Project: Sting

[Frenkie]

Sting.

A caseconstructie based on a mini-itx mobo.
This time I went for a small case-construction. Especially after I made the BFG
this time I wanted more contrast in my mod collection. Small mini-itx hardware is
much easier to build in larger boxes, boxes or suitcases, but a
entirely new custom case like this I've never seen.(yet)

The hardware.
This time I have a VIA EPIA ML5000EA motherboard, 17 x 17 cm.

Everything is there and, video, 6 channel audio, 100 mbit lan and a passive cooled
533 MHz CPU.

Also, I have a slot-in DVD player, it comes with an adaptor for the mobo.

Then the HDD. First, I had a 40 GB 2.5 " laptop hard drive with an adaptor ....

... but I've found something much more fun.

A SSD of a simple CF card.

A 2Gb CF card, and the adapter comes (where else) from Hong Kong.
Together with its passively cooled CPU and SSD he is 100% silent.
By comparison, a picture with a standard 3.5 "HDD, a 2.5" HDD and the
new SSD.

Oh yes, and for comparison, this was a few years ago the 10 Megabyte Winchester
disk ....

SketchUp.

My design is based on the general shape of a Scorpion.
Judging from the minimum sizes of the hardware (mobo, powersupply and slot-in
DVD player) I started playing with SketchUp.
I even have a photo taken of the motherboard and all hardware components and
in SketchUp used as texture. Can I recommend to everyone, looks much more
realistic.

A body ...

a tail ...

and two arms with slicers/dicers.

I have long sought materials for the case, and I've found something unique.
You know a lot of PCs are built from old motherboards, well, I found
industrial circuitboards that have not yet been finished.

Beautiful dark green circuit boards, completely flat and clean.

An additional bonus was found only afterwards, when you shine a light slightly behind / under it, it shows the print-threads through it.

A very nice effect, I think.

As I used it with my R2-D2, I tried using the UV responsive gel pens again.

Now my green pens bought them for this mod to be deployed, but my first
experimental did not gave me the effect what I thought of it.

The Case.

As a basis, I have taken an aluminum plate of 1.5 mm thick.

The measurements taken from SketchUp and drawn.
Converted to the minimum height of the backplate.

Ontopic, see my latest toy, a Ferm figuresaw I got from the flea market (cost 12 euros).

And a new sander of Rexxon.

Finishing is ofcourse still needed with needle files for finishing touch.

The hole cut for the backplate.

And then the sawn boards to the desired sizes.
Even a quick mock-up with adhesive tape.

And now I show you how it looks with light behind it.

For the assembly of printed circuit to the aluminum chassis I used
brackets of the same aluminum and popnagels.(rivets?)

For the tail, I got some perforated aluminum strip.

Like it so far?

Frenkie

[Bopher]

This is gonna look awesome. +rep on the idea.

I'm liking the light up behind the boards. Are you going to use Leds or cathode tubes to light it up?

[jdbnsn]

We always love your mods dude, keep them coming!

[The boy 4rm oz]

Cool idea and a great start.

[Tavarin]

This looks awesome so far. Love the circuit boards. +rep

[Frenkie]

Originally Posted by Bopher

This is gonna look awesome. +rep on the idea.

I'm liking the light up behind the boards. Are you going to use Leds or cathode tubes to light it up?

I have several options, but there's gonna be light, guaranteed

[Blizarre]

Great idea with very good implementation.
+rep for you.

[rendermandan]

Dude, this looks pretty sweet. Good job.

[FrooP]

i found the leet

[Frenkie]

The standard wires from the pico power supply are way too long.

Because the powersupply is right beneath the mobo, a forest of wires is stucking out above it, and we dont want that now, do we?

With some creative cutting and new connectors that piece is now tailored.

The IDE cable that comes with the mobo is also standard way too long.

This looks much better already.

So it looks a little better already.

Some connectors for the powerLED, HD-LED, reset and power switch, got them from old PCs, very handy to have laying around.

The tail-backbone, I gave it some small nudges, in a logaritmic form.

With some tape, I tried to imagine if my idea is going the right way.
It sort-off has to resemble scales of a snake/fish. like. ish.

Please note: this is only one side, the tail had three sides.

The plates for one side of the tail

And for both sides.