I'm looking for a source for case parts. Things like motherboard trays, cages for pcie devices, 5-¼ bays (the mounting; not an adapter or device to put in one), and so forth. I'm not modding a case; I am making one.
I'm beginning to think that what I need might not exist. Can you get super-basic case components like this? or should I be manufacturing/milling them myself?
Thanks, @Fouquin. I've been looking at places like performance-pcs, moddiy. While this covers a lot of things I'll need, I'm now looking for somewhat "lower-level" stuff. Maybe someone sells case components (e.g., for replacement parts, or just surplus) individually?
For example: I don't want to turn a 5 ¼ bay into a 3 ½ bay. I want to make a 5 ¼ bay which could accept such hardware. If this "isn't out there," is there a standard/common pattern for dimensions/holes/etc. to make sure I'm creating as universal-as-possible mounts?
I've been trying to research this for several months. I can't think of what/where else to google.
I would like to know this; for now what I did, being in the same situation as you are I cut the Mobo tray and 5 1/4"x3 bay out of an old case. the 5 1/4" bay worked out well in my new custom case but the tray still needs work. If you find anything please spread the word; as fabricating parts like these out of raw metal is really hard to do. Also depending on what you need performance PC does have a custom lazer cutting service. I think they only cut acrylic but still its useful.
I've found a few leads as far as standards go, e.g., ftp://ftp.seagate.com/sff/SFF-8551.PDF
lian li seems to sell (some) case components separately, such as motherboard trays. I've also considered adapting parts from test benches. I'm suspecting that the ultimate solution will be to mill everything myself. Aluminum isn't difficult to work with. I just need to find someone with a press for bending it.
Hard drive cages won't be an issue —I can buy those— but I need the 5 ¼ bays to be individual height. That, and pcie card mounts, have been most problematic.
For sure, I have made my case out of raw aluminum and it's not too crazy to work with but I found the Gage I bought to be to high. I have like 14-16 gage aluminum and it is just to hard to bend and cut so make sure you go for the right stuff learn from my foolishness thinking I needed more strength. For the PCI cage I bought mine from Caselabs but if I was too try again I would have just gotten the Lian Li Mobo tray with the PCI cages on them. The hardest thing for me has been the 5 1/4" bays I saw some for sale on Performance from Lian Li but they where like 50$ USD per cage. At any rate I was able to do almost all the work on my case with a grinder (for cutting), some aviation snips, a rivet gun, and alot of premade aluminum angles. If you get thinner metal you can cut aluminum with woodworkers tools, a table saw, miter saw, and/or a skillsaw with carbon tipped high tooth count blades for cutting fine wood will cut aluminum fairly nicely you will just have to file all the cut edges.
Yeah Caselabs has what you need but they aren't cheap! Personally I regret buying the Caselabs parts not because they aren't awesome but simply because in my case it requires me to do more work. The parts they sell are extremely high quality and have a very nice finish to them still, I would go with Lian Li if I had a do over.