I didn't mean it in that way - what I ment was to stop diverting attention from other, far more interesting mods that I've seen lying around, when Zap himself can't stimulate the same response. I feel Zap needs to pull something out of the bag thats better than... this. Like I said, this mod doesn't seem like it can reach the maximum potential that Zap has to offer. Zap - I'm not trying to be rude, I'm trying to think of a way I can say what I'm thinking about this particular mod, compared to what you've done in the past, and why it just doesn't seem to measure up.
Now for the update that I came here to post: I went back to my designs to finalize stuff so I can cut tommorow. First off I designed the PC so no single peice would be longer then 16 inches. (The limit of the laser cutter) I then realized that my design calls for the wood to be 29cm wide. The wood I have is only 25.5cm wide. So the entire PC is getting a trim so that no area is more then 25cm wide. It may sound like a small difference, but space is TIGHT. But it actualy may have improved my cooling scheme as I have zero room for the duct work, and am therefore re-designing the PSU duct to pull air from under the case, rather then push air out the back. Why not get more wood? The place I bought it from only had one last sheet of 10.25" x 1/4" planed wood, and they won't have any more for weeks. So I had to shrink the case by ~16% http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/new-1.jpg Comparison: http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/new-4.jpg I did manage to keep the faceplate symetrical. http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/new-2.jpg What I did was to create two layers. The top layer holds the motherboard and watercooling parts. The air is pulled from the top layer into the bottom layer. (I may change that later depending on tests) http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/new-3.jpg The bottom layer holds the Power supply, harddrive and DVD burner. Now the entire shell is on rails, where as before the shell still had a bottom and front feet were mounted to it. This changes it so much I may get rid of the rails instead for a "lift off" shell, but that totaly kills the cool factor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you are waiting for "actual modding" here ya go: I made the PCB on Thurday: http://www.zapwizard.com/projects/wood/plans/pcb.gif The PCB took about four hours total due to lots of problems that kept popping up. First the PCB came unprotected, and was supposed to be a non-optical PCB. I painted the PCB, and etched away the needed areas. But it in fact did have a coating that prevented most of the copper from etching away. I had to sand, re-paint and re-etch, hand trace most of the PCB. It took about a hour to fully etch. Of course the ugly yellow PCB needs some paint on the backside to make it look better.
The Laser PC will be "the killer" project with some new circuits and effects never before seen in modding, or anywhere else for that matter, but of course if I tell the plans, you could say all the same things that you did in this thead. I am doing this project, and that's it, like it or not.
I really don't know why people keep questioning something that has barely started- loads of people said they thought the Kingston PC would be naff...and from what I've seen they are certainly wrong! It just annoys me that everytime Zap brings up a new project there are so many "spammy" controversial opinions.So much for being a modding community if you're just gonna swear and abuse a great modder Anyway...nice to see another SFF PC from you, I don't think it's already been mentioned, but what tubing are you planning on using in there? Good luck with it <A88>
Lets just keep to the project folks, good or bad. Right now I will be prototyping with normal 3/8" OD clear tubing. The original plan was for 100% copper tubing, but it all depends on how tight the bends are. I already purchased the 3/8" copper tubing and a pipe bending set. Electronicly the project should be completed by the end of this month for the ATI Ultimate LAN in Dallas. I hope to have most of the wood work done also. The watercooling, effect lighting, and a few other mods will be completed afterwards with no rush, as before it's slated to be completed for QuakeCon.
Nice one, seems like you'll be winnning a few more comps if you get it done in time then . I'm going to be using copper tubing passively in my system, so should be interesting to see how effective it is with water. It's not 'mirobore' you're using is it?! (that's the bendable stuff I should be getting, never actually touched it before so I don't know what to expect!) <A88>
Hmm, my take on all of this. Essentially, your work was one of the inspirational pieces that put you up there with those of legends. Granted, it does seem that over time you have hit a bit of a repetitive lull, but then again, what can you really do to a shuttle when a sponsor is up your ass to plaster their logo all over it. The ATI pc i was skeptical of, and in the end to me it was just okay. When i first saw the plans for the kingston shuttle, i downright hated it. The design looked so ugly and tired, i didnt want anything to do with it. Yet, when i saw the finished result, that was a damn that's nice moment. For the redwood case, it is a nice design and all, but it looks more to be something that would be stealthed in a humidor rather than sit astride a desk. Granted, the design is somewhat reminiscant of what i had in mind to do for the PGL. I'm hoping that you can make this rig work out as nicely as the Kingston one did, and as to the people who decide to chastize him for being repetitive - when you have the sponsor backing, class recognigition and the skills - yeah the skills - required to make simple modifications look as classy as zap's, or to make complex ones look easy, then you can bitch about his work. Until then, can it. Your entitled to an opinion, not to throw tomatoes.
yeah, I'd never heard of it, but I saw this mirobore stuff in screwfix (UK company) and thought it looked like more flexible copper! Will tell you the results <A88>
The only thing that doesnt feel right on this project is that lcd on the faceplate. It looks too small on the faceplate. It might be because its by itself on top of the faceplate. Maybe if the placement of it is changed it might be different. I would hate for it to be bigger but maybe move it somewhere else. How bout moving it down and have the power buttons on either side of it. It looks like it needs something on the sides of the lcd. Or you could add one of those fiber optic lights on each side of it. So that it ties the powerbuttons to the lcd. The hard part is not making it look like a face but its kinda hard because you have the slot cutout on the bottom.
the best bit about this thread?? its like all the others first you have the cheerleading crew and the groupies who all flock round to be the first to give some head and generally get their noses browned up then you get the people who shout at the first lot for being sheep, etc. and then comes the best part...zap continues on with his mod...kinda makes sense being a modding forum?!?! o yeah about mice and polished wood, i have tested and used the following on polished wood: logitech dual optical mx 510 mx 500 mx 300(iiirc)
Sorry mate but I did not post "looks stunning" to give head and brown nose as you put it. What is wrong with showing admiration to someone's plans? Why wasn't G-gnome pounced on like this? Of course a good modder will have a following- otherwise there would be no-one to call them good! Zapwizard: I don't feel it's my place to apologise for these people but I admire the way you carry on updating regardless. To avoid this being another spam post like 80% in this thread- This being a personal project, are all the components off your own back or sponsored again by your (now) great friends at AMD/ATi etc?
Can we please cut out the bitching in this thread? Its totally un-necessary - criticism is fine but when people are posting such comments as 'what the hell kind of idea is that?' then thats going beyond constructive criticism and its provocative and in some ways offensive. Such an attitude is unwarranted - I don't expect everybody to be going 'omg thats amazing' as theres always room for improvement, but theres ways of phrasing things.
Lets just keep to the project please. I agree. I searched for quite a while to find a large red backlit LCD. I found a few, but they would require lots of extra circuitry to run off USB, which I wanted to keep connections simpler. It is placed to be symetrical with the DVD slot. The DVD slot is 6cm from center, and the LCD is 6cm from center. I wanted the DVD at the top, but that blocks the window, my original plan was for a toaster style DVD. I will see if adding more fiber optic lights next to the LCD will balance the look. Part sponsorship specificly for this project is being provided by Shuttle, AMD, ATI, and Matrix Orbital. I also have parts that Kingston, Hardware Labs had provided previously as part of projects built for others, but were not specifily for this project. I am waiting on word from Logitech. Even then so far I have invested more then $800 into this project so far. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now for an update: Today I managed to get the mouse pad 90% done. (Only have to coat and protect it now) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First I lightly sanded the wood's top surface. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I then laser-etched the pattern into the wood. It takes about 45 minutes to etch the large pattern, and about 45 more for the other details and to cut the wood out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It took the laser 8 passes to fully cut through the wood. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When etched the wood vaporises and settles back onto the surface. (In the direction of airflow) I had to sand again to remove the vapor trails. (Which are like sap) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Using a dremel with edge attachement I routed the edges of each side to a nice curve. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then the edges were sanded smooth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The entire surface was then again sanded using 200, 400, 500, 1500, and 2000 grit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I then had to drill and inset the holes that hold the magnets. The pad without it's final coat works very well as a mouse pad, granted a few bumps due to the etch. (The final coat will be level) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comparing the real thing to the 3D Rendering shows how it came out as planned. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A final beauty shot showing how smooth the wood is. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am ordering some "Flexible Veneer" http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?&offerings_id=2216 I just have to locate some African Padauk Veneer, or try to stain another wood to look the same. It will use the Veneer to cover the keyboard and mouse.
How are you going to make the sides of the case? Bending wood that thick cant be easy... (unless you boil it or something) And why isn't this in project logs?
Definately a beauty shot! Is that a S+ark mouse in the render or just any old one? Pad's looking great, althought it looks like it's got a seperate layer in the last pic for the top, I'm assuming that's just the way the wood acts <A88>
For the sides I will be purchaseing some 2.3cm (0.8") thick wood that I will have to first rough cut, and then sand to a smooth curve. (The sides are 2.2cm thick.) It isn't in project logs as I never intented to post this much until later this month, but some users didn't think I was making it a reality. The mouse in the rendering was just for sizing, but ya it does look like a S+ark mouse now that I think of it. That last image is detail of the etch, it's not layered, just burned. To coat it I will be using Envirotex Lite, under the recomendation of Lord Agent at CMG. http://www.eti-usa.com/consum/envtex/envlite.htm It is supposed to dry level, and should work as a smooth mouse pad. I will have to test it on some scrap first.
