Anyone who could help me out with a Sketchup Techstation?

[Kriztoffer]

Hello lads.:)

I'm thinking of making myself a new techstation. My Tecnofront HWD is not very big and a bit clumsy.

But the problem is, I can't use Google Sketch Up, or similar programs.

If I'm not asking too much, is there some Sketch up pro out there. That could help me out with a few examples.

Recommended material? I don't want Acryl, want something which are stronger like metal or wood. Or other good stuff.

I'd like to have features like:
- Big enough for 4way boards
- Dual PSU Stand?
- Spot for HHD rack (I already got it) 2x 4HHD racks from a lian li.
- 3.120/360 Radiator mount.
- Motherboard back plate hole.
- Optical drive, maybe fastened under the MoBo tray.
- Not more than two levels. MoBo tray, and rest of the stuff underneath it.
- Some extension for placing fan over the VGA's. so you don't need to just place it on top of the stock coolers. but not very important.
- Mobo tray with holes for watercooling tubing.
- holes for ATX cabels, 8pin and PCIE.

I'd like to make it myself. I could just pick up a Dimas Tech, but it's less expensive for me making it myself. I have most tools and uncle which are awesome at stuff like this.

HSPC Top Deck Tech Station is lookign pretty good. But it don't have all the features I want. and It might be a little too small.

The white and black one looks awesome. Thought it's a bit big, if you cut of the first level. and just keep the two tops levels it would be pretty perfect with a few mods. A bit more open maybe, easy to mange cables and stuff.

Best Regards Kriztoffer

[ReverendMaynard]

I use the HSPC Top deck and love it, but it doesn't have all of the features you're looking for and it's expensive for what it is... some posts, screws and plastic slabs....

I say build your own dude :)

[Kriztoffer]

I use the HSPC Top deck and love it, but it doesn't have all of the features you're looking for and it's expensive for what it is... some posts, screws and plastic slabs....

I say build your own dude :)

Yeah, I was thinking exactly the same. I live in Norway, s I don't want to spend money on it.. Cause with shipping it gets ridiculous expensive. :)

[Neuromancer]

I dont have any sketchup skills either..


Bottom deck I would mount hte rad in front using the fans from it to cool the HDDs and PSUs (standing vertically next to one another). Rad is laying on its side with ODD and fan controllers side by side on top of it. Kinda like the final pics in my new deks mod thread in the case section except not vertical like i did :)

You dont need an I/O shield on a bench station thats like lipstick on a pig :p

PCI expansion slot is easy... really just a short piece of L channel aluminum stock with some holes tapped to M3/M4 whatever you prefer. Make the two rear legs of the tech station tall enough to mount the bracket and run it all the way across, If going all wood this can be the tricky part. But if using threaded rod or something.. makes it Super easy to adjust it on the fly :). Another short piece of L channel or even some flat strap could rig up a fan holder for VGA area as well.



MDF is easy to work with.. I use a 1/16? maybe 1/32 drill bit to make my mobo standoff holes and then with good downward pressure screw the standoffs in with a nut driver. wont stand up to a lot of abuse but..


Another thing I have considered doing for mobo standoffs is threaded rod.


To further save cost instead ofg hte mobo tray being a "tray" you really only need 3 strips of wood that line up with the mobo mounting holes. Not sure if the 4Way uses ATX or EATX mounting... so maybe do one more. This also save you from having to drill some holes.



The hardest thing to get right is drilling your holes with out a drill press and vise, and getting the PCIE expansion slot the exact right height. I would go a little larger and sand it down so it fits exactly.

I am ghetto though and something as pretty as the bench station (yeah I consider my entire work are a tech station) that most of the users have here would be lost on me. My last one I built the mobo tray was not even square LOL I need some real tools.


Hmm think I gots me a new project this week. Except mine has to hold a 480 rad :taunt:

[Witchdoctor]

MDF is what I made mine out of. I can draw it for you if you would like

It would have dimensions and all but it is just on paper and pencil....

It is easy and you can use any material you like with a little ready rod and you can build it easily

see rack um up in PC section .. i can post some during the build pics for ou so you can see how easy ti goes together

My next project is a light weight easily transportable rack for on the road

Nothing like rolling up to your local lan party with a custom rack :good:

Let me know but some one with skills in Autocad could do better than my pencil ould though ...

[punx223]

im in serious need of a bench station..... i bench on a fold up table and everything is done usually with the hardware on the retail box it came from.

[Witchdoctor]

Where do you live? ... I could build it for you and ship it

it would cost matrerial and shipping ... labor on the house for teamates bro

just give me an idea of what you want it to look like and I can put it together

[Kriztoffer]

I dont have any sketchup skills either..


Bottom deck I would mount hte rad in front using the fans from it to cool the HDDs and PSUs (standing vertically next to one another). Rad is laying on its side with ODD and fan controllers side by side on top of it. Kinda like the final pics in my new deks mod thread in the case section except not vertical like i did :)

You dont need an I/O shield on a bench station thats like lipstick on a pig :p

PCI expansion slot is easy... really just a short piece of L channel aluminum stock with some holes tapped to M3/M4 whatever you prefer. Make the two rear legs of the tech station tall enough to mount the bracket and run it all the way across, If going all wood this can be the tricky part. But if using threaded rod or something.. makes it Super easy to adjust it on the fly :). Another short piece of L channel or even some flat strap could rig up a fan holder for VGA area as well.



MDF is easy to work with.. I use a 1/16? maybe 1/32 drill bit to make my mobo standoff holes and then with good downward pressure screw the standoffs in with a nut driver. wont stand up to a lot of abuse but..


Another thing I have considered doing for mobo standoffs is threaded rod.


To further save cost instead ofg hte mobo tray being a "tray" you really only need 3 strips of wood that line up with the mobo mounting holes. Not sure if the 4Way uses ATX or EATX mounting... so maybe do one more. This also save you from having to drill some holes.



The hardest thing to get right is drilling your holes with out a drill press and vise, and getting the PCIE expansion slot the exact right height. I would go a little larger and sand it down so it fits exactly.

I am ghetto though and something as pretty as the bench station (yeah I consider my entire work are a tech station) that most of the users have here would be lost on me. My last one I built the mobo tray was not even square LOL I need some real tools.


Hmm think I gots me a new project this week. Except mine has to hold a 480 rad :taunt:

MDF sounds good, I'll check some prices of it. I just want a compatible, good looking and Strong Techstation. I can use some from my HWD TS, it got f.eks the holes I will need for my MoBo. Don't know how much bigger the 4way is than a regular extenden ATX, but I could probably pick the dimensions up at the internet.

Thanks for all the good tips! :thumbsup:

MDF is what I made mine out of. I can draw it for you if you would like

It would have dimensions and all but it is just on paper and pencil....

It is easy and you can use any material you like with a little ready rod and you can build it easily

see rack um up in PC section .. i can post some during the build pics for ou so you can see how easy ti goes together

My next project is a light weight easily transportable rack for on the road

Nothing like rolling up to your local lan party with a custom rack :good:

Let me know but some one with skills in Autocad could do better than my pencil ould though ...

I would be great full! I've seen your "Rack Em up" it's very insane, good looking!
I need some tips and stuff, I'll work with my uncle on some of the stuff. He got a lot of tools and knowledge about metals, metal work, wood and tools.

im in serious need of a bench station..... i bench on a fold up table and everything is done usually with the hardware on the retail box it came from.

Aye, I really need one now. A strong and function able TS which I can hot swap between hardware without taking ages..

[Witchdoctor]

Ok just give me a quick sketch and desription I will draw up the plans with dimensions

I do not have a metric tape can you convert ?

PM me your email Address and I will send you a PDF this weekend of the plans

then see if I hit it or fi I need to tweak it in .....

[Neuromancer]

I will practice my sketchup skills later. I got some new measuring tools and just bought a 50 pack of 5mm standoffs. Will see what designs I can come up with.

[rickss69]

I sent this one to Witchdoctor and don't think he ever used it...ask him to send it to you. ;)

[Assassin48]

Nice work Ricks,

Been wanting to upgrade from this DD torturerack but nothing catches my eye, i was looking at the dimas techstation but it will be too much for what i need it for

[Neuromancer]

Nice works ricks *snicker

Just kidding it looks really useful *snicker



No man I am just teasing... looks really good.. I am a pine and drywall screws it aint a bench station heh heh

But I am a jaded and ugly sunna beach :)

On a serious note.. if I ever want a display piece I know who to call... nice work man:) Looks like a lot of time and effort went into it :thumbsup:

You should really sell those if you can get the manufacturing process down to something quick :)

[Kriztoffer]

Nice techstation Ricks! :thumbsup:

[Witchdoctor]

Here is a quick sketch up I mad should be able to get all this stuff at a local hardware stire

you can make the demensions anything you would like.

I would make the bottom wide enought foe a PS on it's side

overall about 4" wider than the board long ways and 7" longer short ways so you have room to put some cable managment holes in it for power, SATA & PCIe cables

once it is all drilled and ahols cut paint it up before you assembel

3/4" U channle may be better if you can get it for you card hold downs

Good luck

[Neuromancer]

Yah bottom shelf being tall enough for a PSU on its side means it is also good for a DVDRW on its side and tall enough for a 3 in HDD rack :)