HTPC in Onkyo style

[AmEv]

VLC also has a web interface.

[_ferry_]

Correct, but i personally prefer MPC-HC for playback of movies.

Anyway, here's a small teaser, only 3,1cm wide, and 4,5mm heigh to be exact:

(and yes, it's already finished

But now I was thinking to use a piece of illuminated acryl instead of the black plastic Onkyo uses. What do you think?

[jdbnsn]

I haven't used MPC-HC before but use VLC frequently. I can honestly say that I'm not sure either is the best as a solution to what you want to do (and I as well on my HTPC). Which is to say separate controls from screen so you can lock playable screen to the monitor and controls to the small touch screen. I would like to know if anyone knows the best way to do this, and which software is useful?

[AmEv]

You can build a custom Web interface.

Just launch VLC. View>Add Interface>Web. Web browser "localhost:8080" minus quotes.

[OvRiDe]

You might check out Yatse 2 Media Center remote

http://yatse.leetzone.org/redmine/projects/yatse2

It says that it supports XBMC (which I prefer) and Media Player Classic - Home Cinema

Looks pretty cool...

[_ferry_]

That looks definitely cool! Hope it will work well on the 800x480 resolution. I'll try when i have some time for it

[d_stilgar]

This has now got me looking for attractive wireless touchscreen monitors at a decent price.

[_ferry_]

Like a Android tablet? You can run various remote apps on them, or the VLC/MPC web interface And there are quite some B-brand tablets going for 150$ or so.

[_ferry_]

I wasn't able to find a Onkyo logo... fast enough. So i wanted to try making one myself. I knew it should be some kind of "possible" since i've made a (Porsche) Speedster logo from aluminium as well. Although it was much bigger

First i cut the letters with a thin saw.

And after the saw i continue with a file and X-acto knive for the final edges.
The aluminium is 0,5mm so it's easy to work with, but also easy to bend. Not what i wanted this time

I used the smallest saw blade, actually for the hand-saw. Covered up the hole with some tape, otherwise i might lose the letter between the sawdust.

Yet another done.

And another one. 1 of the hardest part was to get the aluminium away in those small spaces in the middle. The x-acto knive can cut it, but it's hard to move if the spot is so small.

And the result after exactly 2 hours of work. I'm happy with it

But they are'nt finished before everything is nice & shiny. So i smoothened them at some sanding paper, and started to polish them. Try holding such small parts while polishing them...

Removal of the polishing paste in the ultrasonic cleaner.

And now with a perfect finish!

After all i glued them on a piece of black aluminium, didn't go for the illumination thing, since there's very little space to illuminate between the letters, and the light would make any imperfection (even though they came out very well, it's still handwork) extra visible

From this close, photographed with a macro lens, you can see any imperfection. But once placed in the final design i think it turns out great. And i rather have something handmade where you can see that it was handmade then something directly from the shop What's special about buying a case and stick a Onkyo logo to it...

I started with the other parts on the front panel. 3 standoffs, and a piece of plastic has been cut exactly to fit the power switch.

And had a sparkfun IR receiver laying around. Easy to use and perfect for my application.

IR receiver, Power LED with some fiber optic, and the power switch. I used a piece of fiber optic to prevent the power switch from rotating, or else it could get stuck in the opening.

Another thing i had to fix was the USB connector. The front panel was to deep, so a milled it down for +/-2mm.

And now it's much better.

Last thing for this update: The PSU bracket is ready.

What to expect in the next update? Well, there's still a lot of mounting, assembling and test-fitting to do. Pretty boring actually I think i'll try to mount the front panel on the case.

[OvRiDe]

NICE!! They came out great!