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WillCAD.org - The Beast - Custom PC Case

The Beast - Custom PC Case

My custom case, The Beast, built into a printer stand Front view of The Beast

Work Log

Dates:
Frames 01-02: 08-02-2003
Frames 03-05: 09-14-2003
Frames 06-07: 09-20-2003
Frames 19-21: 02-07-2004
Frames 22-23: 02-08-2004

Click any picture to enlarge it in a new window.

It began life as an ordinary computer, sitting next to an ordinary printer cart. But after several months, lots of elbow grease, plenty of internet research, and some creativity, the two have become one - The Beast!

The idea came to me one day when I was watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Crusher's desk had a computer panel built into it, and the setup, though fictional, looked very ergonomic and efficient. I looked over at my computer desk and began imagining ways to build the various parts of a typical PC into it.

My computer desk began life as a typical Sauder creation. It was a large, two-part fixture, with a 48-inch desk and a 24-inch printer cart, originally connected by a section or 45-degree shlving that turned the unit into a corner desk. The first change I made to it,

It was difficult. To build a PC into my desk, I would have had to split up the various components, making the wiring very complicated, and put them into enclosures either over or under the desktop. It was doable, and would have looked great, but it would have been a very difficult PC to work on, with several enclosures spread around the desk's structure. It also would have made putting windows into the enclosures much more difficult; the windows would have had to be in the desktop. I wouldn't have like that, because with all the time I spend using the desk, I would have scratched any windows up beyond all recognition in a few days.

Besides, my desk is always covered with junk, anyway.

After mulling it over for a few weeks, I hit upon the idea of building the computer into my printer cart instead of the desk. My printer cart, a simple Sauder fixture that came with my computer desk, has been

In the Beginning, there was a table...
Frame 1 The printer cart from the front before the project began.
Frame 2 The printer cart from the top before the project began.
Frame 3 Tabletop lowered 12" to create new space.
Frame 4 Salvaged parts from 3 Gateway Pentium 120 csaes.
Frame 5 Beginning aluminum tube frame.
And then there were Parts...
Frame 6 Painting the drive cages I salvaged from the Gateway cases.
Frame 7 Painting the drive cages I salvaged from the Gateway cases.
Frame 8 My custom-made 1/8" acrylic motherboard tray in place.
Frame 9 Mobo tray plus guides for the three drive cages.
Frame 10 Same as above viewed from the front.
Frame 11 Drive cage with 1/8" acrylic bottom. The cages were originally tack-welded to the Gateway cases and had no actual bottoms.
Frame 12 Drive cages test-fit in place.
Frame 13 Close-up of center drive cage test-fit in place.
And the parts came together with the wood...
Frame 14 The whole animal assembled for test-fit, with foamcore mock-ups of the front and back panels.
Frame 15 Top view of whole animal test-fit.
Frame 16 Side view of whole animal test-fit.
And then there were Lights...
Frame 17 Almost done. Added lighted fans and CCFL, drilled holes in bottom to route wires out of way, dualized PSUs, and covered the bottom with an aluminum sheet.
Frame 18 Same as above with flash.
But the Lights needed More Power...
Frame 19 Close-up of molex tap into main leads of PSU1. The leads from PSU2 plug into the molex to connect both PSUs together so they will both come on when you press the main power button.
Frame 20 Close-up of the molex leads on PSU2 to connect it to PSU1.
Frame 21 All the wires I routed beneath the case to hide them.
And then there was Clarity...
Frame 22 Front view with new acrylic front and project board back panels. Lights up pretty, don't it?
Frame 23 Same as above with flash on to show details. Note new switch panel on right and new case badge on left.
Frame 24 My tiny little small mini workbench. It's not real big.
And then it was done...
Frame 25 .
Frame 26 .
Frame 27 .


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Last Revision: 2005-10-08