Building a DIY Music Server

[derBen]

Hi,

 

I just finished my second DIY Audiio Server and I would like to share some impressions.

 

I'm running a Aaeon Mini-ITX board with 16GB Apacer Ram, a 250GB Samsung 980Pro M.2 SSD and a Intel i7 9700T CPU.

For the connections I use JCAT FEMTO cards: USB and NET.

The operating system is Euphony OS running ROON.

 

The server is built into two cases:

- One external PSU regulating 16V + 16V + 9V + 7V from a custom 400 VA toroid

- The main case containing the local PSU (regulating 12V + 12V + 5V + 3,3V) and the computer components

 

Both cases have the same shape and dimensions, only the button in the front is missing in the PSU case.

 

What dio you think?

Ben

[derBen]

Hi,

 

I created the cases in my CAD software and ordered the material from a laser cutting company.

Then I got the parts eloxated in black.

So it's kind of DIY cases...

 

Best

Ben

[derBen]

Hi, are you referring to my build?

 

I don't have any thermal issues. The CPU cores reach about 35°C in idle and about 65°C doing the Euphony CPU stress test.

The whole case works as heatsink and is connected to the CPU as well as the chipset by heatpipes, there is thermal compound between the layers of the case...it works quite well.

 

 

[derBen]

3 minutes ago, RickyV said:

Looks like a real professional product. Out of curiosity what does such case work cost, laser cutter?

 

Cutting the parts for the case was about 500 EUR, the black surface finish was 350 EUR on top...

[derBen]

6 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

that case looks stunning, totally profesional!

Personally I'd go for something bigger to allow some more room for EMI shielding etc but it's all a matter of goals & objectives.

Hi,

 

there are separate chambers for the

1. local PSU (separated by a grounded 5mm vertical panel sheet, you can see how it is arranged in the attached photo of my earlier build.

2. SSD compartment

3. Mainboard including M.2 SSD including JCAT cards (which are also mounted on a grounded 5mm horizontah panel sheet

 

Would you prefer even more shielding or separation?

[derBen]

@MarcelNL

 

Thanks for your reply I also prefer non ferrous shielding. The whole enclosures are made of solid aluminium sheets. The chamber of the local PSU in the server case is additionally treated with a copper foil. But I must admit: I did no critic auditioning of different layouts.

 

In my previous server build, i hat a much simpler PSU, which lead me to the decusion to do one more extended build with better PSU.

I hat some support of Sean Jacobs for the supply and I am pretty happy with the result. But I can only compare to my previous build and to the Antipodes CX which I had earlier...and it's a clear advance...

[derBen]

@Nenon

 

Hi, I'm glad you like the design.

I already built different DIY equipment like speakers, amplifiers, turntables... Keeping my hands busy during my spare time makes me happy ;-)

I never thought about doing a commercial product. I think, it's better for me to separate hobbies and business.

[derBen]

Hello all,

 

I am willing to make my CAD data available to the forum community.
However, I assume that most people will not be able to do much with the data.

 

My cases are built exactly around the existing computer components.

 

Using a different mainboard would require changes to the CAD data.
Using other USB or NET cards instead of the JCAT would also require changes to the CAD data.
In addition, the PSU chamber is also designed exactly to the size of my local PSU.

 

Furthermore, some processing steps that I did myself after laser cutting are not included in the current CAD data (but I could provide this).
These are mainly grinding work and the milling of chamfers on the edges. I did that myself.

After anodising, some more processing steps were necessary:
First of all, some threads had to be cut, which should be electrically conductive (anodised aluminium is insulating).
But also blind holes, which should be drilled only 3.5 mm deep and should not go through the whole sheet.

 

The construction is not trivial and not self-explanatory.

 

If there is still interest in the data, I would be happy to provide it.

Kind regards

Ben

 

[derBen]

Hi Darryl,

 

I don't have a machining background.

The milling of chamfers was done using a router mounted into a milling table (DIY) and a sharp HSS cutter.

But much more work than the chamfers was the grinding of the raw laser-cut edges...

 

Best

Ben

[derBen]

Dosen't it have to be 47mF instead of 470mF for C1...C3?

[derBen]

The 300mOhm of the transformer lead to a voltage drop of 3V with 10A current.

I think, that's the missing 3V you are searching.