Hey folks, I have been quite busy and haven't been able to get on Bit-tech for a while. This thread is just to show the plans for my up-coming project. This is a no-rush project that I plan to finish for QuakeCon in August. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is my semi-final design for the project: I am going for a half-way retro look. Basicly I think that there is not enough "Real materials" in products these days. One of my goals was for it to be Wood, Metal and Glass. Granted the glass would have to be tappered, and would be too heavy, so I am using Acrylic. http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/render-1.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/render-2.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/render-3.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/render-4.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/render-5.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/render-6.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/Render-Guts.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/Render-Top.jpg ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- What I want is 99% of the electronics mounted to a piece of wood that is connected to a drawer rail. The rails will allow me to pull the PC out of the front and work on it as needed, then push it back in. The rails locks in both the closed and open position and doesn't open on it's own. A key-lock will provide a secure lock for LANs I have created a air outlet chamber for the radiator, that passes through the PSU, eliminating the fans in the PSU. The 80mm fan at the back will spin at low speed, just enough to pass air over the DDR and MB power regulators. The extra holes near the GPU will allow for airflow over the GPU memory and regulators. I hope to make the wood areas seemless, almost as if they are made of once piece, including the acrylic. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Faceplate: The faceplate will have a Matrix Orbital Red LCD, behind acrylic There are 8 decorative light points that will be provided via fiber optics. There are 5 activity lights on the front, three will function as buttons: NIC activity DVD Activity and Eject Power Light and On/Off Harddrive activity and system lights On/Off WIFI Activity Lastly the slot for the Pioneer slim-line slot-load DVD Dual Layer Burner.
http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/pcb.gif It took about 8 hours and 3 revisions before I was satisfied with the front PCB. The PCB is single sided with only one jumper wire. The PCB houses 100% of the electronics needed for the front display, and will have connections for internal light arrays. I hope to make the PCB using the Epson 2100 printer at my parents house. It can print labels on to solid flat surfaces up to 1.3mm thick. It's meant for use on DVDs or thick cards, but I hope that it will work to print the pattern directly onto the 9mm thick PCB without a transfer. The Qprox touch contacts will be 1/4" copper slugs. A screw from the back will secure them to the PCB. I will work in a securing bracket to secure the top of the PCB. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Mousepad http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/Render-Mousepad.jpg Normaly polished woodgrain is bad for optical mice, but I will be using a MX1000, which says it works on polished woodgrain surfaces. (The mouse in the image is just for size reference) I decided to design a matching mousepad for the system. Since the keyboard and mouse are both wireless I won't be making a glow-pad. After measureing the dimensions on a standard mouse pad I noticed they were very close my case's faceplate size. Then insparation hit, make the mousepad the same size as the faceplate. What I will do is inset four magnets into the mousepad, and four matching magnets behind the faceplate. (No danger to the PC folks) I will then have a detachable faceplate cover that doubles as a mouse pad. I will be using Envirotex Lite to surface the wood. (Thanks Lord Argent for the tip) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am also making a matching "Specs and Sponsors" panel, great for not having to repeat the specs at LANs. Depending on how easy the etch is to read I may fill the etched areas with silver, or some other color of paint to fill the etch. Sand the surface down, and then apply the clear-coating. It will attach to the rear of the PC for transport. http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/Render-Specpad.jpg --------------------------------------------------------------------------
The waterblocks: http://www.zapwizard.com/Projects/wood/pla...ns/block_02.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/Projects/wood/pla...ns/block_03.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/Projects/wood/pla...ns/block_04.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/Projects/wood/pla...ns/block_05.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/Projects/wood/pla...TI_Block_02.jpg http://www.zapwizard.com/Projects/wood/pla...TI_Block_03.jpg I hope to get the waterblocks CNCed. The internal flow pattern may change depending on what capabilities the CNC has. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Before you ask: The 3D renderings were made using trueSpace3, a free graphics program you can download from: http://forms.caligari.com/forms/ts3all_free.html It takes a lot of time to learn, and I can't teach you over the net.
looks nice, ive been thinking about building a wood case, but that will come after i build a new desk. keep up the good work
At last, Zap is back. I missed u dont know bout ne 1 else Looks cool. Good CAD work as ever, and if its like any of your other projects, your comp will look better than the CAD work. <off topic> 1 Q. Did you ever finnish that HTPC project, the ultimat mod, litterally? </off topic> Good luck any ways
The Media PC, no it's been dead for a long time. I do have a pretty good track record so far of making the 3D plans a reality: Plans: http://www.zapwizard.com/lanpc/Angle.jpg Real: http://www.zapwizard.com/lanpc/HighRes/Connectors.jpg Plans: http://www.zapwizard.com/ATI/pc-front.jpg Real: http://www.zapwizard.com/ati/highres/02-Angle-Big.jpg Plans: http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/Kingston/Plans/3d.jpg Real: http://server2.uploadit.org/files/zapwiz-Cimg0165.jpg Plans (older): http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/wood-4.jpg Real (So far): http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/real.jpg Already answered in the third post.
Such a shame bout the media PC, it was looiking so promising, ever likly to have the time to pcik it back up, although some of the hardware that was planneed (and brought) for it is now a bit dated.
Ah, so this is the system that the wateblocks are going in, eh (re: thread on procooling) looking forward to the updates.
Thanks, Also I got a awsome deal on the Dual Layer Slim-line DVD burner (U.S.): http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA32760 It took me about an hour before I found it at that price.
Hi Zap, nice to see you designed a very nice housing for your project. I really like the idea of the rails. (Looks like I have to find something different to keep beeing original Anyway, looking forward seeing how this evolves greetz, Joungne
Wow looks really good like the rest of your stuff. I am planning also on making a wooden case this summer and placing the trailing LED keyboard on it if I can ever get home.
Looks cool! Do you mind if i steal your idea on the wooden mousepad? A suggestion for the "spec 'n' sponsor"-plate: Use one of those burning pens to burn in the text and logos you want. Mabye you could even use a pretty hot soldering iron for that aswell... making it look good should be simple enough.. just print out what you want and burn trough the paper.
