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Hardware

Impressive Homemade Aluminum Cube Case 450

Posted by CmdrTaco from the computers-don't-have-to-be-ugly dept.
baschie writes "A Belgian guy, Dennis Vieren, probably designed and built the most beautiful aluminium case ever, called project "Frozen". He designed his case from the ground up using CAD software, and built it from plates of 3mm aluminium and 3 mm acrylic glass. It cost him about 300/400 euro, and took him about 250 hours to build."
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Impressive Homemade Aluminum Cube Case More

Impressive Homemade Aluminum Cube Case

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  • page down? (Score:1, Informative)

    by Jaster Mareel ( 460428 )
    Has the slashdot effect taken this page down? I can't seem to reach it. I do have to say though that 250 hours of working on a case is amazing. I'd love to see it.

    "something witty"

    • Re:page down? (Score:2, Informative)

      by MattWeth ( 228379 )
      MS specific problem (DNS reslover??):
      This link works in I.E.:
      http://case.1be.be/

      Matt
      • Hey, someone mod parent up. It's the only link I see anywhere that actually works and shows pictures, at least to us using IE (gack...).

        Very cool case! If cases like this where manufactured instead of custom made, I'd buy one.

  • dead link (Score:1, Offtopic)

    by glenebob ( 414078 )
    i'm sure it's all very interesting, but i wouldn't know...

    404 - File not found

    • Re:dead link (Score:3, Funny)

      by Zeinfeld ( 263942 )
      404 - File not found

      At least you are not an Enron employee:

      401K - Unauthorized - you are not authorized to withdraw your pension until the executives have sold their shares

  • Server Problems! (Score:2, Informative)

    by hank ( 294 )
    It appears the /casemod subdirectory was removed from his webserver. Here's the Google cached version:

    http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:q2MWTRCyeksC: www.vieren.be/casemod/+&hl=en [google.com]

  • /.-ing commencing.... (Score:5, Funny)

    by nihilist_1137 ( 536663 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @09:36PM (#3081776) Homepage
    1 aluminium case : few hundred euros
    cad software : $100
    self-assembly : free

    Posting 3 256kb pictures in a slashdot link : priceless
  • It makes me feel like I'm living in the future.

    Then again, so does bubble wrap.

    "'Moon Pies'? What a time to be alive."
    --Jasper

  • Sexy (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Skyshadow ( 508 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @09:41PM (#3081810) Homepage
    Now *that's* one sexy cube.

    I'm telling you: there's a huge market out there for designer computers. If you could put out machines that weren't beige boxes but which instead were hip, you'd find a huge market with the 20-somethings.

    Apple made a run at this, and look how successful they were without running the mainstream Wintel setup.

    People already routinely pay 500% more than they need to for clothes (ck), home furnishings (Pottery Barn), even sporting goods just because of the brand name and for the chance to be fashionable. I can't see why computers should be any different. Pair this thing with a big flat-screen, a top-notch audio system and other similarly hip appointments, do some serious marketing, maybe brand it with known designer and I gaurantee you could sell these things for $5k each.

    • Pair this thing with ... a top-notch audio system

      Remembering to make the case itself a subwoofer?

      Dave

    • Check out the one I built (Score:4, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @10:50PM (#3082101)
      I use this case [exonome.com] at my job on Wall Street where I'm a derivatives trader. The case is both aesthetically pleasing and functional for my work.

    • Re:Sexy (Score:3, Funny)

      by sean23007 ( 143364 )
      But if companies were to do this, they might alienate the geeks. If computers suddenly became "hip" for everyone, and the average computing Joe had an uber-mod case, what would we at Slashdot do? That's right, we'd all go back to the ugliest beige boxes we can find, and we'd disconnect the LEDs, and we'd unplug every speaker except the one on the inside that beeps when something goes wrong.

      We don't buy CK because we can wear clothes without the 5x surcharge. We don't buy home furnishings from Pottery Barn because we can buy adequate furnishings elsewhere for much less money, we avoid things that are expensive for the sake of being popular (or vice versa), so would we then avoid the case-mod?

      Just a suggestion.

    • Re:Sexy (Score:4, Funny)

      by dimator ( 71399 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @11:39PM (#3082260) Homepage Journal
      People already routinely pay 500% more than they need to for clothes (ck)

      Hrm... I might spend 500% more, but that means I'm 500% cooler than you!

    • it's about pleasant design... useful things do not need to be ugly... or unpleasant to touch...

  • Well done (Score:2, Interesting)

    by LiquidPC ( 306414 )
    Really nice looking. Appears kind of elaborate to get into though, as far as I can tell from the photos. I especially like the logos on the side. Too bad it'll be slashdotted soon with the amount of images on the page.

  • Wow I'm impressed! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Daath ( 225404 ) <(kd.redoc) (ta) (pl)> on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @09:44PM (#3081828) Homepage Journal
    The thing is truly a beautiful piece of work! I just hope for him that the light can be turned off ;) Also it appears immensely big! I mean, build a cube out of 6 full size ATX mainboards - it's bigger than that!
    I couldn't fit that where my computer is now. And I'm pretty sure my girlfriend wouldn't let me if I could :) hehe

  • interference problems (Score:3, Interesting)

    by crystalplague ( 547876 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @09:51PM (#3081855)
    I wonder if the Al shields EMF's enought that they don't interfere with anything like phones, tvs, etc.

    • Re:interference problems (Score:5, Insightful)

      by psavo ( 162634 ) <psavo@iki.fi> on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @09:56PM (#3081884) Homepage
      Al is metal, it conducts electricity. That's enough to make Faraday cage work.
      I really don't think that materials that are used in today's cases are chosen for their emf-shielding abilities, but because of their low price.
    • The big plexiglass window in the top probably does not. It's better than an all plexiglass case, but people really shouldn't leave unshielded holes in their computers.

  • NeXT-style cube cases (Score:2, Interesting)

    by radoni ( 267396 )
    I find the cube to be more attractive then a bulking beige box. Thinking back to when the Apple G4 Cube was introduced, and how many of my friends said they liked the design, why is it that the consumer market is still dominated by tower-type system housings? What makes Aluminium easier to machine than say, Magnesium or Steel? How marketable are hobbyist case designs to larger consumer-market case retailers/manufacturers?

    • Re:NeXT-style cube cases (Score:2, Informative)

      by caferace ( 442 )
      What makes Aluminium easier to machine than say, Magnesium or Steel?

      Hmmm. You don't seem to know much about metal, do you? Aluminum is a rather "soft" metal, therefore it doesn't require rather expensive machine tools to machine. If one wanted to (and had a decent set of hand or low-end power tools) you could ostensibly make this at home in your garage. Of course, the laser-cutting device might not fit unless you had a large garage.

      Magnesium and Steel, on the other hand require some serious hardware. Plus, steel is rather heavy, although a rusted out case might look pretty cool.

      • Plus, steel is rather heavy, although a rusted out case might look pretty cool

        Hey, how about neo-industrial art cases made from rusted out stuff from a junkyard. You could have a case that's cut from the gas tank of a 82 Nova. Or how about mounting that dual proccy Athlon inside the exposed radiator of a VW Bus? Or mounted in an old upright freezer, plenty of cooling there.

        Or how's this, mount the guts under your office chair, and put dual lcd displays on each arm with a split chorded keyboard, now THAT would be sweeeet. Better provide plenty of cooling though, or put some insulation in your jeans, or just sit around reading /. all day and build up your own insulation.

        • Re:NeXT-style cube cases (Score:3, Informative)

          by boinger ( 4618 )
          Uh. VW Buses don't have radiators. Nor do Bugs. Nor do Ghias. Nor to Fastbacks, Squarebacks, Notchbacks, Things, Super Beetles, Type 4s, Schwimmenwagens, or Kubelwagens.

          And in case it comes up, nor do older Porsches (356s, 914s, older 911s, etc).

  • Case mod mod (Score:4, Funny)

    by Nathdot ( 465087 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @09:53PM (#3081872)
    I mean sure that thing is beautiful and all, but its also fucking gigantic.

    So why not utilise the extra space? Install some sort of refrigeration system -- very useful should you ever choose to overclock -- and turn it into the worlds first PC-case/Bar fridge.

    You think it's a thing of beauty now, imagine reaching into it and pulling out a brewski, without getting up from your Quake session!

    Awesome!

    :)
    • Mmm ... /dev/beer
    • the worlds first PC-case/Bar fridge.

      Dude, it's a little late for that. It's been a while since /. ran the story (look it up yourself) but one of the best is VAXBar [arizona.edu]

      Someday i hope to get back to the network-controlled drink mixing machine (yes it will have /dev/vodka) but that's on the back burner for a bit.

      On the more serious side, i think if you did want to mix computing and beverages, you'd do better using the heat from your cpu for keeping your coffee warm, not putting extra load on your cooling system (and god forbid warming up your beer when you run a big job)

  • Some decent work... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by danamania ( 540950 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @09:57PM (#3081892)
    It's nice to see 'case mods' reach a point where they're more than a simple light or hole in the case.

    Take a look at the modifications that extreme custom car builders do to their transport, not out of any practical reason, but for the love of building something with the most extreme quality. With imagination and hard work you can inject a LOT of style into your PC. I'd like to see systems with some insane 'tidying'... the auto customisers hidden wiring tricks, colour coded everything, even components laid out in an aesthetic manner. Not for practicality, but just -because-

    If that's not your thing however - good for you. Everyone has a little excess (read: pointless but pretty) style in their life. Like the friend of mine who derides Mac cases for their 'prettiness' and claims function means all the most to her, but drives a more expensive bespoilered sporty looking car with no more performance than an average one.

    • Like the friend of mine who derides Mac cases for their 'prettiness' and claims function means all the most to her, but drives a more expensive bespoilered sporty looking car with no more performance than an average one.

      If your friend drove a computer around town, perhaps she would be interested in a Mac?
    • I'd like to see systems with some insane 'tidying'...

      Woohoo! Extreme case cleaning!
    • I misread it as, "aluminum can case". Well, why not? People live in bear can houses, and I've got can shelves. Crush space is one way to make something rugged. Stop me now! Someone stop me please....

  • Indeed cool (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Compuser ( 14899 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @10:10PM (#3081950)
    This case is indeed looks good except that
    beige face plates on cd-rom and the like
    look out of place. What kind of air does this
    case move?

  • Probably? (Score:2, Insightful)

    by ari_j ( 90255 )
    ...Dennis Veiren probably designed and built the most beautiful aluminium case ever...

    Is he claiming the credit, or is there a general consensus that he is the mostly builder? And who's calling this the most beautiful case ever?

  • Best case mod site known to man... (Score:5, Informative)

    by rootedgimp ( 523254 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @10:23PM (#3082010)
    To VIEW moded cases, anyway.
    http://pcdb.overclockers.com.au/ (over 3000 cases).

    Best place I've found to buy parts to mod
    your case would be www.pcmods.com
  • Beige bezels on the drives? What a cheap-ass slacker! ;-)

  • Speaking of cubes (Score:3, Informative)

    by Patrick Cable II ( 521813 ) <pc@@@pcable...net> on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @10:50PM (#3082096) Homepage
    Wow. That is pretty cool. Speaking of cube computers thoguh, i found some other interesting designs.. check out www.soldam.com [soldam.com] for these really nice small looking cubes... Note the price is in yen though, use this [xe.net] to convert.

    ..pcable
  • Where can you buy this stuff in the US for a reasonable price?

    • Re:Sheet aluminum? (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Calle Ballz ( 238584 )
      any local hardware store sells the stuff for heavy duty duct work. Some stores will even cut it for you and give you the exact sizes you need. You'll have to do your own dremel work though.

    • One of the best places for all things mechanical - sheet metal, aluminum, brackets, fasteners - is McMaster-Carr. At mcmaster.com their entire catalog is online (don't even _try_ to get a paper copy) and the 'Raw Materials' section will let you sort in a myriad of different ways. Add to that incredible 1-DAY shipping, at STANDARD UPS COST, and you see why these guys are on every engineering firm's Christmas card list.

  • There's Intelligent Life After All (Score:3, Funny)

    by Spencerian ( 465343 ) on Wednesday February 27, 2002 @11:22PM (#3082214) Homepage Journal
    Get that man on Sony's computer design staff, or have him make these things on the side.

    I say Sony because:
    1) Apple already has a great designer, Jonathon Ive
    2) Michael Dell wouldn't know a good case design if it appeared as a cow with a black turtleneck shirt and spoke to him--"Dude, your cases SUCK...!!!"
    3) Gateway couldn't afford to do this change
    4) HP and Compaq are too wrapped up in their mutual admiration society
    5) Sony understands design is important, even for PC boxes

    As a preferred Macintosh user, this PC case is the most ingenious design I've seen. Nice work. Where I can get one to replace the POS with the Athlon I just assembled?
    --
  • .. or does it just look like a rather oddly designed overhead projector?

    OHP's, I'm sad to say, are not my idea of the pinnacle of design, no matter how many neon lights you fit in it :)

    Oh, and it has one of those awful doors who's only purpose in life is to slow you down when you're trying to juggle CD's.
  • I just wish he'd posted a model of his design for us all to use :)

    *Starts dreaming up a nice little logo for the side of his case*

  • Antec's Casemod contest (Score:3, Interesting)

    by ahaning ( 108463 ) on Thursday February 28, 2002 @12:10AM (#3082349) Homepage Journal
    This guy might want to contact Antec-Europe about their Casemod Contest [antec-europe.com]. His box might actually fit in the "Others" category...

    Minimalist: Minor mod, extra fan or handle
    Artist: Typically not cutting the case, instead the case becomes a canvas
    Exhibitionist: Windows, showing the guts of the system
    Decorator: Matches case to coordinate with a room/desk
    Sponsor: Case with stickers, logos, etc
    Others: If your case doesn't match the above

  • Mirror link (Score:4, Informative)

    by colindiz ( 162137 ) on Thursday February 28, 2002 @12:29AM (#3082414)
    Well, hell, I posted this as an AC, but wtf, a score of 0? Craptacular.

    Dennis Vieren has moved the pictures of the case to: http://case.1be.be/ [1be.be].

    Go forth and /., as the moron hasn't fixed the size issues.
  • I looks like he forgot to cut in a nice little indentation for the AMD case badge.
  • Here is a shoebox [soldam.co.jp] sized one for about $300 etc. With mb and powersupply. Here for the table case [soldam.co.jp]. etc [soldam.co.jp]. (*warning* Japanese)
  • While we're on the subject.

    Standard m/board sizes only though FlexATX etc. Most of the ones I've seen so far aren't really all that different from standard ATX form factor. The SV24 would be nice but for the non standard motherboard.

  • Nuts (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Bazman ( 4849 ) on Thursday February 28, 2002 @07:08AM (#3083264) Journal
    Shame the nice lines are spoilt by the four nuts at the top. I think they detract from the appearance of the box. Perhaps he could have countersunk some screws in there and covered them with something....

    Baz

  • Heh heh, Belgians taking over /. (Score:4, Funny)

    by tyl ( 520631 ) on Thursday February 28, 2002 @08:19AM (#3083395) Homepage
    This is the second story in row that involves Belgium (the Jeremiah comic strip was created by a Belgian dude).

    Next time we'll go for a hat trick. Heute Slashdot, Morgen das Sonnensystem...

  • I hope he filed a design patent. This is probably one of those rare cases that deserves one.
  • Rounded cables and cable wraps - almost all case-mods have those. Helps airflow for one. Also give you a chance to use color.

    That fan in front for the power supply makes me wonder about airflow problems. Eg do both blow out/opposite/in? I also think the top fan should be bigger to compensate for the two fans on the bottom pushing air in.

    Interesting case design thou. I wonder if you can build one that can be made out of only flat pieces.

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