X-ray's A4000T case design

[X-ray]

Dudes...

I am about to start measuring my A4000T internals for the purposes of modelling a new case for it. I will end up with a DXF file and from that I will have plates cut from brushed aluminium. I'll make the DXF available once I have seen that the design is good. The basic configuration will be:

1) Desktop design
2) Smaller (kill most of the space in the PSU area)
3) Better access to the internals

Now before I continue, I will consider suggestions from A4KT owners (maybe I can work it into the design). Before anyone asks, the three points above are not negotiable  :-)

[billt]

I have a wishlist and a new case project in mind myself, as I hate the Escom/Quikpak case design. Not all of my ideals are compatible with your 3 requirements, but here's my ideas anyway...

I hate how the "lid" of the Escom/Quikpak case fits onto the frame. The side comes off, but wraps around the top and bottom , so to open it up you can't leave it standing, you have to lay it on its side. Don't do anything so awkward as that, I want easy to open, easy to poke around in, all without having to flip it over or unplug anything or whatever.

Don't put anything in the way of decent heatsink/fan units. I had to cut part of one of the center brackets to make room to put a small 40mm fan on my 060 when I overclocked it. I couldn't mind having room for a bigger fan just to reduce the noise a bit, as them 40mm things get nasty at times.

Try to make sure that users of cybervision-PPC, SCSI modules for CSMK2, etc. will have room for their toys. Including both orientation versions of the CVPPC, as I understand there were two possibilities there. Also for potentially oversized cards, I understand some 060 cards were much bigger than the "standard" CPU module.

Now, for something I'd like to do in my own case project, is a 90-degree zorro slot adaptor, so I can for my prometheus into the "bottom" Zorro slot, and have it point further "down"/away from CPU. As Prometheus would otherwise block all my Zorro slots, and it won't fit in the top Zorro slot as PCI cards would conflict with the SCSI/AV risers, I'd like to make new space to allow PCI cards and Zorro cards to co-exist. This would create some empty space on the left end of your case which you probably don't want to do. If I ever get around to working on my own project, it'll be a tower with extra space inthe bottom for the Prometheus to poke down into, out of the way of whatever Zorro cards or Video Toaster that I'd like to keep installed.

I hate drive rails. My A4000T only came with one set so I had to order more, they get lost, and are just annoying. Just put screw holes in the drive cage so life is less hassle.

Whatever the front panel is made of, try to get things to complement the colors that CDROM drives and stuff come in. I wouldn't want a case that looks very cool on its own, but no drives match it and it ends up looking stupid.

I believe the A4000T motherboard is one of the larger in the AT standard formats. For kicks, see if you can get things sorted out to also allow ATX, Mini-ITX or Flex-ATX boards as well, so AmigaOne XE, Micro or Troika boards could potentially go in there as well. This could get awkward and might not be reasonable, but is something to think about.

See if you can figure out something to make a convenient external floppy port. I believe there is a place on one of the rear riser cards to solder a floppy connector, it's just not there and I don't thing there is a hole in the Escom/Quikpak case for it. But as some people have had trouble with their floppies dieing, and they may have external drives for older Amigas laying around, it might be a convenience to be appreciated compared to tracking down a compatible replacement internal drive.

[X-ray]

@ Billt

Some good suggestions there. Here is what I was thinking of (have my A4KT open next to me):

1) Take out the drive chassis.
2) Rotate the Ports module 90 degrees and shift it down.
3) Eliminate the 3 drive bays that sit in front of the PSU.

The above three points mean I can slim the width of the case by at least 1 or 2 inches.

4) Place CD and Floppy where the two hard-drive bays used to sit (when slotted in the original chassis).
5) Add a fixed HD cage for three 3.5" drives, in front of the PSU.

At this point I should be able to trim the length of the case by at least 2 inches. If I shift the CD and floppy rearwards, over the mobo (but not obstructing any fans/cooling) I can trim the depth of the case by at least 2 inches (and that doesn't include space savings by eliminating the existing bezel). If I did this, though, the CD and floppy would have to be mounted on a rack with a front tilting hinge so that they can be lifted up to access the CPU card)

6) Replace and reposition the power/reset/drive access LEDs (and the keylock).

That's just a start and it is how my system would be configured (no CybervisionPPC card) but I could swap the Cd for an HD to get more space above the CPU card if need be. That would have to be decided before the case was made.
The other thing is, I would be keen to have a single plate rear section with all the ports laser cut. This means the PSU and Ports module would sit about 10mm forward from their current position and the antenna connector on my PIV/Paloma would not be obstructed by the indented backplane area that currently exists on the A4KT.

[X-ray]

I just realised if I have a single-sheet back end I will have to bend all the screw connectors of my zorro cards and AV module 180 degrees and provide anchoring points for those (that face internally).