Inspired in early 2015 by the many conversions of old PowerPC Mac Pro cases to x86 PC's and the availability of cheap Mac Pros at a university surplus store, I decided to try and build one myself.

 

At the start of the project, I had several issues with existing solutions:

• Many existing guides required too many modifications to the case of the Mac Pro, ruining its original beauty.
• Kits were too expensive for what amounted to a simple laser/water-jet cut sheet of anodized aluminum for the backplate.
• Most mods focused on converting to fit a full ATX motherboard, necessitating even more cuts to the inside of the case.

 

I set out with the goal of converting my case to fit a mATX motherboard, with as few modifications to the case as possible, using as much of the original internal hardware as possible, and using only parts I could 3D print myself.

 

With this in mind, I ended up with 7 printed parts:

• 3-bay 2.5" drive caddy
• ATX power supply caddy with two retaining arms
• 140mm fan suspension bracket
• 140mm to 120mm fan suspension bracket
• Three motherboard standoff panels, matching the mATX standard. Each panel holds two glued-in brass standoffs for the board

 

The parts were printed on a Prusa i3 printer in white ABS. Each of the printed parts was attached to the case using 3M Yellow weatherstrip adhesive, providing a secure bond between the metal and plastic.

 

Overall, the project was a great Solidworks learning experience. I met all of my initial objectives, completing the project for cheaper than expected.