Project: Dark Carbon

[rendermandan]

Got an email yesterday that said they shipped the pcb boards. They should be here tomorrow!.

The parts for it arrived too. (USB to Serial, headers, and some IC Blocks).

I also did some more work on the plexi too. More of the same stuff, so I didn't bother posting any pics. Sorry.

[DonT-FeaR]

letting us down man!!!! lol jk

[The boy 4rm oz]

That's good news mate. I can't wait to see the PCBs.

[crazybillybob]

Ok Man,
Tomorrow is now Today! Post the pics already!!!

[rendermandan]

So is the suspense killing you guys. Muahhaaaahhhaa (evil laugh).


Ok, enough playing. Here's the update.

I worked on finishing installing the red plexi pieces. I had to glue some painted modders mesh to the back side of the pieces first.

Here is the glue and accelerator I used.

This is basically the back of one of the piece. You can see all the holes I had to drill (almost 400 of them!) so the pieces fit over the top of the red led light strips. You can also see the mesh glued into a channel in the back of the plexi.

So basically here is one of the pieces with the mesh glued on.

I then cut it to length and beveled the ends so they pieces fit together.

I also glued the clear plexi windows to the rings that go around the hard drive windows.

So here is the finished red plexi.

And here it is with the leds on.

Kinda bright?
Well keep in mind there is a layer of black plexi that goes over the top of all the red plexi. I also did not polish the sides of the red plexi on purpose. This diffuses the light better.

Now that the red plexi is done. I can start to polish all that black plexi.
In fact, here are all the pieces.

I picked up some different grades of sand paper.

And this polishing kit.

But I found the polishing wheels to be too big, so while I was in Florida at a flee market. I found these dremel polishing wheels for 50 cents a piece.

I started with one straight piece to get the feel for how much work it will be.
Not too bad.
Here is a piece polished next to an unpolished piece.

Thats the only piece I got done before the Custom PCB board came.

And here it is. Front side.

Back side.

If you look closely, you can see I even put a title on it. I also put Gediminas' and my name on it in another spot, but it came out a little too small to read.

Now, I know what your thinking. It doesn't look like a pcb board. -Well, it is the same board as all other electronics, it just doesn't have the green solder mask and white silk screen printing on it. -To add those two layers, almost tripled the price. I got three of these boards for around $60 shipped. Not too bad.

Here are all the parts waiting to be soldered on.

I started with the headers.

Then added the Molex connector.

Then I installed the voltage reguator and IC sockets and a capacitor.

Next was the resistors.

Some Transistors.

and finally, the fan headers and USB to serial connector.

All finished.

You may notice that there is missing IC chip. Well, I'm waiting on Gediminas to finish programming the chip first so I can't test the fan controlls just yet.
I was able to test the led power light and servo controller, and they work Perfect!

Well, thats a pretty big update for now. I'm so close to being done!!!

Later,

[nevermind1534]

Looks nice. The case and controller.

[KiLLERMAN21]

Dude the case looks absolutely fanastimagorical, its unfathomably beautfiul, its so ultra cool it deserves its own bulletproof case to fit around it!

I liek! +rep!

[nevermind1534]

I think that case is almost bulletproof on its own.

[THRASHER2]

[The boy 4rm oz]

Plexi work is amazing as always mate. The fan controllers turned out very well, shame they aren't black though lol. I know they won't be seen but you gotta go with the theme haha.