This is Mnpctech's slated for AMD's display at ceBIT show in Hannover, Germany. 3/4/2008 - 3/9/2008. The case is a Thermaltake SwordM. I wanted to make something that reminded you of a space ship hull door. Reinforced Triangular Patterns with a rotary "airlock" latch. The shell I designed was milled from 1/2" aircraft aluminum on a 2 axis cnc mill. Everything is being chrome plated. Everything in the future is chrome right? ...lol

I've done a lot of aluminum polishing with an electric buffer and by hand. Until you've done your own polishing, I can only describe it as extremely tedious work. It numbs your brain, but not in a good way. Theres only a few Modders like myself that have been crazy enough to polish their own aluminum parts, sethnmalice and Paul from coolercases.co.uk. It takes a lot of patience! Last year I polished the 26" tall machined 6061 aircraft aluminum side panels and motherboard tray on this tower by hand. It took me 2.5 weeks of work, on/off otherwise the task drove me out of my mind. If you don't have the proper buffing equip, you can wetsand out any imperfections first before buffing out the finish. I don't have all the pro equip, so the problem with 6061 alum, is it can scratch real easy. Any speck of dirt caught under a sanding block will create havoc in the finish, just like wetsanding a paint finish. Of course, this did happen a few times and you started over. I vowed I'd never do this again and seek a professsional next time I wanted this type of finish. "Project Phenom" presented this challenge again so I made some phone calls and found AAA Metal Finishing.

Yesterday I picked up the first pieces from AAA. On a saturday no less! I've always wanted to learn about chrome, copper, and bronze platting. AAA's owner, Raul gave my son and I a tour of the facility. The building is city block long! He showed us the steps involved in plating metal parts. I noticed one of Raul's clients was BigDog Motorcycles I recognized their logo on handlebars and frame brackets in different stages throughout the building. Before any part can be plated, it must first be Bead blasted and then polished, otherwise you will see any surface imperfections in the final chrome coating. Raul was kind enough to allow me to record some of the steps with my camera. I plan share this footage in the next video update for this project


The first parts to return are the new top panel and factory front bezel trim from the Thermaltake SwordM Case. The factory finish on the bezel was originally anodized silver.

WOW is all I can say, I would love a custom case, but partially afraid of the costs. I got a quote once and it was a like 1500 just for the case, safe to say I abandoned that plan. BUt good luck with your case!

.....I wish I could afford one like that to go with my phenom......some time in this lifetime.

Thanks for the comments!

Onesy twosy pick-ups will go on for awhile. Raul must plate my parts in between his larger customer production runs.

You'll remember this panel as the new top from the video

I'm picking up more chrome plated parts this saturday. I hope they have the side panels finished! I'd really like to get to the re-assembly of this case. Otherwise I should have a new update posted by this Friday. We're painting the SwordM's rear door with Alsa Corp Chrome FX and airbrushing circuit board trails over it that play off the recessed portions in the milled side panels.

Wow!!! That looks pretty GREAT! You giving any test cases out?

test cases.. I wish!

Photos from tonight's painting session

House of Kolor's "Kosmic Krome" Paint

Now I would like one of those!!
Looks incredible, top work there!

I like it better in black, makes it look stealthier.

Are you sure you don’t want to give out engineering samples. We could test it to make sure it can stand up to the abuse!

Thanks for the feedback guys! spaztic7, I don't have anything to give out. This case is made by Thermaltake.

fyi: HoK Kosmic Krome is very fickle in how it's applied. Best to practice first, it's a bit expensive paint to practice with tho, $68 for 1/2 pint!!!

Sorry if I got a little annoying there.

Wow, that is really expensive paint, but it did finish great!

Want to make me one?

Hey gang Thank you for posting your comments! I have another update for you.

This is the start of the background design for the rear door mural.. The theme will be a backdrop to airbrushed circuitry trails that are HR GIGER inspired. Biomechanical without the living organism element. The theme behind Project Phenom is SciFi inspired, thats why the side panels look like a spaceship hill door

This Kosmic Krome had to be scuff in order for the paint to adhere. No worries, the reflective effect will return after it's cleared again.

Heres the latest update on the rear door progress. The theme behind the Project Phenom's rear door design is futuristic.. Perhaps some strange type of space exploration equipment. Not neccessarily from Earth.

shytt man..its soo impressive.. gud work 10/10 i have one question will u be representing AMD at CeBit?

Wow.. I bet if the chopper motorcycle guys saw this as an opportunity to make a little bit extra coin there could be an explosion of new designs and styles. They would show this to the millers with flow jets and we could see some serious stuff. Totally trick MonsterMawd FTW. I would pay for a case like that because its big and heavy. Falcon Northwest would love that case man!

dats hell of a job man...i would surely visit Cebit if i had money for the expenses...bt sadly non