Retro project.

[xmastree]

No name as yet, I wasn't even planning to do an official worklog but I found myself going on about too much it in a different forum so i figured it would be better off here.

The story so far.

I was given an old compaq Deskpro 386/25 and figured it would make an interesting project. Especially as I just finished this one (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2219) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/before.jpg

So far I've got as far as stripping it, admiring the engineering, weighing up my options, and deciding what to do with the front panel. Most of the information is here (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2384) so i won't repeat too much.

You'll see there are four 5.25" bays there, and I plan to use them all. One CDROM, One Frontx (www.frontx.com) panel, a card reader in the 3.5" floppy adaptor, and I have to make that 5.25 disk into a slot mounting DVD writer. There's plenty of room to the left of them for 3.5" drives.

So, I decided it's better not to use the original drive cage, even though it is a work (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/drivecage2.jpg) of (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/drivecage.jpg) art (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/disk.jpg).
It just takes up too much room.


So, I have to make something instead.
I have a few old AT cases lying around, so I dismantled a couple. There's something satisfying about drilling out pop rivets with a nice sharp drill. They don't spin in their holes and the cases are reduced to flat panels in no time at all.

I retrieved four of the side panels, or cheeks, from the 5.25 bays. As these were AT cases, each only had two bays. That's ok, this case has the bays in a 2x2 arangement.

The first plan was to use these four 'cheeks' and part of the fronts of the old cases. That was until I realised that if I did that they would be too far apart. Glad I didn't start cutting and drilling just yet...
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/casescut.jpg
So, I measured the distance between two 5.25 drives mounted in the original cage.
1/2"
That isn't much, and doesn't leave much room for screwing things in.

I'm planning to use all four bays. Two with CDs (one in the 5.25 disk) one with a frontx for the switches, lights, usb etc. and the 3.5" disk will be a card reader.

I decided that I would mount only the outer cheeks on the front panel, using bits from the old cases. The inner ones will be attached to the lower drives only, and rest on the case bottom.

I did a quick test, and two of them just happen to be the right size to hold the drive at the correct height.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/drivesin.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/cheeks.jpg

So, one of the old case fronts will be cut up and used to mount the outer cheeks, while the inner ones will be screwed to the drives first and rest on the case bottom.
I might screw them down, or I might just put a screw in the case bottom to locate them. That frontx port really needs supporting at both sides as it's kinda small and houses USB sockets. Held at one side only it would move around too much.

Alternatively, I might look into having some custom mounting plates made. That would be a better solution. I'm not a sheet metalworker, but I can knock up a decent drawing and have them made up by someone with a big hammer. :rolleyes:

Hmm... depends on the cost I guess. Watch this space.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/vette.jpg

[Rankenphile]

I am stoked about this project. Sounds like you've done a lot of good planning already, and I just love a good retro build. Try to keep as much of the original stealth look as you can, there is just something awesome about that old aesthetic.

[xmastree]

Well the plan is that the front will be pretty plain. Black drives, frame undecided yet. Its'a actually yellower than it appears in those pics.

The top will have windows, but no fans. They will be in the sides and the back. Fans on top might allow debris to fall in.
Tinted windows, so the insides won't be visible until the power is on. There are no power or reset switches on the front, so I'll be mounting them in the frontx (http://www.frontx.com/detail1b.jpg), behind the door. (I can't praise those highly enough. Best computer accessory ever). The windows will be cut almost at the end, once everything else is in place, so as to avoid showing the less than attractive parts like wires, drives and brackets. Irregular blobby shapes i think.

And there will be two big handles on the top, possibly chrome tubular ones.


The front keyboard socket is definately staying. :-) I can't do much with the keyhole though, since I don't have a key. I might just put it back to fill the hole.

The back will need some work, but I haven't decided exactly what just yet.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/fitting.jpg
That was before I decided not to use those mountings. Although I might use them as feet... ;)

[Rankenphile]

Those would make awesome feet.

What kind of key does it take? Is it one of the round hollow keys, or is it a slender key like for a car or a door? We have access to all kinds of locks at my work, if it is one of the round keys I might be able to get you a new one for it, as there are only like 20 or 30 different settings it could have.

[xmastree]

Its' not the round type, it's either like a car key or a padlock key. One sided I think. It has four of those, are they called tumblers? I put a tiny screwdriver in, pressed them all, then drew it out and listened as one by one they clicked back into place. It has 0099 stamped on one side (or is it 6600?)

Thanks for the offer, but I'l not planning use it for anything.

[xmastree]

Today, the power's been off all day so I've been looking and scratching my head mostly. Oh, and sawing up old cases to make brackets for the 5.25 disks.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/disktemp.jpg

The more I look at it and try to use what I have, the more I think it would be so much simpler and neater just to make some instead. It seems that every time I had an idea, something would spoil it when I imagined the cover in place. The drives don't have to be fitted to the front, they just have to be there.
The power cut ws probably a good thing as it curbed my eagerness to start drilling into things. I would have ended up with a bunch of new holes which I would not use eventually.

So, I'll have some very simple L shaped brackets made up, screwed to the case bottom from the outside. Simple.

I'm also looking at the back panel.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/rearpanel.jpg

Right now I don't know what motherboard will be going in there. But all the new ones I've seen have those three audio jacks on the right side. Are they all like that now?
I figured I would just drill holes for those, then cut away the rest of the main panel to access the rest. If I were to try and actually mount that (or any similar) plate I would need to make a new panel to fit in and hold 3/4 of it. That would also mean I had a much neater rear end, and somewhere to mount the fans too...
Hmm...

Oh, and I stripped that 52.5 drive too.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/drivestrip.jpg

That's going to be the most difficult part, fitting a DVD in there. But I can still carry on (and even use) the rest if that's unfinished.

[DaveW]

Oh, and I stripped that 52.5 drive too.

52.5? Jesus, they sure knew how to build em back then! How'd you get it through the door? That would make the rest of the computer the size of a car :P Which explains the car on the mobo!

Just kidding bud. Can't wait to see you get a DVD drive in there, that will be sweet.

-Dave

[legoman786]

OMG YOU FINALLY STARTED THIS PROJECT!! WHOO HOO!!


ahem... sorry. Can't wait to see more! Keep it up! I got a couple of 5.25s laying around too. :)

[xmastree]

Yep, slowly slowly. Making it up as I go along and taking my time. The last one was needed, so I had to rush it a little.

Anyway, last night I used four of those dampers as feet. Screwed them on the bottom. I'll photograph them later. It looks better sitting about 1" off the floor, like a Hi Fi unit. I also drilled out the excess motherboard mountings which don't line up with either of the boards i tried.

Update: This morning I found some ideal bits of metal to make the drive mounts from. I have a bunch of old dead PSUs, and the covers from them are just about right. Just need to cut them down a little. 8)

[xmastree]

Covers from dead PSUs make reasonable material for a drive cage.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/brackets1.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/brackets2.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/brackets3.jpg

I think they're a tiny bit too high, but I can easily adjust them.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/disksinplace.jpg
I might also brace the tops, since they can wobble a little. Although it's not bad so I might just leave them as they are.
You can also see one of the feet in that photo. I need to find some aluminium discs to attach there.
As for the colours, It will be all black in there. The 3.5 and 5.25 disks will be painted, and I have a black CD drive ready to go in. That's an old damaged one I'm just using for sizing it up (as seen in the atx build-up).

The motherboard mountings.
At first I was just going to use sandard ones. That was before I realised that these are much higher. Twice as high actually.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/standoff.jpg
So, what I think I'll do is reuse these. Drill the holes and perhaps weld them in place. I'm sure the case is thick enough to withstand a weld...

Oh, and I spent my first money on this project today. I had to run out and buy a drill bit.

Soon I think I'll buy the card reader, and make sure it fits in that 3.5" adaptor properly. I've seen one in my local shop.

Edit: I have some help (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/helping.jpg) tonight. :)

[xmastree]

Been busy, so I haven't done that much lately. Today I fitted the disk mountings,
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/disks.jpg
which just clear the motherboard.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/closefit.jpg
That's not the one which will be going in there, I still have to get that. I suspect the eventual one will be longer and thinner, like the Soyo I've been using as a template (in the first picture). I used both boards to get an idea of the common mount points then drilled them. Those standoffs are quite tall, it might be better to drill and tap right through them, then screw them to the case rather than welding. Not sure yet, but that would give me more flexibility with the placing of them.

I need some ideas what to do with the back panel... Anyone?
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/insideback.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/outsideback.jpg

[Nagoshi]

Damn, I had two or three old but OLD IBM cases (Way older than your Compaq) lying around, with two 5.25 that takes 2 normal slots for one drive. :D I could have managed to take 2 hard drives, one I/O panel like yours, and one or two DVD drives. I say good luck on your floppy DVD drive, Im sure it will take ALOT of hard working to do it but damn it will look nice!

For your back panel, I say you cut the lil panel with the warranty on it, and find a way to hide the whole large hole then use the little alu panels for your slots.

As for your drive that takes some place of the motherboard, couldnt you mount it on the right of the case? This way, you could have your IO slot in the middle, and your card readers centered. If you are thinking about using only 1 DVD drive, you could take a socket and mod it to make a fan fit in it, while keeping the case look, that way you will have an intake for your airflow and keeping a retro look for your case.

[DaveW]

Some of the pics don't seem to be working...and what heppened the CD drive at the far end with the big brown stain?

I'd say just cut the warranty sticker off whole, and see if you can't move it later. Then i'm sure you can work something out with the back panel. The warranty sticker could be re-attached horzontally above the back panel ports? To fill in the rest of the space?

-Dave

[xmastree]

That panel with the sticker is the chassis itself. If you look at this pic (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/fitting.jpg) it's between the fan and that bit of black velcro.
The lines on the masking tape are where the standard ATX plate would be, although further back, in line with the plate with the slots.

As I'll have to cut it out, I might as well cut it at the top. That will give me more exhaust fan options. whilst I'm not usually to fussy about rear views, this part may well ve visible through the window I'll be putting in the top, so it needs to look good from the inside.

I'm thinking about a stainless panel... Stainless is more readily available here. I'm no tinsmith (I even had someone cut those psu covers for the drive mounts. Cost me less than $1US) but I can make a template from card and take it to someone who is.

The pics. I recently moved them in photobucket, and thought I had updated the links. maybe I forgot some.

The big brown stain? that's rust. It's an old broken drive I was using just to get the size and placing.

I haven't decided what drives will go where yet, those two were just in there as templates. I think the frontx panel and the card reader will be centre bottom and any CDs will be on the right as Nagoshi said.

Edit: I started working on designs for the window. I don't want to be able to see the disks in all their ugliness, but the motherboard, video, heatsinks etc should look ok. So with that in mind, and given that I don't like square windows, I came up with this:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/layout.png

It should be obvious what's what. That's a cathode on the left hand side (I guessed at the length), and the two rear 80mm fans will be illuminated. I figured for the cathode, I'll get some angle aluminium running the length of the case and mount it to that. It should be protected there, and the aluminium will act as a reflector, directing the light where I want it. That could also provide an anchor for the intake fan.

[xmastree]

Been looking at the back panel and scratching my head again...

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/back.png

That pink bit is what I need to make if it's gonna look neat. I also have to fasten it to the existing metalwork.

[Rankenphile]

cool. nice visual prototyping work.

[xmastree]

Thanks. I wish I had (and had time to learn) a decent CAD package, but as it is I just use inkscape (SVG editor) to make the designs in 2D.
One nice thing about it, see that pink panel? I cloned it below, so that any changes I made to the upper one also appeared in the copy. 8)

The more I look at that though, the more I think I'd be better using some angle aluminium for the bottom edge of the port slot. It just looks too flimsy like that.

[xmastree]

So, today I looked at the back some more, and figured I'd start cutting. There are still some question marks, but the location of the PSU is decided so I made the notch to clear the power plugs.
Having cut down both sides, I realised that I wasn't going to have enough cutting discs... I drilled a series of holes along the botton edge and joined the dots with the dremel.
That used one whole disc, just for that. :eek:

So, I've marked out the rest of the cuts, and I think I'll take it somewhere and have a little man do the cutting for me.

Before I do that though, I'm off out to look for some aluminium angle. I'm still undecided about that rear panel and the fans. If I can mess around with scraps, I might have some better ideas.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/backmarked.jpg

Think three times, measure twice, cut once.

Or was it:

Measure with a ruler, mark with chalk, cut with an axe... :D

[xmastree]

Ok, I've decided what I'm going to do. I didn't get chance to go hunting for ally, so I looked through the bits of cut up cases I was going to use for the drive mounts. It's nice when you find something just the right size, isn't it? :)

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/cutback.jpg

So, that strip will be fitted there to hold the bottom edge of the i/o plate, one end of which will be held by the existing panel, already cut to fit, and the top and other end will be held by the new plate I'll have made. Changed my mind about cutting all along the lower edge too, to make it more wavy.

Like this:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/backplan.jpg

The new plate will be mounted on the original rear panel, using the fan mounting screws and suitable spacers. Another screw or two will locate the bottom edge. I cut the important bit myself, and consumed another (my last) cutting disc in the process. The rest, I'll leave to the little man.

I think I'll use stainless for the plate as it's nice and shiny so it will reflect the fans' lights nicely. Question is, should I have fan grills cut right into it or just fit wire ones? As it's the back I think I'll go with plain old wire.

[xmastree]

Ngeee. Three days since I updated this, and not that much to show really, due to time constraints and spending most of yesterday in bed with some bug...

So, all I've managed to do is find some ally which I will use for the bracket to mount the light, and maybe the intake fan on the left side. It's T section, real thin, but I managed to cut and bend is in such a way that it's capable of bending the rear panel it's attached to. 8)

Quick and dirty photo of how it mounts to the front panel. The rear is simpler as it doesn't have that bend at the top. I will fit screws to hold it in place.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/bracket1.jpg

I'll polish the side of it where the light will be, so it reflects the light better.

[xmastree]

I just got the case back from the little man... Photos to come but first I have to nip out and buy a decent half-round file.

I'm really glad I did the critical bit (where the i/o plate clips in) myself...

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/backcut.jpg

A quick rub with a half round bar steward and it'll be ok...

[tybrenis]

Ouch! Have fun with that filing job.

[xmastree]

It's very noisy, filing that plate... Anyway, it's only the back panel, perfection isn't that necesary...

[xmastree]

Got the template for the new rear panel now. I'll take it to someone who can make it from stainless. Not the same guy who cut the holes though...

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/cardback1.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/cardback2.jpg

Yea, it's pink. just like in the drawing. :p

[legoman786]

interesting... lol

[xmastree]

Interesting? Is that it? It looks rough now because I'm busy making things fit. Once the basic case mods are done I can start on the bling.
Wait till it's finished, it'll be more than interesting...

[xmastree]

Ok, a couple of things to report. Firstly, I'm sure you will all be disappoined to learn that I will not be doing the DVD in the 5.25 drive thing. It's too much hard work, I don't have the spare cash for a slot-loading drive even if I could find one. I will still be using the drive front though. The lever will be the power switch, and the slot will have lights in there, just for the hell of it.
I've also ditched the idea of fitting a card reader in the 3.5 adaptor. The 5.25 drive used only as a power switch is rather a waste of space. I'll have a regular CD and my DVD burner on the right side, and the 5.25 and frontx in the centre.

I spent some more money, not on tools this time, but actual computer parts. I'd show you photos, but you can probably imagine what two 80mm blue LED fans and a blue cathode tube look like, so I won't bother. :p
Edit: I lied (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/bluelites.jpg)

I think I've decided what the window will be made of. Whilst in the computer store I was looking around at stuff and noticed something ideal. Not only that, but I have some of them in the house. You know those antiglare, antistress, antistatic, contrast-enhancing, screen things? Made from the very highest quality snake oil? Well I have some[1], so I'll use one of them. It's square, but it will be inside the case and the hole will define the shape.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/snakeoil.jpg

[1] They were give-aways with some computers I bought. I knew I wouldn't use them, but they were free and I didn't get a discount if I declined, so why not just accept them? Glad I did now.

Edit: I just noticed the thumbnail for that picture. It says ass filter...

[Cevinzol]

Made from the very highest quality snake oilThat's the best description I've ever heard for those things. "Damn nuisance" was all we ever called them because they never stayed on the montiors. Glad you found a use.

[xmastree]

They do have another use. They provide three surfaces for dust to settle on, rather than just one.

[Rankenphile]

Plus they slice, dice and make julliene fries seven different ways!

[xmastree]

So, I take a casting the size of an aircraft carrier, and mount the tinyest switch on it.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/powerswitck.jpg
Normally the lever would rotate far enough for the spring to hold it. The switch stops it moving that far, so it's momentary.
See the Awful cellphone video (http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/?action=view&current=Turnon.flv)

I love the engineering in this drive. That door latch for example. One steel shaft with a brass cam on one end. Passes through two nylon bushes, held in place with a circlip. Also fitted to the brass cam is a smaller shaft with a rotating sleeve held in place with another circlip. That's a total of ten parts.
What would today's equivalent be? Probably a bit of bendy plastic.

[xmastree]

Went shopping in the world's biggest city today, so I bought some bits. Two rather nice handles. I had looked in the local hardware store, but they only had typical cupboard sized ones which would look daft. In the big city, they have much more choices, and I was actually spoiled for choice but eventually I decided on these:

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/2872handle.jpg (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/2872handle.jpg)
(bought some shoes too.)

Simple design, made from solid stainless. :)

I also asked in a few places about perspex/plexiglass/acrylic...
They don't know what perspex is, or plexiglass. Acrylic? That's paint, isn't it?
The sales droid asked what I wanted it for, and I made the mistake of telling him. He advised trying the computer shops, having convinced himself I wanted a screen cover.

It's going to be glass. Possibly the snake oil treated panel, or maybe a larger piece since that one is a little smaller than I plan to use. Not sure yet.

As for actually cutting the window, I can't get a nibbler, and I can't get any more cutting discs. The nearest I saw was a Black&Decker kit, but although the discs were ok, the rest of the tools had larger shafts than mine so it would have been a waste unless I also bought the tool. Which is far more powerful and capable than the one I have... Muuuusssst Resiiiisssst...

Unlike the back, the top does need to look nice.

[tybrenis]

Sucks you can't find any of that stuff anywhere, I'd ship you some acrylic but you live across the world.

[xmastree]

Thanks, but it's gonna have to be glass.

So, more actual work to report. I've been figuring the best palce to put the window, so I threw it together using props for the insides. Just to get an idea.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/mockup.jpg

The window won't be that shape, but if I'm to use that piece of glass then that's the maximum. Of course, I could always get a bigger piece if I need to.

I also had someone cut the rear plate from an old computer case.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/platecut.jpg

Apparently he used tinsnips for the outline, and a chisel to cut out the fan holes.

Fits Perfectly:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/platefitted.jpg
I needed some 1/2" spacers to go between the plates. I looked around and saw a ballpen... I now have transparent spacers which match the transparent fans nicely. :rolleyes:

Took these off:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/drivefronts.jpg
And painted them black. I asked for satin finish. They had gloss, matt and dull. I bought dull, it's matt. Ho hum, I'll just laquer it tomorrow. I also bought some 'chrome' paint for the chassis, and metallic blue for the frame around the front panel. It's going to be black, blue and steel. All front panel lights will be blue, I've already swapped the one on the DVD. All internal lights will be blue too, (including the one on the motherboard) except maybe.... one thing. ;)

Handles in place:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/handles.jpg

[TheAtomicMan]

That is coming together quite nicely. I'm a little confused by the handle placement though. Won't that take away the stackability such cases were used for?

[DaveW]

Hmm...are you giving up with the retro idea now? Or are you planning to backdate everything to make it look retro?

Nice handles! Where did ya get them?

-Dave

[xmastree]

Kind of given up on the retro, yeah. I like cool blue lighting, so it's cold steel theme now. The handles were from a DIY store. They actually had lots of choices, but I went for the minimalistic ones.
Depending on how the chrome paint looks, I'm thinking of making the window triangular, and having three strips of silver paint round it, but right to the edge of the case. Remainder black.

That really needs a diagram... brb.

<insert cheesy elevator music here>

10 mins later...
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/layout2.png

Something like that. (looks like an airfield..) Any stripes meeting the sides will continue until they run out of metal. The exact dimensions aren't known yet, since that will depend on what and where things are inside. I have something in mind for centre stage. Not a new idea in itself, but with a new twist... Not telling. ;)

Or like this. One side parallel, one angled, same angle each way.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/layout3.png

[xmastree]

I was outside in the workshop earlier this evening, putting strips of masking tape on the case to see how it looked. It had been raining about an hour before that, and the air and everything was so humid that the tape simply refused to stick to the case. It made repositioning easier, but I might as well have been using ribbons!

[xmastree]

That's right, I may have a source...

See this?
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/1821trophy.jpg

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/7309trophyback.jpg
It was right there in my trophy cabinet. :D

There are a few shops making them in town, so there must be a source of material somewhere. I'll try the trophy shops first, they might sell me some.

[Rankenphile]

Check with sign shops and window shops, too. Both can be good sources.

[xmastree]

So, today I chopped that 5.25 drive in half to make more space. You guys with your fancy workshops and power saws and stuff, look what I'm working with:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/cutdrive.jpg

So now I have a lot more space. I'll cut those brackets down too.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/space.jpg

I want to make the drive slot glow, so when I get time to visit the trophy shops for plexi I'll take along this cardboard template I made and see if they can make it. Plan is to mount two LEDs at the back of it so the front edge lights up:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/plexicard.jpg

What would give the best effect, polished or rough? I think rough will give a more even glow, whereas polished will have brighter points. Not sure though.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/plexicard2.jpg

The LED will shine through the original drive LED window, and I think I'll connect that to the motherboard power LED, the one that's on all the time.

Paint.
The silver stuff I bought for the chassis is crap. It goes on well but it's very delicate and easy to mark with a fingernail. So, I think I'll take the chassis to a professional body shop to have the mobo standoffs welded in and let them paint it all. Black.

Question:
There are three pieces, which once assembled shouldn't need to be disturbed. Is it better to paint them seperately? Or assemble them and paint it as one?

If they do a good enough job they'll get the cover too, once it's been cut. The shape of the hole ultimately depends on what's where inside, so I'm not cutting it just yet. I want to build up as much as I can first.

I had another idea for the cover, kind of retro... Remember vinyl roofs?

That would be easy, different, retro, and scratch resistant. I wonder if it would look good too... :?

[xmastree]

The card reader is back on, I think. I was going to mount two optical drives on the right side, but I don't need two. I have one DVD writer and a CDROM. The CD is already black, so I thought I'd use it. Also, it makes cabling easier.
Since I don't realy need to include the CD, and there's room below the lower bay for an IDE drive, I think I'll do that instead. Cabling will still be easy, and I can use the upper space for the card reader.

[xmastree]

Bought the card reader today. And I popped into a shop making trophies. Well, they don't make them at the shop, that's just an outlet. They're made at the factory, so I asked where it is so I could enquire about an offcut for my glowing drive, and maybe buy a bigger piece for the window.

It's in J village.

Hmmm, I live in J village. Turns out the place is 200 yds from my house!

[xmastree]

:D :D :D :D :D

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/acrylic.jpg

[xmastree]

Isn't it great that a 3.5 - 5.25 adaptor made in the last century takes a modern card reader perfectly:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/reader.jpg

and fits in a modern case:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/readerin.jpg

That's it in my current computer (since I'm still using the parts) sitting above the newly painted DVD writer.

I really ought to remove the front and clearcoat it though. And that green power light doesn't fit in with my 'blue only' plan either...

[DaveW]

Looks good, keep up the good work! Glad you finally got some plexi out there bud ;)

Is the place you live really J villiage, or are you abbreviating it?

-Dave

[xmastree]

That's the name, J village. It's a small subdivision (housing estate) in Tagum City.
http://www.geocities.com/xmastree_ph/house/

[tybrenis]

Woah, nice house, xmastree! May I ask what brings a Brit as yourself to the tropical Phillippines? I myself used to live in Hong Kong. Not really the same... at all, but still foreign asian countries, right? Anyways.... Your mod is looking great! Lucky find for the acrylic place, I have to order my acrylic on a truck from like 50 miles away.... :[

[xmastree]

So, I fitted the LEDs to the plate, after first filing them down a little.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/ledsfiled.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/ledsfitted.jpg

Put it all together and it looks rather nice, i think.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/driveflash.gif

that's looking straight into it, from an angle it looks better, but I think I need to shine up the edges of the drive slot for a better reflection. Blue light reflecting off gloss black is sweet... 8)

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/blueglow.jpg


Hong Kong, I was there once, in February. It was cold & windy (http://cginternet.net/images/cold.jpg). That's Mrs. xmastree, feeling the cold.

[xmastree]

Hmm... been a while since i upated it, no? Well, not much to report lately, I've been very busy with other things, and to cap it all, my father in law is about to die after suffering a heart attack last tuesday.

I'll get back on track soon though.

[DaveW]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I'll admit I was wondering where you've been. Don't worry about getting back on track, take things at your own pace for a while, ok?

-Dave

[xmastree]

Thanks. I've been here, just not working on the project.

BTW, did that package arrive yet?

[DaveW]

Nah, not yet, but i'm sure it'll turn up when my postman's house gets too full of mail and he can't put it off one second more. I've comlained about him a dozen times, but they don't want to hear about it.

-Dave

[xmastree]

Busy busy busy, but not modding...

Well, I bought a 120mm fan today. Brought it home and plugged it into my spare board to try it. hmm... good airflow but it's noisier than I thought it would be.

Ouch! bugger! well, it doesn't matter anyway now, as it has a blade missing.

Why do fans always have seven blades? If they had six or eight, when you lose one you could break off the opposite one and regain balance.

[Omega]

Why do fans always have seven blades? If they had six or eight, when you lose one you could break off the opposite one and regain balance.


I had an 8 blade fan, then i took all the blades off of one side and OH JESUS it shook alot.

[xmastree]

Ouch! bugger! well, it doesn't matter anyway now, as it has a blade missing.Not any more:

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/3338blade.jpg

Never seen one with real bearings like that before. Usually, with the 80mm ones, there's just a bronze bush. There's a spring too, to keep it all in place. This means that it's important not to lose the PFI when dismantling it. Usually with the smaller ones, once I've had them apart for cleaning I don't replace it. Makes it easier next time. This one is more important, since it holds in one of the bearings.
Glad I didn't lose it...

Announcment:
Anyway, this project is gonna be on hold for rather a long time. I won't bore you with the details, but I'll be out of the country for quite some time. I'm going home to the UK for a while.

I'l still pop in here to see how you're all getting on.

[xmastree]

Remember the lights in the drive thing? I came up with a real simple way to switch off the blue LED when the red one is on (I don't like the pink effect when they're both on, so I want them to alternate).

Firstly, the blue is the power LED, fed from the +5V via a resistor and back to ground via (probably) a transistor. Not directly, I'm not sure why, but that's how it is. It doesn't come on right away.

The HD activity LED is similar.

The forward voltage of the blue LED is higher than that of the red one.

So... if I connect both the blue and the red anodes to a common source, and the cathodes to their respective pins on the header, when the HD active light comes on, it turns on the red, which drops the anode voltage to a value too low to turn on the blue one, effectively turning it off.

I love simple solutions. 8)

[Rankenphile]

verrrrry clever

[crenn]

Circuit diagram please!

[xmastree]

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/3983simple.png

So, normally you'd have just the red one indicating HD activity. The transistor turns on to light it. Connecting the blue one like that, and to 0V at the cathode will cause the blue to be on permanently.
But, when the transistor turns on, the red LED will conduct, and since it has a lower forward voltage, the voltage at the common anode point will drop to a level below that required to light the blue, so it turns off.

Is that simple, or what? 8)