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

Hard Drive Window

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by linear, 22 Jan 2002.

  1. danielctull

    danielctull What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    28 Feb 2002
    Posts:
    191
    Likes Received:
    0
    auction sites are good for old small hard drives o practce on. i got 6 hard drives (between 40 and 400 megs) for £5.60. as long as you set your limit, you'll be ok...
     
  2. Kyle Gagnet

    Kyle Gagnet What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    7 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    47
    Likes Received:
    0
    What doing this mod on a 40gig Maxtor? The ridges on top are all curved and it doesn't seem like it would look good to have a window that shape. So i was thinking about just replacing the top of the HD with a piece of plexi the same size. This seems like it would be less risky. While it wouldn't look as classy, it would still look cool from a window.
     
  3. ::Dawg::

    ::Dawg:: What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    14 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    254
    Likes Received:
    0
    I loved this mod so much i tempted it myself! LOL, indeed "whats a dremel?"

    Tested on a Seagate 2Gb HDD...

    I mounted the window on the inside and made the case edges curve down so it looks like the window is actually melted with the metal.

    Only problem is i didn't realize it is putting pressure on the inside.

    The drive spins up but the pressure is making it spin prob around 2000rpm instead of 5400. :-(

    Hey, i have a nice paperweight? I think its a good try for my first mod.

    Did i mention I did it at work, and got paid $8/hr for it? muhahahh
     
  4. linear

    linear Minimodder

    Joined:
    5 Oct 2001
    Posts:
    4,393
    Likes Received:
    1
    That's the sweetest part...
     
  5. knoj

    knoj What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    11 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thank you for the inspiration!

    I feel like a looser making an exact copy of what someone else has already done, but I like this alot, and I am guessing I will be the first person in Iowa to have a sweet drive like this. Mine is going inside my 100% clear HTPC. Nothing in this case will have a valid waranty... ha ha ha!

    The inside of my case will be lit with several blacklight LED's My concern is possibly an interference problem with UV? Anyone know?

    Oh, something that might be helpfull to anyone attempting this on a WD Caviar drive (and maybe others too, I'm not sure if this is standard) the size torx driver you will need is: T8 I purchased a whole set at Sears, cause I didn't know which size I needed, and ended up returning the whole set, and taking my HD in and just trying them out untill I found the right one.

    Sears sells the T8 Torx driver for $3.99. They also carry Dremel tools, and Needle File sets. Luckily, I work for 3M so I get sand paper for about $0.01/sheet, and many other products real cheep!
     
  6. knoj

    knoj What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    11 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    He he...

    I got me one! :lol:

    [​IMG]

    Notice I found some gray electrical tape to seal the edge?

    Too bad the larger WD's are that stupid round case.. Oh well.

    Any one do this on a 60G or larger?

    I think my DVD-ROM is next to go under the knife.
     
  7. ::Dawg::

    ::Dawg:: What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    14 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    254
    Likes Received:
    0
    Is there anyway you could fit some 3mm or 5mm blue LEDs inside the harddrive with a window in it? Would provide a nice lighting effect, I just dont know where you would get the power.
     
  8. knoj

    knoj What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    11 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah, I have some blacklight LED's and I was thinking about putting 1 or 2 in there, but I didn't want to play around much with the top off... I think you could try it out on a dead drive, then try it on a newer one. I am going to be using that 1.6G I just posted above to run all of my system files off of.
     
  9. ::Dawg::

    ::Dawg:: What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    14 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    254
    Likes Received:
    0
    but how would you wire in some LEDs to a power source inside the hdd?:worried:
     
  10. knoj

    knoj What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    11 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    I was thinking of making a molex power plug addapter that is both ends, and it just plugs into the outside of the power receptical for the HD, and running a very small pair of wires in through the crack under the electrical tape.

    What do you think? I don't think this would create too much of an eye sore.
     
  11. ::Dawg::

    ::Dawg:: What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    14 Mar 2002
    Posts:
    254
    Likes Received:
    0
    I was under the impression that any crack in the seal would permit dust to enter the drive which is a very very bad thing :nono: So thats why i am puzzled
     
  12. knoj

    knoj What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    11 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    This particular type of case already has a crack in it, and I was just thinking of running a pair of small wires under the seal, you could even drill a small hole in the top part while you are putting the window in, then put the wires though the hole, and then fill the hole with glue, or silicone.

    There is plenty of room to put 1 LED in each corner, and you could hide the resistors there too.

    I am still going to stick with my case lighting, and not lighting the HD. What I would like to see is a nice anodized aluminium case. Maybe a red one with a window. Dupli-Color makes paint that is supposed to look like anodized aluminum, but it's not the real thing.
     
  13. www.josh.org.uk

    www.josh.org.uk What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    19 Oct 2002
    Posts:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    very very cool ! i am trying it on an old western digital 365mb !! :p your article is very good! i tried to cut the window bit with a stanley knife (the metal part) but it didn't work, so then i dremmeled it... now i'm wondering where you got the parts from?

    Thanks

    Josh
     
  14. kman

    kman What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    9 Dec 2002
    Posts:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
  15. Mikki

    Mikki What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    19 Dec 2002
    Posts:
    59
    Likes Received:
    0
    linear, is this something you'd consider doing for someone else? There's a lot of things I'd do, but I don't have the b@lls for this, esp. with my main drive.... :)
     
  16. fatal_error

    fatal_error What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    3 Jan 2003
    Posts:
    215
    Likes Received:
    0
    Linear: m wondering if u could do a mod like this with the whole of the lid made of perspex? i have the same drive as u used in ur article, do the platters/head stick out above the top?:confused:

    sweet mod
     
  17. linear

    linear Minimodder

    Joined:
    5 Oct 2001
    Posts:
    4,393
    Likes Received:
    1
    The tapped holes for five of the seven screws that secure the lid stand proud of the armature and platters, by a very narrow margin. So on closer inspection of this disassembled housing right here, I'd say yes.

    Get hold of a dead drive (they're cheap!) and try your luck with that as a template first. Once you get a lid worked out, move it to the nice new (working) drive.

    A vacuformed acrylic lid would be insanely badass, I don't have the tooling to do it though.
     
  18. fatal_error

    fatal_error What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    3 Jan 2003
    Posts:
    215
    Likes Received:
    0
    this might very well get tried...:naughty:

    cheers
     
  19. taribo

    taribo What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    9 Mar 2003
    Posts:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
  20. Kameleon

    Kameleon is watching you...

    Joined:
    29 Apr 2003
    Posts:
    3,500
    Likes Received:
    8
    So, a year and a half later - does it still work? :D I'm thinking of doing one of my WD1200JBs, the adrenaline rush will be quite something too I suspect ;)
     
Tags: Add Tags

Share This Page