Nate, you gotta lay that Plexi-top over your waterblocks and snap a pic so we can see the full effect! 

texinga

Nate, you gotta lay that Plexi-top over your waterblocks and snap a pic so we can see the full effect! 

I was still cutting top sections of blocks.  Bottom sections are up next.  I am making a jig since my tool plate is being eaten alive by all the milling & drilling. 

I ran into a slight problem when I was cutting the outer edge, I ran into the steel bolt that held the tool plate to the mill table.  The mill was programmed to eat through aluminum, when it hit the steel it really got annoyed at me ;)
 
In any case I like the results.  I have to lap the surface of the block down because the O-ring channel is just a hair too deep.

 

Beeeutiful...

Oh yea I forgot to mention - that center circle needs a screw to hold it to the bottom plate.  May not be necessary with a copper top, but the plexi flexes way to much and doesn't make a good seal. 

that hole is for one of the mobo mount screws, for the NF200's.  I don't think copper would need a screw to hold it together because that aluminum one I made sealed up very nicely.  I made the channel a bit too deep in this copper one, so im STILL lapping the entire block down to equal a shallower channel.

Good job Nate, wish I had the time to try my hand at making one.
 
Looking forward to when its out of the beta stage and in limited production. !!!
 
Congrats young Jedi.
 
 
Edit...Oh by the way, I dry machine all my polycarbonate and acrylic tops.
 

 
also You may want to consider  putting the O-ring slot in the top, its easier to machine and of course much faster /less production time.
I coded my new waterblock design that way, and the prototype "machine grade" Delrin top came out very well.
 
3 or 4 flute endmill, 1600 Rpm's and 10-15 IPM feedrate, with a final pass feedrate at 1.5 Ipm for a glass smooth finish.

Ugg, that sucks, havent had that problem , but our machines and tooling are different...are you running carbide tooling ???
 
Didnt mean to second guess you, just trying to be helpfull.
 
 

I try to run carbide all the time.  For some reason I can't get HSS bits to work properly in my mill.  I think the Z gibbs are loose and I am to tired to check.  Will do in the AM. 

All the blocks are cut, drilled and tapped.  I am sanding, counterboring, and awaiting a shipment of O-rings.  I hope to have all the detail work done by the time the O-rings come.
 
I recently acquired a sandblaster.  I was curious if anyone wanted a "frosted" finish to their block.  I will blast a chunk of copper, coat it and take some pictures to show you guys what it looks like.  Maybe some will like the finish?

using glass beads, as fine as powder.  Looks very similar to a Danger Den block.
 
Yes, going to need a bigger basement, OR just take the rest of my basement back over
 

Nope, what you need?

Polished copper with clear coat is all I want.  :)

nateman_doo
brushed finish? like the pics right?

Yes sir, like the first pic on the front page.

First run of sandblasting:

 
This is my first time turning it on.  It leaves a uniform surface just aching to be clear coated.  Really looks sharp.  I am sure my cell camera is doing it NO justice. 
 
This was just done after 80 grit sanded.  Its almost like gravel.
 
Here is a close-up of 40 grit, and also how well the pieces mesh together when put side by side:

As close to perfect as I can get at the moment.  The holes in the picture have not been counterbored.  They are all counterbored now.