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Party-Box...Countertop cab w/ laptop & flat screen
theCoder:
--- Quote from: bishmasterb on June 02, 2006, 11:42:38 pm ---I simply used the existing cable/LCD panel and placed the panel on the back of the notebook.
--- End quote ---
Cool approach. If you do this however, how do you get to the CD drive? I was planning on having mine "point" up, putting a door in the top. Doing so however would really complicate the back contour. I decided to mount it so that the CD points down, and I'll cut a slot out the bottom.
--- Quote from: bishmasterb on June 02, 2006, 11:42:38 pm ---2) Thanks for posting your progress with these. I've tried to mickey mouse something like those before, I didn't know things were made specifically for that purpose!
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When my friend pulled them out, I knew immediately what they were for and though they were so cool. Before he could set the box down I had my camera in hand taking shots.
theCoder:
Skin - After Glue
I took a few hours of vacation time yesterday to work on the project. The skin is now glued on! No breakage! I guess I could have wiped up after myself a little better.
The skin truly followed the profile of the ribs. It went pretty much from one rib to another in a straight line, causing a 1/16" gap.. I want the skin to be flush with the edge of the side. It looks like some patchwork is in order. I've used wood putty in the past, but I'm looking for an excuse to try Bondo. Apparently cab enthusiasts with a lot more experience that me use it a lot. I'll let you know how it turns out. If I were to do it again, I'd go with more ribs, say one every inch and a half or so.
I/O plates
I made two mounting plates for the IO. They are made from the 1/8" plywood I originally tried to use as the skin. The switches and ports will be mounted on these plates, then they will be screwed down to the inside. I'll probably paint them black because the pockets on the other side are deep.
Fan
The CPU gets very hot after about an hour of use. I'm glad we've had all the kids we're planning on having because after having that thing on my lap I'm not so sure... I'm going to mount a fan directly behind the CPU. Yesterday I was in a local computer shop looking at fans. They had 2, one for $10 and another for $15. Then I noticed a box of surplus stuff lying in the corner containing a bunch of Intel CPU fans for $6. Sold.
I needed a way to cover the fan. Many ideas came to mind. My friend Jim recommended making it out of 1/4" hardwood. "Just get me an AutoCAD file and I'll cut it out on my CNC machine." I haven't used AutoCAD since college. I've had lots of experience drawing the sweeping lines of the cab profile so I decided to go with this look. I basically freehanded the drawing then cut it out with the scroll saw. I smoothed the edges with a power sander, then put on a 1/8" chamfer with a router. Lots of hand sanding later and its done. The pictures really don't show it but the sides are very rounded and it has a nice 3D contour effect. I'm going to take Jim up on his offer on the CNC but this time to drill the hundreds of holes in a cool sweeping pattern.
Speakers
The speakers are hacked from an amplified PC speaker set I picked up at a garage sale for $2. I didn't have room to make a hollow pocket in the top surface (where the marquee & speakers typically go), so I had to look elsewhere to place the speakers. I thought about putting them in the back and also in the bottom. There is just barely enough room (1/16" to spare) to mount them beside the monitor facing front. Now the issue was how to cover them up. I went with the same material and basic shape of the fan cover. Hopefully it will sound OK.
And finally a picture showing the speaker plates in their approximate location along with the fan plate that will be mounted on the back. I'm not sure how I'm going to finish the plates. I'm leaning toward a high gloss paint of roughly the same color as the box (light gray.) I don't want them to scream out like in this picture. I'd rather have a subtle contrast in either color or texture.
I'm starting to get a little nervous about the weight. My original intent was to make it light enough for my wife to easily carry. My goal was 25 pounds or less. The CPU and monitor weigh about 11 pounds. The box (minus the CP & bezel) weighs in at around 8. I've still got the controls, wire, transformers, various cords, and who knows what else yet to go. It is definitely going to be a very light cab, but I'm not sure if it will weigh in at less than 25 pounds when it is finished.
theCoder:
Bondo Work
I wish I'd tried bondo earlier. This stuff rocks. I had a number of gaps and uneven spots along the contour of the box. I used a straight edged piece of plyable plastic to spread the bondo. Prior to application, I put some tape down on the t-molding slots (thanks to someone on the forum for this recommendation).
This shot shows a 1/4" gap at the bottom where the skin meets with the bottom rib. The bondo covered it up great. I also put on small strips of t-molding on the bottom to keep the edges from getting messed up while I'm working with it.
This shot shows what happens when you try to overwork bondo. The mixture I made up was only workable for about 3 minutes. Any attempts to re-touch after that was a disaster. Your best bet is to smear it into the cracks, then cross your fingers and try to get one smooth stroke. Retouching really doesn't work that well. You really need it to be one continuous stroke.
I got better at it by the 3rd application. The good news is that when you mess up, it just sands off.
I forgot to take pictures of the bondo after sanding. It is pretty smooth with no visible lines or uneven flats. I'm painting now, more pictures to come.
Buddabing:
From left to right I would put joystick, buttons, then trackball. Centipede and Missile Command had the buttons to the left of the trackball.
Wonderful workmanship on the cabinet!
theCoder:
--- Quote from: Buddabing on June 06, 2006, 11:57:50 am ---From left to right I would put joystick, buttons, then trackball. Centipede and Missile Command had the buttons to the left of the trackball.
Wonderful workmanship on the cabinet!
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the compliment.
Good catch on the trackball. On my last cab I just put it in the center because that's where it made sense. I also put the buttons to the right because that also made sense. I didn't give it much thought. Given that layout, I've grown accustom to using my left hand for the trackball and right hand for buttons. It seams a little strange to use my right hand for buttons with joystick game, and my left hand for buttons with trackball games. I understand the concern about matching the original layout of the the CP for Missile Command and Centipede. I think (??) it is better to be consistant with which hand you use for guidance (joystick & trackball) and which hand you use for buttons.
I'm right handed but prefer to use a trackball with my left hand. Do more people use their right hand for trackballing or their left? Comments?
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