Project: Versa HTPC

[Vital]

I plan to remake my current PC, into a HTPC.

Materials:
Wood Frame
Brushed Aluminum
Red Transparent Plexi-Glass

Front Design:
http://i38.tinypic.com/1116y9w.png

Parts List:
Will post soon

[aintnothang]

should be nice.

[Vital]

Thanks. I will most likely change the design a bit, but hopefully it will come out well.

Using some neat tutorials I found, I am working on wiring a button that is touch sensitive to the DVD Drive. And then using the aluminum as an electrode, so if all works as planned you can basically touch the metal and the DVD drive should open.

[DonT-FeaR]

thats gunna be sweet especially with a touch button

[KiLLERMAN21]

Front looks good, but have you got any more design pics?

[DonT-FeaR]

what tools do you intend to use to cut out that front pannel

[Vital]

I am going to be having it laser cut hopefully. I have a new design I am working on in sketchup will post soon. I am actually going to go a more mac-esque look. Possibly like an oversized AppleTV made out of all aluminum with a hint of red plexi.

Oh yeah, and if anyone knows where I can get some dirt cheap cd-rom drives to take apart, because I need to find circuit points of the circuitboard where the new eject button will be connected to. And I rather test it on some junk drives, before I go on to the real thing..

[DonT-FeaR]

i can tell you already :)

if you have any cd rom... take of the bottom then look at the circuit board directly under the eject button and you should see 2 points of solder.. to test you have the right ones get a switch and hold it to the board then when in power press the new switch... should work.

[Vital]

I know this. I just want to test it on a junk drive, before I go soldering a slot load drive that I purchased.

[Vital]

Hopefully this is what the top will look like:
http://i34.tinypic.com/m7vn77.png

Brushed Aluminum
Dark Red Transparent PlexiGlass with slight illumination (sound reactive).

[The boy 4rm oz]

I like your front design very much. Very original and interesting, should look very cool when done.

Yeah as DF says, that should work. As for finding cheapo disk drives. Go to your local PC repair shop and ask if they have any old or broken drives you could buy or take off their hands. If the drives are broken a multimeter will help you with finding if the correct solder points for the switch.

[KiLLERMAN21]

Mmm me n DF know a bit about taking old gear off of peoples hands, hey jeff? :P

[Vital]

Purchasing some Aluminum for the frame of the case.

Can anyone tell me why this type is so cheap http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=1014&step=4&showunits=inches&id=63&top_cat=60

But when you get http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=70&step=2&top_cat=60

It's like triple the cost.

[Drum Thumper]

Purchasing some Aluminum for the frame of the case.

Can anyone tell me why this type is so cheap http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=1014&step=4&showunits=inches&id=63&top_cat=60

But when you get http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=70&step=2&top_cat=60

It's like triple the cost.

It's much more cost effective to make angle aluminum than tube aluminum--less prep work. Savings (or added cost in the case of the tube) get passed along to the consumer.

[Vital]

Alright. Aluminum Frame it is.

[markkleb]

Purchasing some Aluminum for the frame of the case.

Can anyone tell me why this type is so cheap http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=1014&step=4&showunits=inches&id=63&top_cat=60

But when you get http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=70&step=2&top_cat=60

It's like triple the cost.
its a lot harder to make. (and each foot is double the amount of alum)

I get my alum angle from home depot (about $5 for 8')

[Vital]

That is where I will probably purchase it. Just was looking online for what was going to be adequate. I also am going to purchase the plate metal of course, and possibly some perforated metal for the fan grills.

[Xtrykr]

Haha, when I first read this, I thought you were making a HTPC for a Nissan Versa (which I drive). xD

[DonT-FeaR]

lol looks like you have your plans nearing completion?

[Vital]

I am working on it, I bought the parts waiting for them to come. I will take pictures of my current build today.

Current Build To Be Modded:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10084.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10082.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10081.jpg

[Vital]

http://i43.tinypic.com/9lkf9y.png

Well here it is. The final design. Going to Lowes and Home Depot tomorrow to pickup all the needed materials.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Dude, that looks sweet.

[Vital]

Thanks. Not a real sketchup pro, so I just used photoshop. Honestly the hardest part of the project will be constructing the touch sensitive circuit, because I am also relatively new to that field.

[Vital]

Well, got most of the materials today. I bought 4 sheets of real nice oak wood. Inch thick, cost 15 bucks a piece. Bought some ebony stain and polyurethane. Bought some aluminum angle. L brackets for the inside. Some wood glue. A few sheets of 22GA aluminum. And a few other little things. Totaled to about 100 bucks or so... not too bad. Going to post pictures of what I got tomorrow.

[Vital]

Well after much slaving over the sander belt and the table saw, I successfully cut the sides, perfectly identical, and the back of the case. Also perfectly identical in height. So here are some pictures of the progress.

Table Saw I used Along With Sand Belts (Sorry for no pictures of it in progress, couldn't cut and take pictures at the same time).
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10113.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10114.jpg
Clamps I used while sanding (I know boring)
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10115.jpg
The nice oak wood cut (sides, and back) assembled
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10116.jpg
Some closeups of the panels
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10117.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10118.jpg


Possible Stain I may used (Ebony) only one coat
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10100.jpg
Let me know what you guys think. Also going to pickup some more stain samples to mess with.

Oh yeah sorry for the triple post :/

[jdbnsn]

Oooohhhh...very nice! I love the simple and elegant design of your mock up. That oak will make an absolutely perfect structure too, solid and clean.

[Vital]

Thanks. Do you like the ebony stain?

[The boy 4rm oz]

The stain is quite nice, a bit light for Ebony though, perhaps one more coat. Are you going to put a gloss or matte coat on it?

[Vital]

Yes. I am going to a try a polyurethane, or some other type of gloss. I am almost done with all the wood cuts. So once I finish I will be staining then applying the gloss.

[Vital]

Well, I had some free time and I decided to work on the DVD Drive cover. I am very limited with tools, so all I had was a little hand hacksaw, a metal file, a knife and a chisel. So, this is what I got. What do you think? Unfortunately the eject button is below so I will have to create a mechanism to press it.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10120.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10121.jpg

When I get some thicker aluminum I will create the eject button.

[Kumo]

Agree with The Boy 4rm Oz, darker, better.

Thick alu or dark colored thick plexy could do the job (and could be lighted).

[Vital]

Well the whole case is going to be wood except for the top, bottom and part of the front. So I haven't decided what material to do for those.

[Vital]

Some of the components inside the machine.

Biostar Motherboard:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10125.jpg

8600gt card w/ Accelero cooler:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10126.jpg

Cool case:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10128.jpg
Possible motherboard tray, that I cut out of another case:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10129.jpg
Thermal Compound Cleaner Aka Rubbing Alcohol:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10130.jpg
New Fans:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10127.jpg

[nevermind1534]

nice. Waiting for the next update.

[Vital]

Gotta get a dremel so I can do the cuts for the ports..etc. Then I will stain.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Good to see your getting your hardware.

[Vital]

Well I picked up a dremel, and downsized the motherboard tray, had a hard time making perfectly straight cuts, but it shouldn't affect it at all.

[Vital]

Little update:
Downsized motherboard tray (I know lines are not perfect, but it was my first time with a dremel, and also you will not see the tray anyways.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/jlb8soccer/SDC10132.jpg
After I find a jigsaw I will cut out the fan holes, etc. And then stain the wood.

[jdbnsn]

That doesn't look half bad for dremel cuts, I can't cut with a dremel to save my life.