1925 - An Art Deco Adventure

[ATi_Loyalist]

Hello everyone, this is my first post since my last project concluded in August 2005, Passiv-Agressiv. You can see my brand new redesigned website HERE (http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1)!

Also, you can follow this project on my site as well as here.

I began a new project in October of 2010, the purpose is to create a beautiful, functional HTPC case for my home. I chose Art Deco as the major influence of the case, and I hope to integrate the detail and design philosophy of Art Deco into the project.

A little background information on the theme source: Art deco features trademark geometric shapes, stark contrasts of dark and light, and fine detail. The period of Art Deco's popularity was from the early 1920s, through 1939 and the rise of post-war mid-century modern design, which replaced Art Deco. Art Deco is what defined the Roaring Twenties in America, and the style that shaped the nation's architecture during this period. I live in Phoenix, and many of our buildings downtown were built in the 1920's and 1930's. New York however is the most dominant and rich source of Art Deco architecture in the country.

All this in mind, my project will feature common Art Deco styling, using hand tools to create authentic Art Deco styled pieces and integrate them into the finished build.

On to the dirty bits:

This project:
-Scratch build

Hardware:
-Intel Atom 330/Nvidia Ion based system
2GB Kingston DDR3

Storage:
-1(2TB) Samsung Spinpoint F4 5400 RPM drive, upgradeable to two later on.
-1 SSD, undecided on which model to use.
-1 Asus or Samsung Blu-Ray drive

The purpose of the build:
-To be able to serve 1080p content, using a slick interface(considering XBMC at the moment. Thoughts on UbuntuXBMC vs Win7+XBMC welcomed)
-Playback BluRays, DVDS, and .mkv files(and less)
-Have the ability to disappear when watching movies(no noise/light)
-Look amazing sitting on the TV furniture we currently have when the lights are on, and no one is watching a movie.

The Atom platform with Ion GPU is a perfect choice because it is low power, the system will have just one fan on the PSU, so low heat generation is key.

Projected Budget: $500


So, this leaves us with nothing left but to get down to business. First I began with sketches, LOTS of sketches. And even and Art Deco book. It is important when learning about a certain theme to practice drawing and thinking in the methods that are commonly found in the theme. The way lines flow together, common shapes, textures. Art Deco motifs are very uplifting, projecting images of sunlight rays, gazelle, and plant-like structures, while adding the industrial, bas-relief feel to everything, as if the entire world were chiseled out of solid stone. Once I had a grasp on these principles, I came up with sketches like these:

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_1_sketches.jpg

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_2_sketches.jpg

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_3_sketches.jpg

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_4_sketches.jpg

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_5_sketches.jpg

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_6_sketches.jpg

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_7_sketches.jpg





Next, naturally the first thing you do with a shiny new expensive piece of hardware is rip it apart and make sure everything is up to snuff. It wasn't. Asus did a mega fail here, the Atom CPU(right, dual core) and ION GPU(left) are not the same height.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_8_motherboard.jpg



However they thought it was a good idea to use a flat base heatsink for the whole lot and fix the problem with about 0.100" of thermal pads (not pictured).
http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_9_motherboard.jpg

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_10_motherboard.jpg




I confirmed the chip misalignment using a CMM, or coordinate measuring machine. We have a Mitutoyo and a Brown&Sharpe, these machines are capable of measuring with extreme precision, down to 0.0001" on a day to day basis. After examining the motherboard, turns out the GPU is actually 0.0231" HIGHER than the atom CPU!

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_11_motherboard.jpg

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_12_motherboard.jpg


Using the ruby probe to contact the surface of the chip.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_13_motherboard.jpg






Needless to say I wasn't amused by this laziness, and I simply fixed the problem using a 3/4" solid carbide endmill.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_14_motherboard.jpg

The total flatness of the surface is now less than 0.0001" overall, taken with a 16 point average.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_15_motherboard.jpg


Much better contact is being made with all surfaces.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_16_motherboard.jpg




Thats all I have for now, Currently working on this little bracket to mount the BluRay drive 0.125" off the case floor. The drive will sit on the left side of the case toward the back, facing out the left side. The motherboard will be mounted on a tray about 2 inches off the case floor above the drive. See the sketch above for details.

This bracket will hold the drive using little rubber grommets cannabalized from a WD external hard drive enclosure. Starting with an ordinary piece of aluminum angle stock.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_20_BRBracket.jpg


Roughing the shape out

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_21_BRBracket.jpg



Time to get filing, my arsenal includes over 100 files of different size, cut, texture, and shape for different purposes, here I will just be using a few though.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_22_BRBracket.jpg


Getting closer:

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_23_BRBracket.jpg



Almost done, test fitting the rubber grommet dealies.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_24_BRBracket.jpg



Perfect!

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_25_BRBracket.jpg




Add a little gold leaf accent in the middle, clearcoat for fingerprint resistance and surface finish, aaaand:

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_26_BRBracket.jpg




http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_27_BRBracket.jpg





Until next time!

[blueonblack]

Beautiful start! I've had an art-deco/industrial-era case bubbling in the back of my head for a long while now, I'll be interested to see your design elements. The sketches are great!

[ATi_Loyalist]

Thanks! Yeah I have always had an interest in this era, lots of potential :D Finally got the cards in the right order to jump in.

[Mach]

Great start! Can't wait to see where you take this. Sub'd

[TheGreatSatan]

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/1_10_motherboard.jpg


Do you have this one in a way bigger size? It'll be a great wallpaper!

[ATi_Loyalist]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/38394/IMG_0109.JPG
Here ya go buddy, uncompressed original :D

[ATi_Loyalist]

//November 17, 2010

Small update, playing around with engraving, here is an Art Deco style eagle I drew up in Illustrator

I most likely wont use this exact piece in the project, but it gives you an idea of what the potential is. I will engrave things like markings on the back panel for I/O ports and power jacks, etc.

Creating a flat surface on the round stock:


http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/2_2_Surfcam.jpg



The paths for the engraving

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/2_1_Surfcam.jpg


Finished engraving:

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/2_3_Surfcam.jpg


Until next time!

Sanatarium

[OvRiDe]

Wow.. I am loving where you are going with this. I have always like the Deco cases that SlipperySkip turns out. I think you might just be taking it to the next level! Totally digging the modded Atom as well! Looking forward to seeing this progress, and thanks for sharing it with us here on TBCS.

[Yeticorn]

I like where this is headed, +sub.

[billygoat333]

That is really cool. Are you using a CNC Mill?

[ATi_Loyalist]

Wow.. I am loving where you are going with this. I have always like the Deco cases that SlipperySkip turns out. I think you might just be taking it to the next level! Totally digging the modded Atom as well! Looking forward to seeing this progress, and thanks for sharing it with us here on TBCS.

Yeah, Mr. Stephenson does some really nice work. Thanks!



That is really cool. Are you using a CNC Mill?

Indeed, we have a Haas VF-2, A VF-2 SS, a VF-4 with 5-axis trunnion, and an SL20 CNC lathe. Also, a smaller Haas toolroom lathe, and a mini 'office mill', used for tools less than .250" usually.

[ATi_Loyalist]

A little taste of the current phase of modeling

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/3_1_Teaser.jpg

Top left corner of the case. Brass and aluminum are the primary materials. Still working on the artwork for the top, sides and front. It will be machined.

Who wants more?!!! :D

[RogueOpportunist]

I want your toys. :cray:

[msmrx57]

:stupid: what he said.

[ATi_Loyalist]

A real update!

Finished the first four pieces of the case a couple days ago. They turned out better than expected honestly. I feel they really get the iconic skyscraper-esque feel across that I wanted to acccent the corners of the case.

As the design has progressed, through much deliberation a clearer direction has been realized for some of the artwork. At the moment, I am sketching the left panel artwork, which will be done in a bas relief style, CNC machined in aluminum. The artwork will feature themes common to modern times, such as space, and high speed trains. The goal is that the artwork of the left panel will represent 'ideas' common to today, where the right side will be a reflection of ideas common in the 20's and 30's. By ideas, I mean things that are in some way, wondrous or magical to humans today, marvels of technology and human achievement. In the 20's and 30's, these things were objects like cars, air travel, and radio. Today I feel these things are much the same, just evolved. And 70 years before the art deco era, it was much the same, 'amazing' things were steam trains and telegraphs.

Art is always a reflection of history.
-Sue Chenoweth



The four pieces
http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/4_1_Corner.jpg


http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/4_2_Corner.jpg


The four corners lined up
http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/4_4_Corner.jpg





My favorite perspective of the corners. Very reminiscent of late 30's streamline moderne.

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/4_6_Corner.jpg



Ultimately the front corner will flow into the back corner like so:

http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/4_7_Corner.jpg


http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/4_8_Corner.jpg



Rough mock-up of component positions
http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/4_5_Corner.jpg


http://members.cox.net/thesanatarium1/1925/images/4_3_Corner.jpg



Hope this update finds everyone well!

Coming next: Case construction, finals are coming to a close, that means more parts, more updates and more madness!

[Mach]

Awesome ATI! I'm loving this!

[DonT-FeaR]

love it. looks awesome