Project: PrometheusCu

In anticipation of this new generous, unprovoked, donation. I've started making the necessary modifications to the Pico-ITX heatsink.
Modifications that will allow me to mount the waterblock/pump from the Aquagave Viva unit to the Pico-ITX board.

This is Part-1 and it is still unacceptably rough. when its finished the edges will be square and it'll sport a mirror shine.

Here is what I started with:


Then after a couple hours of Dremel grinding followed by hand filing I came up with this:

Bottom:


Here you can see the amount of material that needed to be removed, because Via had a recessed spot in the middle of the three screw holes where the fan sat. So I had to bring down the whole surface to be flush.

Another small update for you all.

I just picked up a dozen BlinkM I2C contolled RGB LEDs - "BlinkM uses a high quality, high power RGB LED and a small AVR microcontroller to allow a user to digitally control an RGB LED over a simple I2C interface"


100 white 3mm LEDs, 100 resistors and 100 Chrome Holders to be copper plated.


and with these comes a USB Arduino Control Board that will allow me to write a control program for the lighting inside the case. I'll have the RGB LEDs change from blue to red depending on the water temperature. The other 100 white LEDs will slowly/randomly fade in and out (Mac style) when they are on.


Also a dozen fiendishly overpriced Countersink Allen Screws made of copper:



More coming soon - Thanks for reading.

Arduino in a case mod?! sweet

looking forward to see how this turns out

This has to be one of the more intense mods iv seen on these forums.....ill be watching for updates

@stupoop - Thanks man. Arduino looks to be very promising, although I only have a small amount of 'hobby' experience with the language it shouldn't be too tough to get it going.

@Krilikz - Thanks for that, stay tuned!

christ , this is phenomenal, i have sincerely enjoyed following and reading this amazing project man. GOD i cant wait to see this thing fired up

Pretty sick, thing looks like something you might find while wandering around in bioshock lol

@neoice - Thanks a lot man, I appreciate that. I can't wait to fire it up.

@xCrazySnowmanx - Thanks mate. Once it's done I'm sure you'll think otherwise - the final aesthetic won't at all be 'steampunk'.

Good LORD Langer...seriously one of the most promising and best planned mods I've seen in a long time...if not ever. The case mods alone would be sweet, but the additions of the firewall and 7" LCD system is just nuts...I really really look forward to seeing this progress.

Even though our systems have nothing in common, I thank you for giving me more inspiration to do a more professional job with my Shuttle mods I've got planned.

Hey Langer, you slipped off the first page. Any updates? This is shaping up to be an awesome project.

Hopefully there's updates coming soon, can't wait to see this thing move ahead some more.

Sorry for the lack of updates folks. I had to leave town unexpectedly for about 10-days.

I'm back now and progress has been made with my CNC parts regardless of my absence.

Tune in soon for it'll be a busy week.

Sounds great...can't wait to see what's up.

Hey guys, thanks for the kind responses and concerns.

Despite my hopes of coming back to a mailbox full of goodies, the only items that have arrived in my absence are the WiFi antennas, the 100x 3mm LEDs and the 100x LED mounts. I'll post some images of these later tonight.

Still en-route are:
30x 1"diameter x 3/4"tall copper rings.
Female serial plug
12xBlinkM RGB LEDs
Arduino Control Board
12x8oz cans of Krylon Premium Metallics Copper Brilliance Spray Paint
CoolerMaster Aquagate (for the PICO unit)
2.40mm Radiator
Copper Hex Screws
1250ft of custom designed and manufactured 18AWG ribbon wire
Mips RAM-Freezer 4 memory water block.

Yet to be shipped AquaCopmuter products:
aquaero 4.00 USB Fan-Controller
multiswitch USB 1.41
aquastream XT Temperatursensor 70 cm
Rotary elbow adapter G1/4
2x aquagraFX for GTX 280 (G200) G1/4
Durchflusssensor (FlowSensor) G1/4


I haven't yet had a chance to meet up with my machinist to see how the precision cut aluminum prototypes are coming. I've not yet even begun to manufacture anything in copper plate... this will be the last step. I want to make everything from aluminum first to ensure that all the fits are perfect; however my machinist has informed me that he has cut out several aluminum parts and that they are looking good.

Due to the hectic schedules of myself, my machinist, and my financial adviser (who wants me dead, I'm sure) coupled with MASSIVE shipping delays; I'm back to sitting around waiting for stuff to arrive.

Until I get my prototype aluminum pieces I cant start the lighting or wiring because I wont know the exact placing.

wow, great work so far, i can hardly wait for the next update!

havent read such a awesome worklog in a LONG time, I hope to see thing finished soon!! looking SUPER DUPER awesome!!!!

Super sick man!!!! cant wait to see the finished project.

@shadowlord - Thanks man, you and me both... I'm slowly developing a deep hatred for the postal system.

@chronic9 - Thanks man, I appreciate that. If everything goes according to plan it'll be mostly finished in the next couple weeks.

@formula409 - Thanks!

A small overdue update for you all.

Unfortunately my hands are still very much tied, due to many delays (mostly shipping), so progress has been minimal.

I have complete a number of little things this week however:
1- I have completed the lighting design.
2- I've modified and uploaded my verison of pfSense to my Alix board, so it's working nicely now.
3- I think I've completed my arduino lighting software, but I haven't yet got my arduino controller delivered so I don't know if it works as planned just yet.
4- I began designing my front end software that will control my watercooling and run on the from 7" touch screen.
5- I've also ordered a new keyboard, I love my apple slim keyboard but I was unable to find black key replacements for it so I've ordered the bluetooth version.
It looks to me that the new macbooks and the slim bluetooth keyboard use the same keys at least I hope so because new replacement keys were about $2.50 a piece, so I ordered a complete set of black keys for the keyboard. I'll then make new copper housing for it to replace the stock apple aluminum. In theory this should make for a very sexy black/copper keyboard.



Some of the items that have arrived in the mail since my last posting:
Some of my lighting accessories:


The 3mm LED housings that I will paint to look Copper Plated:


White 3mm LEDs:


Resistors that will let me run the LEDs from a 12volt source:


And an assembly overview of what the LED holders look like:


I also got my Laptop WIFI antennas, I will be using 2x antennas for each of the antenna outputs on the WiFi card.


Lastly, my 40.2mm radiator has arrived, so once the aquagate gets here I'll be able to assemble my Pico-ITX watercooling system.
This thing is so bloody tiny, sorry for the bad picture, but keep in mind it's only 40mm wide... too cool.

I used the mill and a frighteningly precarious claming technique to mill down the Pico's heat sink further



I decided to take some pics of my workshop, it's very dirty and the equipment is tired, but it all does the job well enough:

dropsaw

lathe

mill... strongarm style

enerpac press, and sandblaster

surface grinder


I forgot to take pics of the drillpress, but I assume you all know what those look like.

Here's the golden tool - 2.5axis router table



I decided to make an homage to Canadian modding out of some spare carbon panel I had laying around.


If the stars are aligned and my supplies arrive this week, expect HUGE progress over the next little while.

Thanks for reading, and tune in soon.

Wow at one point in time I wanted to attempt a mod this detailed and intense but I do not have the knowledge time or patience with something this involving. Good luck! I'll keep my eye on this for sure

Good lord, that is one amazing case mod. I wish I had the time for something like that.