Project :: Party Box :: Big Update 05/02/03

Well, the project looks awesome .

As for the handles; if you go for looks I think they look best on the front.
However I have been lifting a lot of large flightcases lately (I work with theatre companies) and I found that I need either only 1 handle in the middle of a side if I can lift something with 1 hand or if I need to lift something with two hands I need two handles on preferably opposite sides. If they are on the same side I just have to bend my back- and armmuscles the wrong way. So if you really need the 2 handles I would place them on the sides (despite the lesser look)...

Good luck,

Sir George

 

this project looks to be turning out gr8t...and strong too....im suprised u didnt have to use a break to bend the alu...

 

Today I have mostly been taking things apart

I wanted to use my old Logitech Cordless Keyboard and Mouse combo with the Party Box but it's a bit bulky as it stands.



So I decided to take it apart and see if I could hook it up to the header on the Epia-M motherboard for a keyboard/mouse.





After taking the cover off I used my multimeter to trace back which wire terminated where and then used some old cd-rom audio cables to lash something together.

And guess what it works

All I have to do now is to tidy the cabling up and mount the receiver in the case.

For those interested here is the pinout for the Logitech receiver - pin one is at the top.

1 - Keyboard Clock - Purple
2 - Keyboard Data - Green
3 - Keyboard VCC (+5v) - Red
4 - Keyboard GND - Light Blue
5 - Mouse Clock - Pink
6 - Mouse Data - Dark Blue
7 - Mouse VCC (+5v) - Orange
8 - Mouse GND - Yellow
9 - GND

The Logitech receiver terminates using USB connectors and comes supplied with USB -> PS/2 adapters. Now I did not know if these adapters contained any electronics or if they were just straight converters. So I took apart a pare adapter to find it's just a straight through connector.



I also took apart the IRMan that I plan to use for IR control of the Party Box. It has a standard serial connector I just wanted to remove it from it's box and make the cabling shorter and neater.



That's about if for now.

Cheers, CC

 

Looks nice dude !!!

 

that is some sweet work there charlie, i really need that exact box as i have to take my computer in my 13kg case coolermaster act 710 to all the prtys and it is only a matter of time until it gets battered by me (drunk) or by sum other drunkard

 

Project :: Party Box :: Rainbow Window

Okay, so today I have been working on the window for the top of this case. I have allways liked the etches that others have done and thought I'd give it a go and also add some lighting courtesy of 8 biright colour cycling 5mm LEDs which I had.

So, no more words..here's the piccies


Firstly I drew what I wanted to etch with a marker pen.


Then turned it over ready to etch.


Etching done...just need to clean it up now.


All cleaned up and looking smart.


Installed into the top of the case.










The top two shots are with the light on, the rest with it off.

I am well pleased with the outcome whichs looks even better in real-life.

Cheers, CC

 

i like that window a lot, especially in bloo
keep up the good work

 

When I saw the first pic with "Party" written on it I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

But it looks really cool Hehehe, does the colour change automatically?

 

Yep, colour changes automatically.

Starts of with 8 red, then 8 blue, then 8 green and then you get a combination of red, green and blue so you never now what colour will come up next.

I too was very unsure as to what to etch on the window. As first I was going to leave it clear but the lighting did nothing as it had nothing to reflect/refract/whatever off. So I kept it simple...I like it

Cheers, CC

 

pretty colours

 

ditto. and i like it too

 

WOW, looks great! can you make them sound activated??



great work

DDK

 

That would be cool!

 

Cool!

 

Really cool!

GeeK!

 

-> SWEET ! <-

 

So those are tri colour leds? What circuit did you use to fade their colours like that?

 

No circuitry involved...they do it all on their own

It's very hard to see inside the LED's but they have some sort of circuit thingy at the base.

Cheers, CC

 

where did u get those led's ?

 

They came installed in a case I had used to build several systems which had these acrylic rods running up each side of the case. At the top they had two blue led's and at the bottom they had two of these colour cycling led's. Now the people who bough the systems did not really want these bottom led's so I removed them leaving me with 8 of them - which was nice

Cheers, CC