Scratch Build – In Progress Project: Sting

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by Frenkie, 20 Aug 2008.

  1. Frenkie

    Frenkie Lets mod the world!

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    A caseconstruction based on a mini-itx mobo.
    This time I went for a small case-construction. Especially after I made the BFG
    this time I wanted more contrast in my mod collection. Small mini-itx hardware is
    much easier to build in larger boxes, boxes or suitcases, but a
    entirely new custom case like this I've never seen.(yet)

    The hardware.
    This time I have a VIA EPIA ML5000EA motherboard, 17 x 17 cm.

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    Everything is there and, video, 6 channel audio, 100 mbit lan and a passive cooled
    533 MHz CPU.

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    Also, I have a slot-in DVD player, it comes with an adaptor for the mobo.

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    Then the HDD. First, I had a 40 GB 2.5 " laptop hard drive with an adaptor ....

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    ... but I've found something much more fun.

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    A SSD of a simple CF card.

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    A 2Gb CF card, and the adapter comes (where else) from Hong Kong.
    Together with its passively cooled CPU and SSD he is 100% silent.
    By comparison, a picture with a standard 3.5 "HDD, a 2.5" HDD and the
    new SSD.

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    Oh yes, and for comparison, this was a few years ago the 10 Megabyte Winchester
    disk ....

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    SketchUp.

    My design is based on the general shape of a Scorpion.
    Judging from the minimum sizes of the hardware (mobo, powersupply and slot-in
    DVD player) I started playing with SketchUp.
    I even have a photo taken of the motherboard and all hardware components and
    in SketchUp used as texture. Can I recommend to everyone, looks much more
    realistic.

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    A body ...

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    a tail ...

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    and two arms with slicers/dicers.

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    I have long sought materials for the case, and I've found something unique.
    You know a lot of PCs are built from old motherboards, well, I found
    industrial circuitboards that have not yet been finished.

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    Beautiful dark green circuit boards, completely flat and clean.

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    An additional bonus was found only afterwards, when you are slightly behind / under apparently let the print in some places the root printbanen.

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    A very nice effect, I think.

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    As I used it with my R2-D2, I used UV responsive gel pens again.

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    Now my green pens bought them for this mod to be deployed, but my first
    experimental did not gave me the effect what I thought of it.

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    The Case.

    As a basis, I have taken an aluminum plate of 1.5 mm thick.

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    The measurements taken from SketchUp and drawn.
    Converted to the minimum height of the backplate.

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    Ontopic, see my latest toy, a Ferm figuresaw I got from the flea market (cost 12 euros).

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    And a new sander of Rexxon.

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    Finishing is ofcourse still needed with needle files for finishing touch.

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    The hole cut for the backplate.

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    And then the sawn boards to the desired sizes.
    Even a quick mock-up with adhesive tape.

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    And now I show you how it looks with light behind it.

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    For the assembly of printed circuit to the aluminum chassis I used
    brackets of the same aluminum and popnagels.(rivets?)

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    For the tail, I got some perforated aluminum strip.

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    Like it so far?
     
  2. Gott-Maschine

    Gott-Maschine I overheated my dremel and it died.

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    Looking good, I like it a lot. Neat idea, using the circuit boards for the case.
     
  3. k4p84

    k4p84 What's a Dremel?

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    I like the look of this, with light shining through it it looks really good.

    ED
     
  4. .Fatality.

    .Fatality. What's a Dremel?

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    owerkill!
     
  5. wbdog206

    wbdog206 not me

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    that looks pretty good using the circuit boards like that.
     
  6. bigsharn

    bigsharn Officially demotivated

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    I likey:) those circuitboards really do look awesome:p
     
  7. Burnout21

    Burnout21 Mmmm biscuits

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    love it! get some good lighting in there mate!

    You could even hide the power button on one of the PCB's by using a PCB mount button.
     
  8. x06jsp

    x06jsp da ginger monkey!!!!

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    love it! if it turns out like your design it will be one awesome mod :thumb:

    josh
     
  9. Frenkie

    Frenkie Lets mod the world!

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    ooooh, great idea dude! credits 2 U ! :)
     
  10. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Neat use of pcb boards. The look is awesome. I'd make the power switch the stinger on the tail.
     
  11. Frenkie

    Frenkie Lets mod the world!

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    I have something special planned for that :) You're gonna love that even more :)

    ---

    The standard wires from the pico power supply are way too long.

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    Because the powersupply is right beneath the mobo, a forest of wires is stucking out above it, and we dont want that now, do we?

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    With some creative cutting and new connectors that piece is now tailored.

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    The IDE cable that comes with the mobo is also standard way too long.

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    This looks much better already.

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    So it looks a little better already.

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    Some connectors for the powerLED, HD-LED, reset and power switch, got them from old PCs, very handy to have laying around.

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    The tail-backbone, I gave it some small nudges, in a logaritmic form.

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    With some tape, I tried to imagine if my idea is going the right way.
    It sort-off has to resemble scales of a snake/fish. like. ish. :lol:

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    Please note: this is only one side, the tail had three sides.

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    The plates for one side of the tail

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    And for both sides.

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  12. Rozzy

    Rozzy I'll get there :P

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    looks like this is going to be quite a work of art :) good luck
     
  13. brinkz0r

    brinkz0r Minimodder

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    I already know how it continues, lol ;) Good to see this one here to Frenk :)
     
  14. AFX

    AFX "Bling" Silver Mountain 2

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    Sweet case!
     
  15. Scirocco

    Scirocco Boobs, I have them, you lose.

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    Very cool concept! Liking it a lot so far.
     
  16. cheezeit

    cheezeit What's a Dremel?

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    Wow, that is some creative use of pcbs. Would love to see how this turns out :)
     
  17. JBLPL

    JBLPL What's a Dremel?

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    *Subscribed*!!!
     
  18. Frenkie

    Frenkie Lets mod the world!

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    Thanx guys, much appriciated.

    Got a batch of defect computer hardware from Computer Service Maastricht, I guess recycling is a good thing, right?

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    Disassembled the harddrives.

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    To give the case a bit more depth, I cut a large hole in the top panel.

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    And an overlapping panel that is just a bit bigger.

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    Some harddisk parts form little feet for that panel.

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    And glued the large panel together on the toppanel.

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    And now I have a bith more depth and detail.

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    With a light behind it, it is still good looking IMO.

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    In the meanwhile, I'm slowly getting the tail parts together, but forming the tail with the loose tiles is a very difficult and slow process, frustrating and tedious. :(

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    :grr:
     
  19. BlackWhizz

    BlackWhizz What's a Dremel?

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    Great work, but i dont like the pcb-style. Its very original, and very nice worked out, but this style is just not my style.
     
  20. The_Beast

    The_Beast I like wood ಠ_ಠ

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    very very cool mod
     

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