Designing a custom distro for watercooling
I followed the Bit-Tech guide by Alex for designing a custom water-cooling distribution plate, but wanted to highlight some refinements and corrections I picked up from Arya at AquaCustoms.
Here are six key design considerations:
O-ring channel placement
The o-ring channel should only be on one side of the block, not both sides as I initially did.
Countersunk holes
M4 screws require 2.2mm chamfers to sit flush, not the 2.1mm specified in the guide.
G1/4 hole chamfering
Acrylic is brittle, so chamfering (approximately 0.6mm) is necessary to prevent chipping when installing fittings and to guide them into the threading.
Fitting thread length verification
It's critical to verify that the fitting thread length matches the distro's thread depth for proper assembly.
RGB channel specifications
I recommend 3mm wide by 6mm deep channels, with frosted surfaces for light diffusion. Alphacool strips work well for this.
Physical case measurements
Always measure the actual case before ordering — manufacturing tolerances create discrepancies between specs and reality.
I'm planning to order a completed distro from Alex at Praetex Design after taking proper measurements.