Design and Manufacturing of Desktop Case with Optimal Cooling Strategy

Interested in building a new PC? Bought new parts ready for a case or have old parts for another build? Does the lackluster design of that same rectangular shape we call a desktop bore you? As a consumer and past builder, designing an ideal desktop case that meets a reasonable budget and executes cooling was held paramount through the process of this project. Using computer aided design and simulation, the development and production of a refined desktop chassis with an efficient cooling strategy was completed. A rectangular desktop (like those on the current market) served as the benchmark. Validation of the simulation was performed through experimentation, and design issues related to poor cooling were diagnosed. Several conceptual designs were developed and evaluated for cooling effectiveness, and one framework was manufactured, The Beast (45/50). Attempting to mitigate the loss of performance due to ambient heat lingering from the components within the chassis, this case design allows for optimal exhaust flow of heat by inclining the component fixtures from the horizontal 45-50 degrees. This allows for two high performance fans placed above core components to exhaust the heat emitted, enabling a cooler environment within the structure. The improved design drops the ambient temperature within the chassis -7 ˚C and allows for components to drop -13 ˚C when compared to the benchmark. This poster will review the design process, manufacturing, and testing of the new framework.