engraved/etched... and the mesh was going to be backed with black acrylic (chain link fence-ish) and I was going to etch the right side red panel with a crosshair and a gun like a UT3 FPS point of view in game...
Not to mention I didn't finish off the cuts... I spent minimal time grinding and I let mistakes pass...
but anyways, in the future if I ever start a small home business, I'll definitely pay the utmost attention to quality... personally I find working on cases is way too big a project for me... so I think I'll stick with small parts... like etching, cutting and fabrication of various custom windows to order and to have them stocked on my site in various forms with options (different color panel backings to create color effects etc.)
wow... that was a long post
edit:
oh and about the design of the case itself: the airflow in the case is directed vertically, that is why I built those little struts on the bottom which lift the case up to provide better intake from the two 120mm fans on the bottom of the case (can be swapped for a radiator) and the two 120mm front and back fans are directed inwards, there is also the radiator which is on top with two 120mm fans pushing air straight up through the case.
I love how people always generalize and say that putting a double loop, let alone a single loop system in a midtower case is hard... this is a minitower (extended horizontally to fit the ATX board... the PSU location was moved to the front in this case and the airflow was reversed stock from the factory) and yet I could easily fit atleast 2 loops... maybe a third if I put a radbox on the back... and yet another if I mounted another radiator on the top with some shrouds...
