jadragon

Borg Cube

Category

Case Mods

Status

Ready for Battle

Deets

My “Borg Cube” was an experiment in using different tools and techniques for a first-time case modification. Starting with a double wide server box, I added windows in both side panels. On the power supply side, I cut two holes, one for mounting a small Plasma Disk and a larger one for a commercial window kit. Cutting the small hole with a nibbler-style sheet metal cutting tool was just painful, until you get the hang of cutting a strip of metal instead of the handful of tiny metal bits. A compressed-air sheet metal cutter was only slightly better for the large window, but both of these methods scratched the paint and warped the side panel.
On the system board side, I tried out a plasma cutter; this is definitely cool! However, my three openings turned out very irregular and had to be squared up and ground smooth. A plastic window was cut out of polycarbonate and attached to the panel with sheet metal screws. The front and the top shell are both plastic and were ready for assimilation with a minimum of work.
Ribbon cable was created using assorted wire, contact cement and double-stick carpet tape, which attaches nicely to either plastic or sheet metal. Various printer and hard drive parts, plastic boxes, and pieces of toys were added to produce the overall Borg-assimilated appearance.
LEDs were installed throughout, including ultraviolet LEDs above the water pump, and in the CPU heat block and flow meter. Ultraviolet CCFT lighting illuminates the antifreeze-tinted water hose and drive cables, and a green tube creates the under-case glow. Green plasma disks were installed inside the case and outside on the opposite side panel. A red Liquid Neon tube was embedded into the drive bay door, and an electroluminescent lit Borg emblem added to the floppy drive door.