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Designing My Ultimate Gamer/Omni Case! Protocase? 3D printing?

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freeagent said:
Bring your files to a sheet metal shop. There they have sheets, they have lasers, brakes, everything you need to make a case. You will pay, but that is how it is with made to order.
Click to expand...
I have considered that option as well, and it might be an option. However, im very limited in my driving range - anxiety, stress, pain from potholes, etc - so I can't exactly drive very far to reach these places.

I'm on the island on Montreal BTW, so if you do know of such a metal shop nearby -ish, let me know. I know of only one that's close by, but they dont really accept walk-in PC enthusiasts from the street as customers haha. Besides which, I think they only do stamping and bending, nothing complex or small enough to be suitable for a PC case (but I'll double-check to be certain).
 
Sure I can have a look around, I am in Manitoba, but I am familiar with metal forming and machining so hopefully I can find something for you.
 
PCBWay also does metal now.

I have fixed 3 hammer keys in a piano with CF-PETG and kids are playing with it and still holding up, since Roland refuses to sell the needed parts to anyone but an authorized service center... and an authorized service center doesn't want to sell me 3 hammers they wanted to sell me a complete refurb service.

ManicReally has a mini-rack 3D printed... thing is pretty robust even with equipment in it. I think the strength of some 3D printer might surprise you especially when you design/orientate correctly and pick the right plastics for the job.

Edit: Reference to video in question

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More on topic of the software since it sounds like you don't have a heavy CAD background. Start with paper and a few sketches. Even if they are absolute garbage quality drawings. Getting the idea on paper first so you have a reference to what your trying to achieve in the CAD software goes a long ways. Even cutting up a few sheets of cardboard and using some glue stick as though you were in school again can make for a really good reference (doesn't need to be accurate). This can take out some of the frustration from the CAD software just having something to reference as to where you kind of want to get to.
 
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I am not a lawyer, but I had a bunch working for & with me when I led Intellectual Property development, capture, & protection for a major oilfield controls & equipment manufacturer. In Canada, or the US, once your design is shared with anyone else, without a patent, your design becomes fair game in the market place. An NDA may protect you but if your design is sub-contracted out for manufacture, that creates a weak spot that can be exploited. Just mho. Wish you luck & all the best.
 
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misterlarry said:
I am not a lawyer, but I had a bunch working for & with me when I led Intellectual Property development, capture, & protection for a major oilfield controls & equipment manufacturer. In Canada, or the US, once your design is shared with anyone else, without a patent, your design becomes fair game in the market place. An NDA may protect you but if your design is sub-contracted out for manufacture, that creates a weak spot that can be exploited. Just mho. Wish you luck & all the best.
Click to expand...
Sorry I forgot to reply back to this one. Distracted with too many projects happening at once!

Protocase and me signing the NDA would be the only two parties involved, AFAIK. They make all the parts themselves, so I don't think anyone else would be involved in the process at all. Does that mean its sorta safe and I should go for it?

The next step, if I do go forward with this, would be to share a generalized outline of all the parts I'd need made, in order to get a close(ish) quote to what the final case might cost from Protocase. The only reason I haven't yet given them the info to get the quote is that some of my design choices could be pretty obvious to a PC builder just from the outline.

Dont get me wrong though: As much as I'm sorta defensive and scared about someone stealing or copying my ideas, all I'd really care about it some credit for the design. If a case maker would contact me and agree to make it? I'd give them everything with a smile. I know the Protocase route is probably going to cost me several hundred if not over a thousand dollars... and I dont have a ton of money for such splurging.

Sorry to tag ya, but @Gav any word from our famous HWC YouTubers? They dont seem to stoop themselves to posting here very often... and I doubt a reply to a YT video asking if they had any contacts with case makers would be noticed. Just askin'

This project will go forward somehow though. It may take many months or years, I may have to design and 3D print it all myself, but I'll make it happen. Ive put a lot of thinking and rethinking in this design... and I dont toot my own horn very often but: Its freakin awesome. A real monster of a case that can do pretty much anything you want. That's kinda the whole reason I want it made (by myself or anyone): cause I Want to have it for my PCs! Yes, PCs plural. I think I'd have two... hahaha

To be continued.
 
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