Project: FTS-H20 (Floating Tech Station)

[Deton]

Few years back I've built a tech station based on HSPC Tech Station design. It works great for its purpose but wasn't suitable for me to use with water cooling gears testing. I've stopped using it and just use the actual PC case and sometimes it's very pain in the sun don't shine for me to test the WC gears.

Today, I've decided to build a new unit for more fits with water cooling setup rig. This is will be my first prototype unit. I'll test, abuse it to find out its flaw for future revise version.

Objective: Afforable, light weight and functional design for quick water cooling components swap.

Phase I
Design - I have no blueprint for this design but just few sketches. I have serveral designs are still in my head but this design I've chosed to build.

Phase II
Building - I'm not going to post step-by-step of the build, it will be too long and borring, IMO.

Here it is.

The material is 99% of 1/2" sheet of plywood was use instead of 3/4" one due to light weight is the main goal here. The test bench is modular designed consistent of three parts; upper deck, lower deck and support legers.




The Upper deck is designed to have cable and tubing management holes, and CPU backplate cut-out. The deck's top surface is wide enough to support up to dual 120mm fans or one slim profile 240mm or 360mm radiator and a triple can be installed under the back of the deck. Overall you can install up to three triple rads.

Also, it has a hidden HDD and SSD holders and build-in 5.25" bay for fan controller. Since this station solely use for two loops water cooling setup therefore I need to install a fan controller. The deck is also accommodate power and reset switches and LED light. PCI-E support bracket is made out of alumninum and standard 5mm brass standoffs are used for the motherboard.

The Lower deck surface is large enough to accommodate a big thick triple radiator, multiple pumps, reservoirs and an oversize PSU. The deck has build-in 5.25" bay for DVD drive or can be use for other 5.25" devices. As you see here, I don't use any hardware mounting bracket or rail for one reason. No obstruction for quick componment swapping.



I decided to use these push momentary switches for only one reason "affordable" and they look more tecky than the ordinary case push button. I also pulled out some case wires from an old case. I'll use these wires for its 2-pin plug.


Phase III
Colour - I have a colour picked out for this station but let's hear your choices and ideas.

[Deton]

reservered

[Deton]

reservered 2

[Skyguy]

Awesome stuff!!

As for colour....black is sexy but won't photograph well with parts installed, everything will be too dark, especially with rads being black as well. And since your background is white, I'd go with something else. If you want to be conservative, go with silver. If you want to be BOLD then you know what would look great?


RED.



Candy Apple Red.



'nuff said.

[Deton]

Yeah you are right about the colours;

Black will buries all the components when installed plus it's so common with most case nowaday.

Sliver...if I can only get metalic silver but I don't think it will shown up good with wood, not sure thought cause never done it before.

Red, thought about it. I was thinking of Ferrari red with black or Fibre carbon as accent.

[Skyguy]

Oooooh, HAWT. I like it.

[smduff]

Hot Pink LMFAO... I say Red as well not metallic though, flat but high gloss.

[Steve]

Very cool Deton! Thanks for sharing this project. I'm anxious to follow your progress.

I'd go for the Ferrari Red or Candy Red.

[Deton]

why I knew RED is the first choice

It's look like I have to build few more of this table to do colour test huh.

If you using red then I would go BLACK on RED or Fibre Carbon (graphics sheet wrap) on RED.
I think I will wrap the deck's edges with Fibre Carbon, deck surfaces are RED then the two support legs are BLACK. This will give you the illussion of it floating in the mid air.

However, dont' forget my main goal....affordable build.

[4hams]

Why not use the colors schemes used in the members signatures banners and forum banners?

[Deton]

oh...blue&white and orange hey.....a little bling ain't we?

[Deton]

I have this project on the backburner cooking slowly because I gotta trying to get the mini GPU blocks review done.

In the mean time I'm intertaining you with my Radiator Grills, the prototype I made it in the summer.

[Doctor_Death]

Good idea Deton, the red works, maybe add black highlights, what type of paint are you planning on using for the plywood ?

[bullydog]

Wow!!! great stuff deton! I'm so gonna watch this worklog. Color wise i think metallic black paint with some sliver flakes would look sweet.
This is gonna be interesting! i didnt know that you were such a handy person when i comes to crafting wood!

[Doctor_Death]

Deton handy at everything Bully, you should know that by now lol

[Deton]

Thanks guys...I wish I have a CNC machine thought , I was thinking to build one.

Regarding about paint, I haven't find the right paint or colour yet. I have a little issue with painting enviroment because my garage is not heated (winter here), therefore all the painting have to be inside the house. So can spray paint is no no, brush on latex paint is the next option but haven't find the right colour yet. And the third option is stain.