Shroud for my radiator (pic)

hmale · 07-19-2002, 08:13 AM

I thought I would update you as to where I am with my project. Here is a shroud for my radiator:

hmale · 07-19-2002, 08:14 AM

Another view of the shroud:

hmale · 07-19-2002, 08:15 AM

Here we see the shroud covering the radiator:

hmale · 07-19-2002, 08:17 AM

Here is the radiator mounted in my case. The fans you see are 120mm each.

gmat · 07-19-2002, 08:33 AM

Wow. How did you get that shape ?

Another question, what is the copper pipe i see on the left on the 3rd photo ?

Very nice work, it's shaping up i see :-)

hmale · 07-19-2002, 08:49 AM

bonjour mon ami. Merci pour les commentaires gentils.

That shape is achieved by using a strip heater designed for use in plastic fabrication. A sheet of plastic (cast acrylic in this case) is laid across the heater. When the plastic is softened sufficiently (5 minutes to half an hour depending on thickness) it can be easily shaped across an object. In my case, once the plastic was softned, it was placed over a rod in order to achieve a uniform round shape.

The pipe you see is a lamp that sits on my desk...LOL

All my best to you!

gmat · 07-19-2002, 08:58 AM

De rien :-)

BTW how did U get the rear bracket (for expansion slots) specs ? Guesswork, or actual spec sheets ?
If you've got some technical drawings of a rear bracket i would be *very* interested... (currently designing a custom case in Pro/E)

MeltMan · 07-19-2002, 08:59 AM

Hmale, you are doing fantastic work. I really like what you have done. Is it easy to form the acrylic to your liking, or is it easy to goof up with? I've been wanting to make some clear components for my case but was unsure of how difficult it was to do.

Cheers on the fantastic custom case and fan shroud.

hmale · 07-19-2002, 09:17 AM

I wish I could take credit for fabricating the case, but that was made custom for me by a fabricator in Canada. Sorry gmat I can not help you on that one.

Meltman, I will take credit for the shroud. Working with plastic by all accounts is difficult if you do not have the proper tools and equipment. For example, in order to create the bends in my shroud a special heater was used. The heater I used costs upward of $2000.00. I am an engineer that has friends that allow me access to special equipment I need at times. I also leverage their expertise in different areas to assist me.

An alternative method for bending plastic would be to use a plastic welder, which in essence is a torch that will soften the plastic enough so that it can be bent. The problem with using that method would be obtaining uniformity of heat distribution throughout the surface area to be shaped (needed to ensure that warping is minimized). I am not a good enough technician to work plastics with bends that are predesigned unless I had the proper tools A little guidance helps too (alot in my case

.

Best of luck!

MeltMan · 07-19-2002, 09:30 AM

Ah, I see, Well then, maybe i could just cut the pieces and glue them very hard edged and geometrically instead of bending them.

hmale · 07-19-2002, 09:39 AM

That is what I would do melt. There are examples of extraordinary work using plexi and stright shapes. In fact, I have a couple of other small projects involving the use of plexi and that is the route I will go.

good luck!!

decodeddiesel · 07-19-2002, 10:04 AM

Looks real nice hmale, I remember using heat guns to mold 1/4" plexi in High School shop class, it does work well, but using the rod to achieve a good uniform bend is a good idea. It looks real clean and very professional.

hmale · 07-19-2002, 03:52 PM

thanks decode...appreciate the nice comments!

Jim · 07-19-2002, 09:55 PM

hmale,
I like that, a different approach. Nice workmanship BTW.
If I tried to bend plastic it would come out all crooked, or start on fire!

Jim

SCompRacer · 07-19-2002, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim
If I tried to bend plastic it would come out all crooked, or start on fire!
Jim

I hear you Jim! I tried bending a piece of plexi for my first reservoir. By the time I made the last bend, it was like a modern art sculpture, not a box. I just cut corners now, square ones.

That is nice work hmale!

Jim · 07-20-2002, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SCompRacer

I hear you Jim! I tried bending a piece of plexi for my first reservoir. By the time I made the last bend, it was like a modern art sculpture, not a box. I just cut corners now, square ones.

That is nice work hmale!

SC-
You didn't throw that out did you? Thats stuff (crap, LOL) sells for thousands!
Jim

hmale · 07-22-2002, 12:17 AM

Thanks for all the nice comments....I will have alot more to share by next week.

bigben2k · 07-22-2002, 02:17 PM

Surfing, going through threads...

If you're into bending, check this out

For $40, even I'd try it.

07-19-2002, 08:59 AM	#8
MeltMan Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: KS Posts: 374	Hmale, you are doing fantastic work. I really like what you have done. Is it easy to form the acrylic to your liking, or is it easy to goof up with? I've been wanting to make some clear components for my case but was unsure of how difficult it was to do. Cheers on the fantastic custom case and fan shroud. __________________ MeltMan Lurker Supreme!

07-19-2002, 09:30 AM	#10
MeltMan Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: KS Posts: 374	Ah, I see, Well then, maybe i could just cut the pieces and glue them very hard edged and geometrically instead of bending them. __________________ MeltMan Lurker Supreme!

07-19-2002, 10:04 AM	#12
decodeddiesel Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: classified Posts: 534	Looks real nice hmale, I remember using heat guns to mold 1/4" plexi in High School shop class, it does work well, but using the rod to achieve a good uniform bend is a good idea. It looks real clean and very professional. __________________ ...i hurt... do me a favor, disconect me... they can re-work me but i'll never be top of the line again ...i'd rather be nothing...

07-22-2002, 02:17 PM	#18
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Surfing, going through threads... If you're into bending, check this out For $40, even I'd try it. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

07-19-2002, 08:33 AM	#5
gmat Thermophile Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: France Posts: 1,221	Wow. How did you get that shape ? Another question, what is the copper pipe i see on the left on the 3rd photo ? Very nice work, it's shaping up i see :-)

07-19-2002, 08:49 AM	#6
hmale Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: MIami, Florida Posts: 169	bonjour mon ami. Merci pour les commentaires gentils. That shape is achieved by using a strip heater designed for use in plastic fabrication. A sheet of plastic (cast acrylic in this case) is laid across the heater. When the plastic is softened sufficiently (5 minutes to half an hour depending on thickness) it can be easily shaped across an object. In my case, once the plastic was softned, it was placed over a rod in order to achieve a uniform round shape. The pipe you see is a lamp that sits on my desk...LOL All my best to you!

07-19-2002, 08:58 AM	#7
gmat Thermophile Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: France Posts: 1,221	De rien :-) BTW how did U get the rear bracket (for expansion slots) specs ? Guesswork, or actual spec sheets ? If you've got some technical drawings of a rear bracket i would be very interested... (currently designing a custom case in Pro/E)

07-19-2002, 09:17 AM	#9
hmale Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: MIami, Florida Posts: 169	I wish I could take credit for fabricating the case, but that was made custom for me by a fabricator in Canada. Sorry gmat I can not help you on that one. Meltman, I will take credit for the shroud. Working with plastic by all accounts is difficult if you do not have the proper tools and equipment. For example, in order to create the bends in my shroud a special heater was used. The heater I used costs upward of $2000.00. I am an engineer that has friends that allow me access to special equipment I need at times. I also leverage their expertise in different areas to assist me. An alternative method for bending plastic would be to use a plastic welder, which in essence is a torch that will soften the plastic enough so that it can be bent. The problem with using that method would be obtaining uniformity of heat distribution throughout the surface area to be shaped (needed to ensure that warping is minimized). I am not a good enough technician to work plastics with bends that are predesigned unless I had the proper tools A little guidance helps too (alot in my case . Best of luck!

07-19-2002, 09:39 AM	#11
hmale Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: MIami, Florida Posts: 169	That is what I would do melt. There are examples of extraordinary work using plexi and stright shapes. In fact, I have a couple of other small projects involving the use of plexi and that is the route I will go. good luck!!

07-19-2002, 03:52 PM	#13
hmale Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: MIami, Florida Posts: 169	thanks decode...appreciate the nice comments!

07-19-2002, 09:55 PM	#14
Jim Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 389	hmale, I like that, a different approach. Nice workmanship BTW. If I tried to bend plastic it would come out all crooked, or start on fire! Jim

07-22-2002, 12:17 AM	#17
hmale Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: MIami, Florida Posts: 169	Thanks for all the nice comments....I will have alot more to share by next week.

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