Question Broken plastic clip in a frontal deepcool case chasis.

[dangarvis]

Dear community,

I was cleaning my computer and when I started to open the frontal chassis of a deepcool matrexx 50 mesh 4fs case, one of the six plastic clips broke sadly and I got anxious 😰. Luckily when I finished cleaning the computer, the frontal chassis connected to the case correctly but there is one side that is not completely closed. it's not a lot but I want your opinion, maybe you can help me with a solution.

I will attach the photos, that way you can see the issue, I appreciate the time you are taking to read my post.

I don't want to open the frontal chassis until it's necessary for the next cleaning and I was thinking using a tape, I was searching but I didn't find enough information. I was thinking that maybe if I try to fix that plastic clip, If I open it again other plastic clips have the chance to broke or something like that.

What tape do you think is better to use? Easy to remove and safe for the case? Maybe you have other solutions as well, I was searching to buy just the frontal chasis but it's hard to find it here.

Thank you.

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

IMHO, I'd leave it alone. To me lit looks like you exerted unnecessary force while taking the panel off and at an odd angle. If you have the broken bits of the clip, then you can try and use JB Weld to repair/reset the clips but please be wary that if you're not tugging the case off in a direction parallel to the ground, then you'll be in this predicament all over again.

Maybe you have other solutions as well, I was searching to buy just the frontal chasis but it's hard to find it here.
Where is here? Have you tried reaching out to the official distributor for Deepcool products in your country to see if they can manage a front panel for a small fee? Like I said, I'd leave it as is.

 

[dangarvis]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

IMHO, I'd leave it alone. To me lit looks like you exerted unnecessary force while taking the panel off and at an odd angle. If you have the broken bits of the clip, then you can try and use JB Weld to repair/reset the clips but please be wary that if you're not tugging the case off in a direction parallel to the ground, then you'll be in this predicament all over again.

Maybe you have other solutions as well, I was searching to buy just the frontal chasis but it's hard to find it here.
Where is here? Have you tried reaching out to the official distributor for Deepcool products in your country to see if they can manage a front panel for a small fee? Like I said, I'd leave it as is.

Thank you Lutfij!

You made me think about how was the case position when I opened the frontal chasis and certainly the case was in a vertical position and it wasn't in a horizontal position o parallel to the ground, I appreciate this tip because I didn't know that.

It means that when I have to open again, the case has to be horizontal like in the photos I uploaded in the post? And when removing the front chassis, apply pressure in a straight line, right?

I'm from Bolivia and there isn't many official distributors here but I found one, I will try to get only the frontal chasis and again I thank your help. I learned that I opened in a wrong way .

I will read more about using JB weld to repair or reset the clips, it can be something interesting to learn!

Best regards, I wish you can have a great weekend.

 

[geofelt]

Leave it be.
The problem is hardly noticeable and not impacting any function.

You might be able to order a replacement panel if you contact deepcool.
But, I suspect that the cost would be too much.

 

[COLGeek]

I have broken similar clips in the past. In most situations, there were no issues caused by the missing clips. In a couple of situations, the corner of the front cover was loose.

In that second situation, I used a small screw and washer to insert into one of the round alignment pins (cylindrical pin) to tighten up the front cover. You just have to remember the work around should you need to disassemble in the future.

 

[dangarvis]

Leave it be.
The problem is hardly noticeable and not impacting any function.

You might be able to order a replacement panel if you contact deepcool.
But, I suspect that the cost would be too much.

Thank for your commentary geofelt, as you said it is hardly noticeable. It's almost not possible to order a replacement panel here but I will have to be cautious the next time I open the panel.

I hope the other clips can hold or resist, that was my concern.

Best regards

 

[dangarvis]

I have broken similar clips in the past. In most situations, there were no issues caused by the missing clips. In a couple of situations, the corner of the front cover was loose.

In that second situation, I used a small screw and washer to insert into one of the round alignment pins (cylindrical pin) to tighten up the front cover. You just have to remember the work around should you need to disassemble in the future.

I appreciate sharing your experience COLGeek!

I will remember your tip about using a small screw in case I would have problems with the front cover, it's the first time I deal with this but I'm learning a lot with the information.

I also have bought a good quality black electrical tape in case that I need to use it, with the solution that you made with the screws, it made you possible to open the frontal cover again? I find it very interesting

 

[COLGeek]

I appreciate sharing your experience COLGeek!

I will remember your tip about using a small screw in case I would have problems with the front cover, it's the first time I deal with this but I'm learning a lot with the information.

I also have bought a good quality black electrical tape in case that I need to use it, with the solution that you made with the screws, it made you possible to open the frontal cover again? I find it very interesting

Yes. Just had to remove screw. Easy and secure.

 

[dev_cyberpunk]

I also have bought a good quality black electrical tape in case that I need to use it, with the solution that you made with the screws, it made you possible to open the frontal cover again? I find it very interesting

well without seeing it, sometimes the other posts that go flush with the front frame will already have a screw hole drilled, but I wouldn't have bother with taking it apart since it has a filter in the front, and all you really have to do is hit it with a shop vac.

 

[dangarvis]

Yes. Just had to remove screw. Easy and secure.

Don't you know some pictures or a tutorial, video of how to do it? I will try to search more about it. Thanks 😀

 

[dangarvis]

well without seeing it, sometimes the other posts that go flush with the front frame will already have a screw hole drilled, but I wouldn't have bother with taking it apart since it has a filter in the front, and all you really have to do is hit it with a shop vac.

Thank your for your commentary dev_cyberpunk,

The few times I removed the front cover to clean it, it's because the three fans usually fills with dust and I use a compressed air duster to clean it and the details with the brusher. I also clean the filter that is in the front cover.

I think that doesn't show in the photos I uploaded but when you remove the frontal cover you can access and clean the three frontal fans of the case because if you try to clean it from the other side, is almost not possible because the dust will stay in the case.

About the shop vac, is it safe to use in a computer? I've read that is not good to use vacuum in computers? I've never used a shop vac before.

Best regards

 

[COLGeek]

Don't you know some pictures or a tutorial, video of how to do it? I will try to search more about it. Thanks 😀

Not really any source for this. Just look inside your case, near the area where the clip was broken.

Do you have an alignment tab/post that extends from the front cover to the frame of your case? It may look like a little circular post.

If the center of that alignment tab is open (cylindrical) you may be able to do what I previously described.

 

[dev_cyberpunk]

About the shop vac, is it safe to use in a computer? I've read that is not good to use vacuum in computers? I've never used a shop vac before.

Since you are vacuuming the outside dust of the case, which is grounded, its not going to do anything. I wouldn't use any canned air as that would just push dust past the filter further inside the machine.

But for inside, I do have a special vaccum cleaner that I bought long ago made (actually branded) by 3M, which is actually an Electroluxe canister vacuum with a special metal braid lining in its hose that is grounded.

I can't find a picture of it on the web of mine, but here is one that looks like the one in my shop, but its black instead of red:

The newer ones look like the old hoover freedom vacs:
https://www1.futureelectronics.com/doc/3M-STATIC CONTROL SOLUTIONS/497AJM.pdf

but yes, you don't want to use a regular vac inside any electronics device. These are special vacs for this purpose and do cost more than the standard vacuum cleaner.