Maximum PC

Hey gang, Mnpctech is doing another mod project.

This time it's a bio-mechanical theme with the NZXT Khaos. I ordered this medical model skull as my starting point. Heres my Video Dissection of the NZXT Khaos




I ordered this medical model skull as my starting point




I contacted NZXT about getting another HD cage (shown here)


Heres the entire bay assembly removed from the chassis.




Everything will grow out from the skull, it's my starting point for everything morphing out. This is the housing from a small motor I found. I love the design. The skull will be hosting the system Power & Reset switches (22mm & 16mm lamptron vandal switches, w/orange leds) The mounting plate I made (below) attaches to the upper half of the skull.





I'll be implementing a lot of plastic wire loom, heres 1" loom inserted up the nose, HR GIGER style


Adding more mechanical details to the skull, 1/8" Black opaque acrylic will serve as skull plate


Holding over heat gun


After the acrylic is flexible, I can bend it to follow the curvature of it's forehead


8/32 socket head screws fasten on the skull plate

Is this a different mod than the BioMechanical mod you posted about in this thread?
http://www.maximumpc.com/forums/viewtop ... 6&start=20

It look very different already, the original doesn't have the acrylic band on the forehead for starters..

Yes, this is new and different project, much bigger this time

The new 120mm intakes are finished, cnc milled from 1-1/4" thick, 6061 aluminum. 6.5" O.D.

The machined aluminum 120mm intakes, with fresh matte black paint.. love it



whats this hole for?


Ohhh... it's for the ribbed plastic loom.

sweet. How much did the aluminum cost for those?

CNC. If not in house (and who has a Hurco CNC in the garage?) is about $45 an hour for a non-friend, pay material and give the plot to a friend with a case of beer. Just keep in mind that case of beer gets expensive if your buddy's endmill hits the table from a bad z-plot...or the vise.

The Aluminum stock can really be cheap surprisingly. Steel is the thing that's getting more expensive than gold. I bought a 20' section of DOM tubing that was over $300 when it was less than $100 3 years ago. A chunk of generic Aluminum isn't that bad. Start asking for other grades of alloy and you start talking bucks. A chunk for a fan duct isn't that bad though. It's just having the CNC around that makes the part.

I think that MNPC have their own CNC machine. They milled some acrylic for an Antec 300 mod a little while ago.

My friend at another forum was going to mill an aluminum shell for a custom built "laptop." I put quotes around the laptop, because it's over 3 inches thick, and it weighs about 30 pounds.

Anyways, he said that a block of Aluminum 16"x22"x4" costs $600.

That's a nice chunk of alloy though and is expected in my own mind. I bought less material for much much more for it's size. It's just odd living in a world where steel is actually expensive. Start them Pittsburgh/Cleveland foundries back up if this is the way it is.

Not to harp, but we see a price hike for both alloy and steel during China's building of Olympic buildings.

We own a HAAS 5 axis mill and lathe. This is how we make the billet case parts, ie handles, grills and feet we sell in our webstore.

So, Ive got 2 chieftec dragon carcuses, but both are missing the 5.25 plastic drive rail brackets. I planned to rig up the optical in the top to slide out from within scuplted top panel. I'll have to keep hunting or devise another bracket system.

Pre-fitting skull and intake covers.. The skull will be painted matte black, I'm still working on detailing the skull, so it will be awhile before I paint it.

Lookin' pretty cool so far.. should be interesting to see how this develops, since I don't have a clue where this is going yet!

Hell ya. The skull keeps having me think of "Eddie" though.

schweet.

Thanks guys!, once I finish sculpting more details on the skull, it will be painted and blend in more to the theme

I started with the skull today, adding mechanical aspects, like these vented and screw joints.

I will dremel details in these sculpted parts, 24 hrs after Magic Sculpt has fully cured

Small pan head machine screws




It only takes a few drops of water to smooth the surface of Magic Sculpt


Hex Nut with tooth washer doubles as port for plastic wire loom

double post

Dude, u double-posted, but nice work so far. Always liked your stuff, except for the Ghost Rider mod. I liked the movie more, and that doesn't go for much (I'm a big GR fan, btw). I did learn, however, from your videos and pix. Thx, and keep it up.

My apologies!

Back to the bench for this project today, Black Plastic loom in (1/4" and 1/2" diameter) will be embedded and intertwined throughout the bezel and top panel. The entire skull will be painted matte black

I love this painting, Giger's landshaft XIX

This is gonna be one freaky mod!