Building aluminum case - motherboard tray?

[bvault]

I am trying to build an aluminum case for my scrypt GPU rig. The hardest part for me is getting a way for mounting the motherboard. Right now it is just the empty shell of a frame. I am trying to get an old computer's ATX plate/tray but those have been HARD to come by. There is numerous Dell ones which are not ATX standard.

Any ideas of how to fabricate a motherboard stand-off thingie??

Much appreciated in advance.

[Treggar]

metal sheet, motherboard, draw dots where holes are, drill holes, screw in stand-off nuts?

[kalus]

Any ideas of how to fabricate a motherboard stand-off thingie??

If you don't have a tap-and-die set to thread your own screw holes for an actual standoff, mark holes for your ATX motherboard mounts on the sheet aluminum, and drill holes straight through.

the holes should be big enough to allow a 1" machine screw to slide through.  the screw should come in from the bottom, and sit head-down.  tighten the screw to the plate with a machine nut.

you now have posts which should hold up the motherboard.  to prevent the mobo from shorting to the plate, cut small pieces of vinyl tubing (aquarium air line should work) and use the tubing as standoffs to raise the motherboard above the aluminum plate.  

thread the motherboard through the screws and double check the reverse is not shorting on anything conductive.  use a second machine nut to secure the motherboard on the DIY standoff.  you don't need to, but if the screw body is too tall take a dremel to it and lop off the extra height.  

i have uploaded this poorly lit photo to help. the motherboard rests on the clear plastic tubing, and is fastened from the top by a second machine screw.  this was from a modded power mac converted to an intel mac.  it's not pretty but works in a pinch.  

[bjalbert]

 At home depot/Lowes they sell these rubber gasket/grommet things in the screws section. It is near specialty draws and make great motherboard spacers. I used these in my open rig but would work the same against metal. just get small long sheet metal screws and mobo will be rock solid.

[bvault]

Any ideas of how to fabricate a motherboard stand-off thingie??

If you don't have a tap-and-die set to thread your own screw holes for an actual standoff, mark holes for your ATX motherboard mounts on the sheet aluminum, and drill holes straight through.

the holes should be big enough to allow a 1" machine screw to slide through.  the screw should come in from the bottom, and sit head-down.  tighten the screw to the plate with a machine nut.

you now have posts which should hold up the motherboard.  to prevent the mobo from shorting to the plate, cut small pieces of vinyl tubing (aquarium air line should work) and use the tubing as standoffs to raise the motherboard above the aluminum plate.  

thread the motherboard through the screws and double check the reverse is not shorting on anything conductive.  use a second machine nut to secure the motherboard on the DIY standoff.  you don't need to, but if the screw body is too tall take a dremel to it and lop off the extra height.  

i have uploaded this poorly lit photo to help. the motherboard rests on the clear plastic tubing, and is fastened from the top by a second machine screw.  this was from a modded power mac converted to an intel mac.  it's not pretty but works in a pinch.  

This just opened a can of new ideas for me. Thanks!

[anderl]

I used heat resistant plastic sheets. 8mm. I drilled holes based on motherboard holes. Used plastic snap in standoffs. Much faster to as s em bleached cheaper than the other suggestions.