Project Microwaved December 12, 2005

All comments are welcome. Thanks for the forthcoming tips and critiques.
Project

 

I've prowled these boards as a non member for a while. I've marveled at some of the amazing and imaginative creations from the members. Each modder pushing the limits of what can be made into a PC case. Each time I see some of the innovative work being done I tell myself I've got to try to mod something. So as a complete newb I introduce my first mod.

Microwaved:


I know it's been done at least 3 times that I can find googling. But it's been sitting in my garage for 3 years and it cries out to me each time I pass it. "Look, over here!"...."Please hack me up"...."I know your mb will fit in my warm cozy oven".

My components are nothing special. They consist of:
Abit NF7S MB
2 SATA drives
XP Mobile Chip
GForce 6800GT
Water Cooled

My plans are not exactly mapped out. I have some paper napkins sketches and some thoughts tumbling around in my head. The component placement will be in the obvious spots. With the mb in the cooker area. The PSU will sit in the same position as the origional power supply and transformer of the microwave. Beyond that I'll figure it out as I go.

Comments posted here:
Comments

 

Here are some pics of the microwave.


I want to strip the door down and remove much of the windowing. I'll replace it with plexi. Maybe a tinted plexi window. Ideally I'd like to try to mod a LCD screen into it. But I'm not sure I should attempt it at this point. I need to read a little more on how it's done. Maybe at a later date.



This is where the motherboard will be placed. I've not decided if I'm going to bondo the recess for the lazy susan or place a sheet of plexi over the top of it. Bondo'ing would be the better option as I would make it appear naturally flat.



And here is where the PSU cables will run to the mb. It has some interesting pop outs. Not sure if it's for some sort of kit like a rotissarie unit or something. Who knows. I will reuse the plasic pop outs.



Not much to say about the bottom. It has plenty of venting which is nice.



And you can see here that the placement of the psu will be a no brainer.

 

Dont forget to build a heat-ray gun out of the microwave parts!

 

I was looking at the magneto and microwave unit this morning. Very interesting and simple piece of engineering. I'll place a dish on the transmitter portion and point it at my neighbors unsecured wireless network. I think it transmitts at 2.5ghz.

 

Welcome to bit and congrats on your first log here.

I cant wait to see how this turns out as Ive always kinda wondered. Pics look great too!

 

Thanks for the comments.

Looks like I can't place a dish on the end. The wavelengths are all wrong. According to this guys site you'd have to use a "horn".
Microwave gun

Not that I'd seriously consider doing that. I keep telling my neighbor his wireless isn't secure and I can get on his connection anytime I want. He just shrugs. Oh, well.

 

I removed the door as my first step in stripping down the oven. Just needed to remove a dog leg latch on the bottom of the door.


I then removed the back panel to the microwave and gained access to the power/magneto and circuit board housing.

I also removed the motor that spins the tray on the inside of the oven. This is an interesting little motor. Might make a cool mod for something? I'm sure you can come up with some ideas.

 

Original idea, welcome to Bit-Tech

P.S. Be careful with that magnetron

 

About that small motor, make your mobo spin around!

Only those cables...

Lots of succes with your mod

 

Here's the magetron removed from the microwave.

 

And for anyone interested in how a microwave works:
Gallawa

And from "Howstuffworks":

A microwave oven uses microwaves to heat food. Microwaves are radio waves. In the case of microwave ovens, the commonly used radio wave frequency is roughly 2,500 megahertz (2.5 gigahertz). Radio waves in this frequency range have an interesting property: they are absorbed by water, fats and sugars. When they are absorbed they are converted directly into atomic motion -- heat. Microwaves in this frequency range have another interesting property: they are not absorbed by most plastics, glass or ceramics. Metal reflects microwaves, which is why metal pans do not work well in a microwave oven.

 

Heres the front panel stripped of the button/circuit board. I love the look of that circuit.


And the inner housing completely gutted. Notice the mount for the microwave unit on the right side. This proved to be a pain in the butt to remove so I whipped out my brand new dremel and put it to use for the first time.




I forgot to take a picture of the dremel in action Heh.
I had to boar out the taps they used to mount the mount to the side of the unit.

 

Next was to strip down the door. All I needed to do was break a few tabs to get the plastic shell off the metal door. All the plastic will be discarded. I removed the inner and outer plastic windows as well.

 

And finally where I'm currently at. Primed/sanded...primed/sanded and the first coat of paint on the outer shell. I plan on doing the inner shell a dark blue metallic. My wife made some comment about the garish color I chose. That tells me I made the right choice in color.

 

nice idea, I'll follow this to see how it turns out.

 

I can't wiat to see more of this project.

 

Nice! I like microwave mods! I was planning to do one too, when I realised I couldn't really have a powerful comptuer in one because of size and heat issues.

I'll be watchin!

 

Wow, some neat ideas here man! Keep up the good work

-=Ħұß®¡Ð=-

 

No pics. Just a status update. I don't have much time during the week to add to the project. So I have to wait until the weekend to proceed with work. Some of the planning includes the following items.

1. Cut/trim and polish up the plexi for the door. This includes either smoked/colored or painted plexi for the inner and outer door. Possibly will include lighting.
2. Cut/trim or bondo the inner chamber to flatten the bottom for placement of the mb tray. This is not entirely necessary but will make the overall appearance smoother.
3. Paint the chassey of the microwave. (Royal Blue or Dark Blue).
4. Determine final placement of PSU, HD, Pump, Res. (Will need connectors to create a smooth transition through the wall of the inner chamber.) This would most likely be quick disconnect plugs.
5. A suprise addition that a "beer" swilling friend of mine came up with. I'll post the progress of this part of the mod but will NOT explain in detail what its for. I'll let you guess. As it progresses you will be able to figure it out.
6. Wiring the power and toggle switch for the pump.
7. Touch up and final assembly.

Special note: Any and all ideas are most welcome. I would love to include or change any of the parts on this project to include ideas submitted by the members. As a newb all comments and suggestions are most welcome.
Comments and Suggestions