External HDD

[XcOM]

Hi all, due to funds my big project has been put on hold, now i NEED to remove a HDD from my system, but can't afford to lose it,


So i have decided to use an external HDD, but rather than using a complete using, just buy the caddy.

I plan on using a plain, generic silver unit, i wish to paint it and place a decal on it,

http://www.pimpedgear.com/ebay/images/stargate_apophis_symbol_5-gold(WM).jpg

The only question is what colour to do it, i've always liked black, but i want a change, i was thinking dark blue, or green, or on a whim, Pine wood effect to match my desk, would be wicked!

I also plan to mod the LED (If it comes with one, if not add one.)

Thoughts, impressions.

Peace XcOM

[XcOM]

EDIT--

After looking into wood effect, it would look excelent if i could do it, but

1) I don't have the painting skills
2) To Fablon/Vinyl it would be a b***h, there would be creased, and the front would look ugly,

SO painting it is, Maybe a wooden one later in life.

[si-skyline]

cant you start on a wooden one now?

also idea for painting.. iv allways like the dark blue into dark green fade.. if all else fails PINK!

[calumc]

you could just build a simple wooden box and get a sata/ide- usb cable from ebay.
even a simple box made from 6mm ply can look good with some varnish

[si-skyline]

with cals idea.. you can also get a caddy or one you have laying round the house and attach the pcb board in the box drill a lil hole for a led.. could even try your had at ingraving the logo into wood :/

[XcOM]

could do, thanks for the ideas mates, im moving away from the idea of wood, as i have a plan for the top, im installing CS2 now and will post some basic ideas, and Skyline, shouldn't you change your location now?

[si-skyline]

yeah, i should really but oh well.. oo new ideas :P whats cs2 on a off topic question.. im thinking of photoshop

[XcOM]

yep, im installing CS2, might even put CS3 on, depends if the slow down is worth it

CS= Photshop CS

[si-skyline]

yeah i know its there latest range.. but to be honest between cs.. whats 8 i think is the best out of the cs range. cs 2 and 3 are too differant..

i liked were you could ctrl and click layer and it would marque the layer..

[XcOM]

Done a rough design in sketchup,

Im not too good in it, so bear with me please.

Front of HDD Caddy
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1773/frontpq4.th.png (http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=frontpq4.png)

As you can see, it holds the power/reset buttons for the PC, and the LEDs, along with the ones for the caddy its self.

all switches will be rockers, black square ones, PC power and reset will be momentery switches, and the caddy will be a on/off switch

The LCD Readout is a maybe, if i can afford it, i might not bother with it.

Back
http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/7320/backol4.th.png (http://img259.imageshack.us/my.php?image=backol4.png)
Here you can see the USB and power for the caddy, at the bottom, left and right.

Above this in the box ontop, is the connectons for everything else, all is labeled.

The wires will lead from here into the PC, and will still allow the buttons on the PC to be used still.

Read Side
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9805/backleftyp8.th.png (http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=backleftyp8.png)

If anyone has some blitzing 3D skills, you cna always redesign this :) :), will Rep you forever, PS, i want the front square, strait, no curves, i always liked strait lines, that and its easier to make.

Ideas, thoughts people?

[XcOM]

what about using one of these for all my connections on the back?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=JW77J&DOY=22m9

--
EDIT
--
thought,

Why searching Maplins for costing, i can't find any switches that match, i need two momentery switchs, and one on/off switch, can i find two that match! Can i HELL.

I found some night stainless momentery vandal proof switches, i've searched ebay, and can't find anything.

This is what i was looking at for the pc power and reset.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=19096&doy=22m9

i was thinking of having caddy power on a rocker on the back, but that defiets the object of having a control panel.

[Killdrath]

I was going to suggest using a cable like that. You could even (if you have enough pins) put the USB and maybe even power onto it, so that you only have one cable going to your device. Maybe move up to a 25 pin cable?

[turis]

nice sticker, thats from stargate insn't it?

[Bopher]

Hmm. I agree with the 25 pin. That would get you most if not all the connections in the back and the nice 1 cable. Have you checked maybe to see if Mouser.com delivers to england. Last I knew they had something like a bazillion parts (may be over estimating) and they might have the switches you're looking for.

Off topic for a sec:
The Jaffa symbol for Apophis. That would be cool to frost and light from behind but maybe to much for this. I found a Stargate fan site that had a PDF download for all the Jaffa symbols if you're ever looking for more. Sorry to go off topic on this.

One more: New Atlantis season starts tomorrow for me here in the US. woot! I think you guys get to see it sooner in the UK so no spoliers:D

Ok back on.

[XcOM]

yes that the simble from stargate, and yes you in the US get it first, and for us ibn the UK on virgin we don't get it at all (Unless you know where to look that is)

But anyway, thanks for the link to Mouser.com but there min order is 100 Pices, and i can't see what im buying.

But your idea of using a 25pin for everything, im not too sure on it though, I don't think i could transmit the power, but i might beable to shrinkwrap the cable and the USB lead together, i don't want to link the power in though

im going to maplins next week to checkout the products in real life, to get a feel for them so to speak,