Control Panel on Case Front

[DaveW]

OK, i've been mucking around with ideas for the front panel of my case, and i'm going to get the panels cut by a guy with one of those waterjet machine thingumies. I've allready had him price up some panels, and it's going to be expensive, but it's going to look great. I need to design a control panel on the front of the case, and i'm running out of ideas. The case's major colour is black and it's minor colours are Night Blue and Orange. The case has a running theme of straight lines and sharp corners, mixed with rounded corners. Anyway, i've removed the buttons and the LEDs frm my 3 drives, and i'm removing the front panels completely, so that the drive doors actually come out of the case comepletely flush. The buttons and LEDs are becoming part of the control panel. There's also a sliding potentiometer for the case fans, and a button marked silent running that turns off uneccesarry fans and slows other to a crawl. It has an LED that lights when it's on. I want an LCD displaying temperatures, and a floppy drive incorporated into it. I also want the Power switch, HDD led, Power LED, and a side panel on/off indicator. Also, a switch to trun on/off the interior lighting. Here's my plan: i want ideas and comments, please feel free to post your own control panels as well.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8176/scan0fp.jpg

-Dave

[onelegout]

from that sketch it looks like its going to be awesome! It just so happens that I am about to do something very similar but with a twist! I was wondering if I would be allowed to use your idea of running the cd drive switch through the panel? It's totaly ok if not! I just thought it was a great idea! :)
Peace
H

[DaveW]

Hey, go for it! With the inspiration i get from these forums, it's good to give something back. I might replace the front with perspex, that is the front of the drives with perspex, but i'm worried about the Radiation from the laser. I think it should be fine, but it's always good to make sure. I scanned in the sketch a bit small, but i was in a hurry. Can anyone tell me, i have this power connector which is like a square 4-pin connector, with 2 yellow lines and 2 black lines. I'm assuming the blacks are ground, and the yellows are 12volt lines. Am i wrong? Would love to know if anyone knows what i'm talking about.

[DaveW]

Hey, are our locations a coincidence? I see we both joined at the same time-i swear i never ripped you off.

[Slatter]

You can add a network activity LED as well.... I'll send you a few pics of my one soon.

[DaveW]

That's a good idea. I was thinking about adding USB in there as well. Post up a pic of your when you get a chance :)

-Dave

[Slatter]

Hey DaveW,
Here is the Power LED, HDD Activity LED and Network Activity LED on my comp.


http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8228/picture0033tk.jpg

And here is the full front facia...
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6114/picture0012ce.jpg