Computer Cabinet

To house all my computer equipment (UPS, servers, LAN and HDMI switches, NAS, Box, optical interface, power supplies) I opted for a chassis based on an assembly of metal tubes without welding. I use materials that are easy to find and tools that are simple to use (drill, hacksaw).

(A) The framework is made of aluminium tubes. The assembly and rigidity are obtained with self-locking PVC angles. No welding or screws are required. The four shelves are made of pre-punched aluminium plates to facilitate ventilation.

(B) Legs are used to raise the frame. The use of Teflon washers makes it easier to slide the frame on the floor. Four aluminium shelf supports on the inner sides of the uprights will hold the shelves. This choice facilitates the arrangement of the shelves according to the height of the appliances to be installed.

(C) Three walls are made of black composite fibre panels. The front panel is made of blue plexiglass. The panels (except for the front) are hung on the frame. This allows easy disassembly to access the equipment. In my case there is no cover as the unit will be placed under a desk. Using a PVC angle rod, teeth are formed which will be hooked onto screws fixed to the frame. The fixing of the plexiglass panel will be seen later.

(D) The front view shows the dimensions of my cabinet. You can see the assembly principle by the arrangement of the elements. The trays will be placed on the shelf supports. The width and depth of the frame are determined by the size of the shelves (250x500mm). The height of the assembly is determined by the table height of my desk.

(E) The top view shows the dimensions of the frame surrounding the shelves.

(F) Cutting the frame bars and making the legs.

(G) Assembling the bottom of the frame.

(H) Preparing the vertical uprights. Assembly of the top of the frame and final assembly. The tray supports are fixed with screws. The holes for the screws have been drilled with a 2.5mm drill bit.

(I) The rear and side panels are attached to the frame with hooks made of cut PVC brackets. These hooks are glued (Pattex glue) to the walls. The fixing principle for the front part is different because of the transparency of the Plexiglas. The Plexiglas is slid into two L-shaped brackets fixed under the bottom bar. The top of the plexiglass is held in place by an inverted U. This principle can also be used for the other walls. These fixing methods make it easier to assemble and disassemble the walls.

(J) I embellished the frame with flexible fluorescent LED light strips. Their design allows the strip to be wedged under the shelf support.

(K) The hardware is arranged on the shelves. To save space and optimise cabling, both switches (LAN and HDMI) are mounted on the underside of the shelf above the servers. All the power supply units are placed jumbled in a basket.

(L) The finished installation shows the distribution of the equipment and the position of the operational cabinet under the desk.

This cabinet meets the need to integrate computer equipment in a small space while taking care of the aesthetics. The installation is sober and functional. The construction is quite simple and does not require any specific tools. The handling of the equipment is facilitated by the removable walls.