Custom PC - UK (2020-05)

it was just a case of ensuring that

all the gear was going to fit onto

the framework. There was no

CAD involved – I actually went

back to basics, and used a pen

and paper. I planned out every

measurement, filling pages with

sketches of different scenarios on

where components could be placed.

However, because it was a unique

shape, there was no reference to

which I could refer, so it was really

just a learning process.

That’s some very neat cable

routing – how did you go about

planning it?

Michael: I really wanted to show

off my skills in crafting custom

cables, so tidy cable management

was a must! I even handcrafted all

the combs myself to ensure they

were exactly how I wanted them.

Then it was a case of sketching

where I wanted the cables to be

placed onto the frame, using clean

routes that avoided components.

With the tubing, it was a case of

Michael Sheppard made this open-air

PC chassis from scratch, with some

great custom cabling and a hardline

water-cooling system

/MEET THY MAKER

Name Michael Sheppard

Age 30

Occupation Chef

Location Sunderland

Main uses for PC Casual

gaming, YouTube, music

and learning graphic design

Likes PCs, modding,

working on cars, spending

time with my wife and

daughter, cooking, eating,

enjoying a craft ale or gin

and listening to rock music

Dislikes Messy cables

and sitting still

Project Z

Readers’ Drives

How did this project start,

and what inspired you to build an

open-air design?

Michael: The whole project

hatched from a fellow modder who

kindly donated two 360mm EKWB

SE radiators to me,

after I helped him with

the custom cables for

his own build. I had

also just built myself

a DIY metal bender

brake, so obviously I

wanted to use that too.

This was my first

mod that I’ve ever

done from scratch,

and I wanted to use

an open-air design

because I wanted to

display the cables,

as that’s where my

passion lies. However,

I also didn’t want the

restrictions of working

within a case and

enclosing everything

in such a tight space.

How did you go

about designing the

custom chassis?

Michael: I always

knew that I wanted

to use the ‘Z’ shape,

using short, simple and single

bends, as it’s not my strongest

area. I chose the most logical

tubing route in order to keep the

build clean and tidy.

Where does the tubing go

round the back?

Michael: It goes straight into a Y

fitting to a tap or drain, then into the

radiator, back out and to the pump.

Nothing too complicated.

There are some clean bends

in the water-cooling loop. What

tubing did you use, and how did

you bend it?

Michael: It’s Alphacool’s PETG

tubing, and bending it involved

using a heat gun at a low setting,

a lubricated insert and bending

by eye with a steady hand, taking

it slowly with lots of patience. I’m

still a beginner, so I made plenty of

mistakes along the way, but with

lots of trial and error, I was able

to come up with the simple clean

bends I needed.

MODDING / READERS’ DRIVES

air

it wasjusta caseofensuringthat

allthegearwasgoingtofitonto

theframework.Therewasno

CADinvolved– I actuallywent

backtobasics,anduseda pen

andpaper.I plannedoutevery

measurement,fillingpageswith

sketchesofdifferentscenarioson

wherecomponentscouldbeplaced.

However,becauseit wasa unique

shape,therewasnoreferenceto

whichI couldrefer,soit wasreally

justa learningprocess.

That’ssomeveryneatcable

routing– howdidyougoabout

planningit?

Michael:I reallywantedtoshow

offmyskillsincraftingcustom

cables,sotidycablemanagement

wasa must!I evenhandcraftedall

thecombsmyselftoensurethey

wereexactlyhowI wantedthem.

Thenit wasa caseofsketching

whereI wantedthecablestobe

placedontotheframe,usingclean

routesthatavoidedcomponents.

Withthetubing,it wasa caseof

MichaelSheppardmadethisopen-

PC chassis from scratch, with some

great custom cabling and a hardline

water-cooling system

/MEET THYMAKER

Name Michael Sheppard

Age 30

Occupation Chef

Location Sunderland

Main uses for PCCasual

gaming, YouTube,music

and learning graphicdesign

Likes PCs, modding,

working on cars,spending

time with my wifeand

daughter, cooking,eating,

enjoying a craft ale or gin

and listening to rock music

Dislikes Messy cables

and sitting still

Project Z

Readers’ Drives

How did this project start,

and what inspired you to build an

open-air design?

Michael: The whole project

hatched from a fellow modder who

kindly donatedtwo360mmEKWB

SEradiatorstome,

afterI helpedhimwith

thecustomcablesfor

hisownbuild.I had

alsojustbuiltmyself

a DIYmetalbender

brake,soobviouslyI

wantedtousethattoo.

Thiswasmyfirst

modthatI’veever

donefromscratch,

andI wantedtouse

anopen-airdesign

becauseI wantedto

displaythecables,

asthat’swheremy

passionlies.However,

I alsodidn’twantthe

restrictionsofworking

withina caseand

enclosingeverything

insucha tightspace.

How did you go

about designing the

custom chassis?

Michael: I always

knew that I wanted

to use the ‘Z’ shape,

using short, simple and single

bends, as it’s not my strongest

area. I chose the most logical

tubing route in order to keep the

buildcleanandtidy.

Where does the tubing go

round the back?

Michael: It goes straight into a Y

fitting to a tap or drain, then into the

radiator, back out and to the pump.

Nothingtoocomplicated.

There are some clean bends

in the water-cooling loop. What

tubing did you use, and how did

you bend it?

Michael: It’s Alphacool’s PETG

tubing, and bending it involved

using a heat gun at a low setting,

a lubricated insert and bending

by eye with a steady hand, taking

it slowly with lots of patience. I’m

still a beginner, so I made plenty of

mistakes along the way, but with

lots of trial and error, I was able

to come up with the simple clean

bends I needed.

MODDING / READERS’ DRIVES

air