1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Project: LN23

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by tortuegeniale, 23 Sep 2005.

  1. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    Project: LN23 - 23 September

    Link to Project Log Discussion

    [​IMG]

    Burning Chrome

    I've seen cubic pc, pyramidal, spheric but not a lot of cylindric pc !

    So here the one that will become my future TV/divx/mp3 station :
    [​IMG]
    It's a linen basket :hehe: Lot of holes for airflow, plenty of space to include basic components of a pc

    During misc research, I found few computer concept art with cylindric case on applecollection website (this for example)

    stuff that I planned to put together:
    - µATX mobo with P3 1Ghz (integrated sound), 128MB PC133
    - Geforce 2 Mx200 (with tv-out)
    - tv card wintvgo
    - hdd 120Go seagate (1 to start, 1 or 2 more when money will rain)
    - 1 hdd rack
    - 3 or 4 PAPST 120mm fans
    - 145W PSU that was with the p3 mobo i got
    - a DVD player, maybe slot-in
    - Ati Remote Wonder / or usb IR receiver + basic remote control
    - IR keyboard
    - 1 or 2 liquid effect neon
    [​IMG]

    and for software:
    - Aurox Linux
    - MythTV (here is the real challenge!)
     
    Last edited: 23 Sep 2005
  2. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    let's start dremel !

    I cut the original µatx case to take the two 5'1/4 slots (1 for hdd rack, 1 for dvd)
    [​IMG]

    I want to put the two 5'1/4 slots at the bottom of the BC case
    [​IMG]

    plastic borders (originally for car windows) for safety
    [​IMG]

    the hole is larger than the effective size of 5'1/4 because I will hide this with a cover
    [​IMG]

    quick try
    [​IMG]

    chromed cover
    [​IMG]

    chromed cover with plastic border, but the result is not as good as I'd intended.. I'm searching for an alternative solution for covering dvd drive, maybe some wood ?
    [​IMG]

    didn't choose yet what is the more practical, dvd on top or rack on top
    [​IMG]

    temporary system to attach the mobo tray
    [​IMG]
     
  3. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    Little Update

    PSU with a papst 120mm (there will be an airduct and a second fan 120mm)
    [​IMG]

    little test with mobo
    [​IMG]

    psu emplacement, not a lot of space between psu and hdd rack
    [​IMG]

    fitting-test with video and tv card, I dunno if I will add fixations
    [​IMG]

    two 3'1/2 for hdds, didn't defined where it gonna end up
    [​IMG]

    two vandals buttons, one with a protection (looking at my local electronic shop, I found the same protection as in ZapWizard Ammo pc mod, so I HAD to buy it :brrr: )
    + ampermeter to display the state (on/off) of the pc displaying amper and power used
    [​IMG]


    i'm thinking about the visual aspect, i found different solutions :

    - keep the chrome and doing covers with chromed objects

    - keep the chrome and doing covers with wood (like old cars: wood and chrome)

    - keep chrome and adding stylistic flames in color or rust

    - paint everything in one color

    - add a special effect (piloux's blackmesa mod is hypnotic) : rust, old bronze

    i've been searching about this last option :
    [​IMG]

    paint test : on the right, green old bronze, on the left, black paint + green old bronze
    [​IMG]
    i've bought some bronze paint so i will do same kind of test tomorrow


    this is the end : cold cathode will be green for a "tommyknockers powered" effect :D
     
  4. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    tiny elec update

    I used this cable to insert the amperemter :
    [​IMG]

    I inserted the amperemeter on the brown cable (brown: phase, blue:neutral, yellow/green: ground), solder it a little bit and protect it
    [​IMG]

    test on my main rig (psu 350w, XP2400+), 0.6A on idle, 0.75A when running 3D mark2003
    [​IMG]
    I will design a new background with ampere and watt graph once I found the general look of the mod
     
  5. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    not a lot of real update but few changes

    thoughts about how to make a cool cover

    some wood ?
    [​IMG]

    some plexy ?
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    an integrated light for "deluxe" version ?
    [​IMG]

    I start playing with plexy.. and this is what u got when u mix drilling machine ,eagerness and plexyglass :duh: :
    [​IMG]

    I've also blow my amperemeter by being too abrupt when removing its cover..
    my local electronic shop don't and will not have other rounded amperemeters :waah:
    so I took two squared amperemeters (one for power, other for hdd or dvd)
    [​IMG]

    continuation with plexy
    [​IMG]

    but finally I insert the amperemeter directly on the case
    so until my next mood change, main style guidelines are chrome, black and some metal if I can't find chromed pieces
    [​IMG]

    this is what I will use for airduct (it's used usually for drying machine)
    [​IMG]

    To be continued...
    In the next episodes :
    - green liquid effect cold cathode
    - numeric vu-meter 2 * 10 leds
    - mixing vandal swith with fan grill
    - and other things...
     
  6. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    I got today the neon and 3 fans papst 120mm

    The 80mm fan grill will become a sight for the power button
    [​IMG]

    power button integrated
    [​IMG]

    the neon
    [​IMG]

    and night picture.. hard to take a nice pic mais this is really cool with the liquid effect (a little bit like plasma globe when u look at the neon directly)
    [​IMG]
     
  7. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    Update

    cpu fan in 5v: not enough cooling so i'm gonna change and put the fan nearer
    [​IMG]


    psu main cable was too short so i high up the psu with some wood
    [​IMG]

    first test, it works...
    [​IMG]

    I started to make output, in this pic u can see vga and line out, i will make also usb and tv-out
    [​IMG]

    inside view of the output (if u can see these hidden with psu cables), it's just basic extensions (easier than making them myself :rolleyes: )
    [​IMG]

    cpu fan nearest, it's better, 43°C in idle with cpu fan at 5V.. i've also underclocked the cpu at 667MHz so it's make less heat..
    [​IMG]

    little cleanup and changing thermic paste with artic silver
    [​IMG]

    a P4 heatsink on the P3 for passive cooling ? maybe if i found a simple way to attach it..
    [​IMG]

    first tests ok.. without the rack fan and with the psu and cpu fan @ 5v it's the world of silence.. i have to shutdown other source of noise and concentrate to hear a little noise.. i will try to sleep with this computer next to my bed to appreciate the noise...
     
  8. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    inside view with the new fixation of cpu fan
    [​IMG]

    galvanometer for hdd activity.. I did a new picture for it but I finally dun like it in gothic letters, it will have to be redone
    [​IMG]

    insertion of second galvanometer (first for power, second for hdd)
    I also added little chromed balls (normal use: door handles) that remind me electrods (like very high voltage experiences)
    [​IMG]

    lcd display 2x40characters from my first project that I disassembled (mp3 player project), mythtv works with a lcd display normally..
    [​IMG]

    I will add a few shower hoses (g-gnome inspiration)
    [​IMG]
     
  9. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    better pics, 2nd shower hose added, a switch (for cold cathode) next to the top galvanometer, and 4 chromed balls more
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    quizz question: what will be in this sphere ?
    [​IMG]
     
  10. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    I took the sphere from this exterior lamp
    [​IMG]

    chromed parts from a lamp seen few pics ago.. the left part will be the support for the sphere
    [​IMG]

    I started to cut the sphere's support part
    here's a pic to give an idea:
    [​IMG]

    and now the B.P.U. (biological process unit) :rock:
    [​IMG]

    small motor I will maybe use to vibrate the brain
    and two protections for buttons power and reset (the button in the middle of the case will be for opening dvd finally)
    [​IMG]
     
  11. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    I brought out the brain from the congelator for frankenstein's experiences...
    [​IMG]

    I didn't find green cooking oil, only yellowish... so syrup mint + water.. nice green but maybe too dark...
    [​IMG]
    I'm thinking about uv liquid too... If I choose uv liquid, I will add uv leds in the bottom of the sphere
    [​IMG]
    the brain floats well, I will have to add a metal guide
    [​IMG]

    new galvanometers, maybe a clock and a thermometer or for others hdd...
    [​IMG]

    when disassembling the galvanometers, I said to myslef that it could make nice mini-windows. So I take 'same-style' galvanometers a little bigger (last one from my local electronic shop) and will use it as a mini-window, in the center of the case. to look at the cold cathode or some crystals to look like green kryptonite)
    [​IMG]

    on the left a thermometer I will try to use, on the right the button I will use on a rheo for tuning the backlight of the lcd display
    [​IMG]
     
  12. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    cutting for mini-window done, I put white piece of paper on the two other galvanometers while waiting to do something about it..
    [​IMG]

    closer look on the mini-window, we can see the mobo and especially the cpu fan
    [​IMG]

    test with the cold cathode
    [​IMG]

    in darkness, it looks better than my first test because there is the mobo and I think it reflects and the light is more diffused in the little holes
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  13. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    update time
    not a lot of effective work but more unfinished ideas

    my mod had been attacked ! here the bomb/cd.. fortunately, after a small cleaning, my dvd drive is still functional...
    [​IMG]


    I started to work on the borders of 5'1/4 bays
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    piloux sent me this pic, it's remind me another inspiration which I had forgotten: a technology in the game Alpha Centauri called "clinic immortality"
    [​IMG]

    a numeric keypad to be able to use the basic functions (especially music) without keyboard
    [​IMG]

    a little bit of shopping
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    ................ :worried: you should think I'm nuts with this plastic refiller that is destroying the mod and that it's insane to want to add a spider.............
    I fear also the result :waah:
    I want that the bottom look like it's attacked by a black organic thing similar to some sort of alien
    I want to use this tutorial "alien fossil mouse" :
    http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/tutorials.html
    [​IMG]

    after thinking a lot about the sphere, I decided to try the other possibility, a half-sphere with a plexy part
    [​IMG]
     
  14. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    few tests to find a good way to top the half-sphere
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    the spider placement just to give me an idea.. it looks awful but I can't show u yet the pics I have in my head :sigh:
    [​IMG]
     
  15. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    2 good news, 1 'bad', up to u to choose which is
    -> bit-tech asked me to write an article :blush:
    -> Custom PC writed me also to write an article about how I built my mod (I was thinking about a joke so I mailed them on their website and it looks serious :blush: )
    -> I'm just posting my 2 last pics before making a pause on the project because I want to study an idea of my brother : a mechwarrior mod (mix of a mechwarrior of MS' game and Matrix's mech, for a ATX mobo).

    I killed this naughty spider
    [​IMG]

    Then I glued it & attached it
    next step, mastic
    [​IMG]
     
  16. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    00.Update : Intro

    This mod is back.. but in another flavour : "industrial & rusty touch".. chrome part didn't look good when cutted and I had a crush on Piloux & other rusty mods

    let's start from the (almost) beginning again
    [​IMG]

    some preliminary drawings
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    vertical slot-in dvd drive, with a custom security logo :
    [​IMG]

    some material I will use :
    pioneer 120s slot-in dvd drive , eject button and activity led mod, and a little window (in order to don't have to switch on the computer to see if a disc is inside)
    [​IMG]
    zalman zmfc1 fanbus, very easy to dismount and integrate
    [​IMG]

    painting tests
    [​IMG]

    before I find the rust paint, I was thinking about a verdigris effect, so in some pics, there will bronze painting that is definitively not the final color
    [​IMG]

    nice orange rust will be my choice, maybe with some grey parts non oxyded
    [​IMG]
    I will add rust near the end of the mod, so in most of the pics, u will see the underlying color "titanium grey"

    some buttons..
    [​IMG]
    a nice emergency stop button -totally in the industrial theme- will be on the top of the case (I will try to make it stop the sound, and not the power because this kind of button attracts too many innocent hands)
     
  17. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    01.Update : Vumeter

    here is the pic of the kit I used
    [​IMG]

    kit soldered a few month ago, I will change the orange keds for green/yellow/red transparent ones
    [​IMG]

    I added connectors to mount everything easily
    [​IMG]

    with metallic led supports
    [​IMG]

    real test
    [​IMG]

    we can see on the upper pic the new add: 2.1 speakers to appreciate the sound
    [​IMG]

    mounted in the case.. pics doesn't look good but the vumeter add a classy touch, I will add vumeters in all

    my next mods..
    [​IMG]

    on the top of the galvanometer we can see my initial in order that no-one mistake my pc for his own
    [​IMG]
     
  18. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    02.Update : External power part

    homemade extension,
    - black plug that got an industrial look
    - 'universal' cable, this kind of cable looks old for me because the only objects I've seen with cables sheathed of fabric are the old irons
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    classic electric box
    [​IMG]

    but, surprise, the backside is more interesting, full of signs and shapes
    on the right a circuit breaker
    [​IMG]

    cable added
    [​IMG]

    I cut out the hole for the circuit breaker, and attached the box with cap nuts
    [​IMG]

    cut out to insert the bulky back of the circuit breaker, sheath that will be inserted in the box
    [​IMG]

    attached box, black primer paint for the plastic box
    [​IMG]

    gray painting, added cable and the electric sticker. on the top first rust test directly on case, cable dirtied with clay and bicycle chain's grease but I must continue to dirty it
    [​IMG]

    I used plumbing things to make the storing of the cable
    [​IMG]

    interior view, with the connector to use the circuit breaker
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    futures completions:
    - iron/rust painting
    - to age sticker electric, circuit breaker
    - to continue to dirty the cable
    - maybe add indications "AC POWER 230-250V" on the low corner right of the electric box
     
  19. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    03.Update : Fanbus

    this fanbus (lien constructeur ZM-mfc1) is easy to disassemble
    [​IMG]

    tears off what I don't want: leds, switches 5v/0/12v
    [​IMG]

    plastic cover used as a guide to drill holes
    [​IMG]

    done !
    [​IMG]

    in order to know what's what, I used key-rings.. they twist easily to go with the roundness of the case
    [​IMG]

    with temporary painting
    [​IMG]
    key-rings idea was originally for the jukebox part

    futures completions:
    - iron/rust painting
    - stickers to indicate what's what: psu, cpu, intake & outtake (for 2 fans at the top of the case)
     
  20. tortuegeniale

    tortuegeniale What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    155
    Likes Received:
    0
    04.Update: Iron Painting
    pics of the very light work of the week before something more consistent that I'll will do during this weekend

    two coats of iron paint. interior was a little shining and did not looks coll so flashy orange painting that will be visible only throught the small holles so it's not going to make a heavy effect
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    iron paint on the back power part, I still don't know how to manage the transition effect with the circuit breaker
    [​IMG]

    minimum to be made envisaged this weekend: to use a old female power plug with protection door to insert the ps2/vga/tv-out plug (I've found two so it's gonna be both ps2 on one and vga + tv-out on the other)
    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page