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Impressive Homemade Aluminum Cube Case

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the computers-don't-have-to-be-ugly dept.

baschie writes "A Belgian guy, Dennis Vieren, probably designed and built the most beautiful aluminium case ever, called project "Frozen". He designed his case from the ground up using CAD software, and built it from plates of 3mm aluminium and 3 mm acrylic glass. It cost him about 300/400 euro, and took him about 250 hours to build."

38 of 449 comments (clear)

  1. /.-ing commencing.... by nihilist_1137 · · Score: 5, Funny

    1 aluminium case : few hundred euros
    cad software : $100
    self-assembly : free

    Posting 3 256kb pictures in a slashdot link : priceless

    1. Re:/.-ing commencing.... by luge · · Score: 5, Interesting

      You can watch the pain at his ISP's stats page.

      --

      IAAL,BIANLY

    2. Re:/.-ing commencing.... by Engelbot · · Score: 4, Funny

      I would, but now the stats page is slashdotted. Somewhere, some gremlin is laughing his/her fool head off over this one.

  2. Re:Syntax Error at line 1 by jsprat · · Score: 3, Informative
    Or maybe the original poster is from Britain, where they sometimes actually spell it "aluminium". Before I post, let me double check...

    From dictionary.com:

    aluminium
    n. Chiefly British

    Although, after seeing a few posts here, he could have just misspelled it...;)

  3. Sexy by Skyshadow · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Now *that's* one sexy cube.

    I'm telling you: there's a huge market out there for designer computers. If you could put out machines that weren't beige boxes but which instead were hip, you'd find a huge market with the 20-somethings.

    Apple made a run at this, and look how successful they were without running the mainstream Wintel setup.

    People already routinely pay 500% more than they need to for clothes (ck), home furnishings (Pottery Barn), even sporting goods just because of the brand name and for the chance to be fashionable. I can't see why computers should be any different. Pair this thing with a big flat-screen, a top-notch audio system and other similarly hip appointments, do some serious marketing, maybe brand it with known designer and I gaurantee you could sell these things for $5k each.

    --
    Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
    1. Re:Sexy by megaduck · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Remembering to make the case itself a subwoofer?

      Call me crazy, but I'm not wild about having a huge throbbing magnet next to my drives.

      --
      This .sig for rent.
    2. Re:Sexy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Call me crazy, but I'm not wild about having a huge throbbing magnet next to my drives.

      I'll be sure to forward that to Dr. Freud.

    3. Re:Sexy by sean23007 · · Score: 3, Funny

      But if companies were to do this, they might alienate the geeks. If computers suddenly became "hip" for everyone, and the average computing Joe had an uber-mod case, what would we at Slashdot do? That's right, we'd all go back to the ugliest beige boxes we can find, and we'd disconnect the LEDs, and we'd unplug every speaker except the one on the inside that beeps when something goes wrong.

      We don't buy CK because we can wear clothes without the 5x surcharge. We don't buy home furnishings from Pottery Barn because we can buy adequate furnishings elsewhere for much less money, we avoid things that are expensive for the sake of being popular (or vice versa), so would we then avoid the case-mod?

      Just a suggestion.

      --

      Lack of eloquence does not denote lack of intelligence, though they often coincide.
    4. Re:Sexy by dimator · · Score: 4, Funny

      People already routinely pay 500% more than they need to for clothes (ck)

      Hrm... I might spend 500% more, but that means I'm 500% cooler than you!

      --
      python -c "x='python -c %sx=%s; print x%%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))%s'; print x%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))"
    5. Re:Sexy by Jedi+Binglebop · · Score: 3, Funny

      Does that mean you spend 500% more for 1/500th the coverage?

      -JB

      (laugh, it's funny!)

      --

      "I love deadlines. I love the "whooshing" sound they make as they pass by." - Douglas Adams.

  4. Wow I'm impressed! by Daath · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The thing is truly a beautiful piece of work! I just hope for him that the light can be turned off ;) Also it appears immensely big! I mean, build a cube out of 6 full size ATX mainboards - it's bigger than that!
    I couldn't fit that where my computer is now. And I'm pretty sure my girlfriend wouldn't let me if I could :) hehe

    --
    Any technology distinguishable from magic, is insufficiently advanced.
  5. interference problems by crystalplague · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wonder if the Al shields EMF's enought that they don't interfere with anything like phones, tvs, etc.

    1. Re:interference problems by psavo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Al is metal, it conducts electricity. That's enough to make Faraday cage work.
      I really don't think that materials that are used in today's cases are chosen for their emf-shielding abilities, but because of their low price.

      --
      fucktard is a tenderhearted description
    2. Re:interference problems by Phanatic1a · · Score: 5, Informative

      Those "neat" logo cut-outs on the side are like garage doors for EMI radiation.


      That'd be a high frequency EM wave that can fit through what looks to be gap of about 1cm. About 30 GHz, actually, which puts it into the microwave range. If your PC is emitting in the microwave range, something's probably wrong in the first place. Plus, it's not going to interfere with much.

    3. Re:interference problems by Speed+Racer · · Score: 3, Informative

      Guess again. The CE mark has absolutely nothing to do with the FCC.

      The FCC is an independent United States government agency that is is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

      The CE mark is used the by the European Commission as a "passport" which can allow a manufacturer to freely circulate their products within the European marketplace

      --
      Free Mac Mini. Yes, I'm
  6. Re:Ain't all that. by Xerithane · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Those cases are modified. This is a brand new never-before-seen-completely-from-scratch assembly. Also, are you on crack? This case was awesome. It brought a tear to my eye and turned me green with envy. I think I would kill that guy to get one if he weren't living so far away (or just buy one from him)

    --
    Dacels Jewelers can't be trusted.
  7. Case mod mod by Nathdot · · Score: 4, Funny

    I mean sure that thing is beautiful and all, but its also fucking gigantic.

    So why not utilise the extra space? Install some sort of refrigeration system -- very useful should you ever choose to overclock -- and turn it into the worlds first PC-case/Bar fridge.

    You think it's a thing of beauty now, imagine reaching into it and pulling out a brewski, without getting up from your Quake session!

    Awesome!

    :)

  8. try this link more pics, god it's sexy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://216.74.64.37/casemod/index.htm

  9. Some decent work... by danamania · · Score: 5, Interesting
    It's nice to see 'case mods' reach a point where they're more than a simple light or hole in the case.

    Take a look at the modifications that extreme custom car builders do to their transport, not out of any practical reason, but for the love of building something with the most extreme quality. With imagination and hard work you can inject a LOT of style into your PC. I'd like to see systems with some insane 'tidying'... the auto customisers hidden wiring tricks, colour coded everything, even components laid out in an aesthetic manner. Not for practicality, but just -because-

    If that's not your thing however - good for you. Everyone has a little excess (read: pointless but pretty) style in their life. Like the friend of mine who derides Mac cases for their 'prettiness' and claims function means all the most to her, but drives a more expensive bespoilered sporty looking car with no more performance than an average one.

  10. It's all that and a bag of chips... by megaduck · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While case mods are cool, they're just modifications of boring old PC cases. What's super-cool about this cube is that it was built from scratch and doesn't look like a traditional computer.

    Besides, how many case modders use CAD and laser-cut aluminum? That's just nifty.

    --
    This .sig for rent.
  11. Re:dead link by Zeinfeld · · Score: 3, Funny
    404 - File not found

    At least you are not an Enron employee:

    401K - Unauthorized - you are not authorized to withdraw your pension until the executives have sold their shares

    --
    Looking for an Information Security student project suggestion?
    Try http://dotcrimeManifesto.com/
  12. Indeed cool by Compuser · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This case is indeed looks good except that
    beige face plates on cd-rom and the like
    look out of place. What kind of air does this
    case move?

  13. Best case mod site known to man... by rootedgimp · · Score: 5, Informative

    To VIEW moded cases, anyway.
    http://pcdb.overclockers.com.au/ (over 3000 cases).

    Best place I've found to buy parts to mod
    your case would be www.pcmods.com

  14. Re:Ain't all that. by linzeal · · Score: 4, Informative
    Wtf are you talking about? Did you even go to the link and click around their are clear cases, aluminium cases, and suitcase cases all built by hand.

    This page has a case made entirely out of legos.

    This page has a custom plastic case porsche-like with a spoiler.

    I know the difference between a modded case and a custom case. I just wish people would frigging take more than 2 seconds at a link before raving like lunatics.

    --
    An Education is the Font of All Liberty
  15. Speaking of cubes by Patrick+Cable+II · · Score: 3, Informative

    Wow. That is pretty cool. Speaking of cube computers thoguh, i found some other interesting designs.. check out www.soldam.com for these really nice small looking cubes... Note the price is in yen though, use this to convert.

    ..pcable

  16. Check out the one I built by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I use this case at my job on Wall Street where I'm a derivatives trader. The case is both aesthetically pleasing and functional for my work.

  17. Re:WOW! by red5 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Swell. Let's see... the raw materials cost more than that, and assuming a sweatshop slave wage rate for 250 hours .. oh, it cost him about ten times as much as your bid. Don't hold your breath waiting for his excited reply to your generous offer.

    The materials were bought for a single unit if you buy in bulk you get considral price breaks.
    250 Hours laber was most likely in the CAD program, design work only neads to be done once.

    --
    I know I'm going to hell, I'm just trying to get good seats.
  18. There's Intelligent Life After All by Spencerian · · Score: 3, Funny

    Get that man on Sony's computer design staff, or have him make these things on the side.

    I say Sony because:
    1) Apple already has a great designer, Jonathon Ive
    2) Michael Dell wouldn't know a good case design if it appeared as a cow with a black turtleneck shirt and spoke to him--"Dude, your cases SUCK...!!!"
    3) Gateway couldn't afford to do this change
    4) HP and Compaq are too wrapped up in their mutual admiration society
    5) Sony understands design is important, even for PC boxes

    As a preferred Macintosh user, this PC case is the most ingenious design I've seen. Nice work. Where I can get one to replace the POS with the Athlon I just assembled?
    --

    --
    Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.
  19. Re:Sheet aluminum? by Calle+Ballz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    any local hardware store sells the stuff for heavy duty duct work. Some stores will even cut it for you and give you the exact sizes you need. You'll have to do your own dremel work though.

  20. Antec's Casemod contest by ahaning · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This guy might want to contact Antec-Europe about their Casemod Contest. His box might actually fit in the "Others" category...

    Minimalist: Minor mod, extra fan or handle
    Artist: Typically not cutting the case, instead the case becomes a canvas
    Exhibitionist: Windows, showing the guts of the system
    Decorator: Matches case to coordinate with a room/desk
    Sponsor: Case with stickers, logos, etc
    Others: If your case doesn't match the above

    --
    Withdrawal before climax is very ineffective and those who try this are usually called "parents."
  21. Try this URL... by sheldon · · Score: 3, Informative

    The whole site seems to redirect to this page:
    http://case.1be.be

    I'm not quite clear what he is doing. I think it might be trying to send back a permanent page redirect, and IE does not like it.

    Although at one point I turned off friendly http error display on IE and then the site came right up. Next time I tried that, it said it was redirecting to 216.74.64.37/casemod which doesn't seem to respond.

    To use Occam's Razor, "Never attribute to malice what can be adequatedly explained by stupidity." I don't think this was intentional, the whole configuration of that web server is just whacked.

    That being said, that case is cool! I wouldn't mind something like that at home. :)

  22. Mirror link by colindiz · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well, hell, I posted this as an AC, but wtf, a score of 0? Craptacular.

    Dennis Vieren has moved the pictures of the case to: http://case.1be.be/.

    Go forth and /., as the moron hasn't fixed the size issues.

  23. Re:NeXT-style cube cases by boinger · · Score: 3, Informative
    Uh. VW Buses don't have radiators. Nor do Bugs. Nor do Ghias. Nor to Fastbacks, Squarebacks, Notchbacks, Things, Super Beetles, Type 4s, Schwimmenwagens, or Kubelwagens.

    And in case it comes up, nor do older Porsches (356s, 914s, older 911s, etc).

    --
    Send your friends messages of love at fuck-you.org
  24. Re:That's because stupid Americans can't spell... by rabidcow · · Score: 4, Interesting

    WRONG. The original spelling was alumium. (no "in")

    This was then changed to aluminum, then aluminium. Then it changed back to aluminum in the US.

    See http://www.world-aluminium.org/history/language.ht ml

    But none of this really matters unless you wanna go back to wulfram, plubnum, etc. (and originally, English had no "correct" spellings for anything.)

  25. Re:MIRROR by The+Dutch+Tom+Bombad · · Score: 3, Informative

    Dutch mirror with the most important pics: http://www.tweakers.net/nieuws/20762

  26. Nuts by Bazman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Shame the nice lines are spoilt by the four nuts at the top. I think they detract from the appearance of the box. Perhaps he could have countersunk some screws in there and covered them with something....

    Baz

  27. Heh heh, Belgians taking over /. by tyl · · Score: 4, Funny
    This is the second story in row that involves Belgium (the Jeremiah comic strip was created by a Belgian dude).

    Next time we'll go for a hat trick. Heute Slashdot, Morgen das Sonnensystem...

    --
    -- Any sufficiently advanced level of incompetence is indistinguishable from malice
  28. Well... by virg_mattes · · Score: 3, Funny

    We use command line because we can. We use ugly beige because we must. But, we use amber because green is for plebians.

    Virg