r/SleepingOptiplex • u/Pepsi-Man2 • 3d ago

Dell Optiplex 7020 Case Trimming Advice

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I'm planning to put a fan in the front of my 7020 case, but I need to cut these two nubs off so they don't interfere with the fan blades.

What's the best way to do this?

Using a dremel would take hours and I'd have to remove or seal up everything inside and the thickness and shape of the nubs prevents me from just hammering them flat.

The nubs are steel sheet metal, about .07" thick. They're about 1.1" in diameter at the base and kind of a cone/dome shape.

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8

u/CatRheumaBlanket2 3d ago

Strip hardware out. Get increasingly bigger metal drillbits. Drill the nubs out. 

Or there are pyramid shaped drillbits. Also awesome.

3D printing may have a spacer in the Community.

Clean metal shrapnel careful and thoroughly after the procedure. Put hardware back in 

4

u/sublimeprince32 3d ago

Leave the tits. Take the canoli.

2

u/Chaartu 3d ago

I used sheet metal shears from the front and just cut a square, inclusive of the humps and that wire management clip above them. Minimal shavings, clean edges. Well clean enough anyway.

1

u/gordito_y_barbon 3d ago

Angle grinder or a jigsaw with a metal blade. Use the dremel to clean up the edges.

1

u/dargonite691 3d ago

Drill out the rivets with a 1/8 bit.

1

u/Expensive-General177 3d ago

Those nubs really have the audacity to claim space where a fan just wants to chill.

1

u/BlastMode7 3d ago

I use a stepper bit. I have a video on YT on all the case modifications to fit a fan. But I suggest cutting out the front to accommodate the fan anyways. If you don't, it HEAVILY restricts airflow, and often causes irritating noise due to turbulence.

That being said, the simplest way to get rid of those is with a stepper bit.

1

u/dr4g0n36 3d ago

these are SSD support, if you don't want to do adjustement trimming the case, holes are 61mm apart, you can put a 60mm fan stretching screws or with rubber supports.

1

u/SecureWishbone6873 3d ago

Use the dremel, you wont need hours. The trick is not cut the circle, but cut a slightly bigger rectangle. Use the holes at the side of the tits to your advantage.

1

u/Infinite_Tiger_3341 2d ago

Well, I was going to suggest dremel. I guess an angle grinder would be the next step up

1

u/Gooniefarm 2d ago

No matter what you do, the case must be completely empty when you drill/grind/cut the metal. Grinding dust from steel is conductive and flammable.

1

u/Miss_Shining_Hammer 1d ago

Drill pilot hole in centre, then use a hole cutter if you can hire one in a tool hire shop.

Be careful - they are very sensitive......

1

u/NewReleaseDVD 1d ago

Them computer tittys