Art Deco PC Stand – Top 5 Constraints and Specifications

For my final project, I am making an Art Deco style PC Stand that fully surround my PC. As with pretty much any other project, there are constraints to which the design must adhere, and specifications that we would like to the design to follow. Below are the top 5 constraints, and top 5 specifications for my Art Deco PC Stand.

Constraints:

1. Material Choice – Because I will be laser cutting the individual pieces of the stand at either the Idea Forge or ITLL at CU, I have to choose a material that is compatible with their machines. I initially wanted to use wood, but the thickness I chose was too large for the machine, so I had to pivot ideas.
2. Cost – Another constraint of using the school laser cutters is that you can either buy material from them, or bring them material you bought yourself. While wood is not all that expensive, it can be difficult to find the right type and size. If I decide to use acrylic instead of wood, it can be provided by the school, but the cost adds up quickly.
3. Time – The last constraint that comes along with using school equipment is that it could take a significant amount of time to receive your part, due to the new work order system. Due to the sheer number of orders they are receiving, certain facilities are becoming overloaded and lead times are increasing significantly.
4. Size – Because the purpose of the stand is to hold my PC, it must be big enough to accommodate it. My PC case is rather large, with dimensions of 19.69” x 8.78” x 18.7”(L x W x H). 
5. Hinges – Because of the large cutout in the connection plate of the stand, the hinges that hold up the front plate are forced to be rather small. Because of this, there are concerns about whether they will be strong enough to support the front plate. If I want to increase the size of the hinges, I will have to modify the design of the connection plate.

Specifications:

1. Aesthetic – As I have written about in my previous posts, I am going for a design that includes Art Deco Geometries, and highlights the gaming aesthetic of my PC. I am hoping that the RGB light from my PC shines through the geometric cutouts in the front plate.
2. Size – I included size as a specification as well as a constraint, because while the stand needs to fit the PC, I also want it to fit snugly. This means designing the stands inner dimensions to only be slightly smaller than the dimensions of my PC case.
3. Build – I want to build the stand to be very sturdy, not just so that it will reliably hold my PC, but also so that it can withstand accidental kicking or rolling into it with my chair. In order to accomplish this, I need to determine the best hardware setup for structural soundness.
4. Accessibility – Because I occasionally need to access the inside of my PC, having the side panel of the PC be accessible is a big part of my design. Having the front panel on hinges will allow me to place or remove the PC as necessary, and will also allow me to remove the side panel of the PC case when needed.
5. PC Functionality – In order to ensure the stand does not impede on the functionality of the PC, the connection panel must have a cutout that is large enough to accommodate the cables going into it. I don’t want the connection plate to redirect the cables either, as this can damage them in the long run. In addition to cable functionality, I also want the PC Stand to increase airflow to the PC. I plan on accomplishing this by having cutouts in the baseplate of the stand, as well as including corner pieces to keep the baseplate off the carpet.