IBM PC-AT Reborn – Installing Fans

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I received a few packages that contained some fans, power switch, LEDs, and a few other odds and ends. So I’ll be working on getting those things installed.


I’ll be adding 4 fans, all 60mm, to the back panel to help exhaust warm air.

60mm fans ready for the case

I cut 4 holes in the back to mount the fans to, fitting them in around the other features.

4 fans fit around everything

I know they’re not large fans, and they’ll be a little bit noisy, but they are the largest fans I could fit in the available space.

All 4 fans ready to exhaust the hot air

Next up I had some 120mm fans to install in the case.

120mm fans for the front and CPU cooler

Since the case wasn’t designed to mount these fans, I had to make some custom brackets for them.

Custom fan brackets

They’re basically just z-channel that mount to the fans, which then mount to the chassis. The 1″ angles made for a perfect fit on the 25mm thick fans.

120mm fan in a bracket

Once those were done I used some clamps to hold the fan in place to mark and drill the screw holes

Drilling the mounting holes

After that I had cut out profiles to match the fan openings. Little crude, but functional.

Cutting the fan curves

Repeat on the other one to have one on both sides of the fan.

Both brackets contoured

Got that one test fit back in the chassis to make sure it lined up correctly.

It fits in there nicely

Then I repeated all of those steps to make a second one. This one required adding a couple aluminum angle brackets to the chassis so I could mount it, but now I’ve got two 120mm fans in the front.

Front intake fans installed

After that I decided to focus my attention on getting the power button installed. I decided to replace the existing lock with the power button. I had to shorten the barrel that the lock was installed in so I could get the nut on the button.

Shortening the barrel to install the button

Looking back, I almost wish I would have gotten a silver button, but it fits the spot nicely.

Button installed

That will do for this one, happy with the progress so far, things are starting to take shape!

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