Hey, I started a thread in the modding area asking for advice and have just started work on my shuttle. So i figured i may as well make a project log and get feedback from you guys and also any good advice as i go along. Im 17 and live in burton on trent in the uk and just coming to the end of my a levels. I have being building PC's since i was 14 and havnt ever done a decent mod. I currently have a Shuttle SN41G2 to work with and have the following plans/ideas 1) chalkboard surface. I saw some paint where you could turn any surface into a chalkboard, just paint it on and wala! chalkboard. Would look good with UV lighting inside i think. 2a) PSONE LCD screen. This is something i DEFINETLY want to implement, i have looked at the forums to see how its done and its fairly simple. However, the shuttle is used as a media pc and doesnt have a monitor, it just uses the tv out to display on the tv. So im not 100% sure how i would connect it up as most people tend to use that port. ideas please. 2b) Lilliput 6" TFT, these are found on ebay, but im not sure how the quality is on them. 3) watercooling. I already talked about this in another thread, and it doesnt seem possible in a shuttle, i thought the aquarious 2 kit might have fitted but it seems not. 4) matrix orbital alternate that will fit into a 3.5 inch bay. Xen0phobiak suggested a 16x2 display (Matrix Orbital LK162-12-WB (5 Volt)) but i couldnt find a bezel to fit it in so would have to cut that myself 5) The usual cable braiding and lighting, no need to explain that. Current Situation I have cut windows before with a dremel, but they have being complex patterns that didnt really have straight edges. With this i just wanted a rectangle window which prooved to be very hard to cut for me. I just cant get the edges straight! (tips anyone) I think the only way to solve my wavy edges would be to put some chrome edging on to hide them. At the moment i cant think of anything else. Once i get a few tips on cutting a straight edge i will do the other side of the case. I also plan to order a screen in the next week along with cable braiding, lighting and chalk board paint. This is my first ever full on mod so feedback and comments are appreciated. Cheers
I wouldn't bother with watercooling in a shuttle. It won't fit very well and an Aquarius is a POS anyway. You'd be better off swapping the fan and cuttign away the grill.
For straight edges you could just cut a little bit inside your lines, then file till it's straight. ya dig? But I think chrome molding around it would be keen
well i cut inside my line so i could file it down but still how am i ment to get a straight edge! will give it ago tonight. A friend is coming round to mod his PS2, could be interesting... I will probably remove the back grill and replace the ICE fan and also the northbridge fan. Just ordered some lettering to have an experiment with, simply because i needed to spend the last few quid on my card for when i get paid
For getting those edges straight I used a tool my friend refered to as a grinder. Picture: This thing is large, so it won't work for tight spaces, but you can round or straighten anything with it. Very useful. Of course, you'll have to find one then hehe. That too. Good luck mate!
unfortunatly i dont have access to a grinder, and cant afford to buy one at 17. chrome edging it is Looking at another project last night (cant remember which now) and someone made a custom bay, that was black and had like FAN 1, FAN 2, UV, BLUE that was backlight and the switch underneath. Im thinking of doing a variation on that, but cant find the project to get the idea straight in my head again, doh!
You don't have a file or sanding block? If you get a sanding block you get nice straight edges. That's what I used.
Going to make a bodge job snading block and give it a go tonight, there plenty of room to work with. Also going to do the classic chryo mod to my mouse, quick and easy to do
You can pickup an angle grinder for about £10 if you know where to go, I know you can get one in there from Makro.
Well i couldnt mod the mouse didnt have thin enough plexi so i thought i would do a cdrom window. AFter about 5 minutes with the dremel, it had made a tiny little scratch. what sort of cutting discs should i be using for it?
Come on guys, what is the best way for me to cut through the steel cdrom cover? going to the hardware store in an hour to get some menacing tools
For filing/sanding a flat edge try this. Get ur hands on a piece of steel bar or extrusion or you can use a chunk of 2 x 4 which will prob be pretty cheap at homebase or b & q. If you clamp this metal/wooden bar against the line you want to cut/file along with a couple of 'C' clamps then you can just keep filing down to the bar. Providing the bar was pretty straight in the first place you should be left with a nice straight cut.
For watercoolling you can use this.... im useing one in my DigiDice Realy easy to install This is not my DigiDice!!! but the same setup. WaterChilled P4 2.8 @ 3.2GHz, watercooled. 1GB PC3500 Ram raptor WD740GD Radeon 9800Pro, watercooled.
digging around in my toolbox i have found 3 types of cutting disk- but im unsure which to use to try and cut the steel (1mm steel it is i believe) and i dont have an odd bit of steel to test on either. I have chosen to leave watercooling out at the moment it just isnt worth while. Also i used a sanding block last night in an attempt to get a straight edge, but it didnt work so good. I think i will just go the easy option with chrome edging
I would definitely go with the one to the right. I use the middle one type wich is a little bit cheaper. (quite a lot actually) Edit: Well no, actually, the ones i use is as wide as the right one and 1,6mm thick.
well i have 5 of the big black ones, so lets see how it goes Just an update, just fighting off a few bidders for a psone lcd screen, hopefully should have that in the next couple of days or so. No idea where i will mount it yet (maybe the front) but we will see
well it really doesnt want to cut, i got a small slit, but its v.hard to control. Going to try drilling holes close together within the line, then cutting through each bit and sanding down.
Here is a linkto a bit-tech article about dremeling. At least the 3rd page of the article. The main thing is not to try to actually cut the metal, but just sort of grind away layers with the disc. Good luck!
i can dremel pretty good- but this steel seems to tough, it even takes a good 20 seconds to go through it with a drill bit! drilling lots of holes soon, jus waiting for my auction to close for a screen. hopefully it goes to plan
