Project Quercus - Control Panel 2

[kizer]

Like mentioned please do not cover all that wood craftsmanship. That is simply mind blowing. If I had it my way I would leave it totally open and carefully route wires so they are clean, but leave it completely open because that is simply amazing to see.

Heck go nob and tube like they used to in the old days.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knob_and_tube_wiring

[drventure]

I'd never heard of Knob and tube wiring. Great stuff.

And definitely keep the pics coming!

[wilno45]

Iv'e never heard of it either, they built things properly back then. Looks good.

Not going to cover it up so you can't see anything but will have to put something there to stop little fingers, drinks and a stupid
cat from going bang.

A single snowflake landed last week on 27L at Heathrow and since then the country has grinded to a halt so my bits haven't arrived
in the post and what with all the relatives to visit.....

Have been experimenting/researching with the finish and decided I would like to try some Danish, Tung, or Linseed oil and see how that looks
compared with just wax.

Happy Christmas all.

[TEKNYNE]

Hope everyone is joking about the nob and tube wiring, big time fire and shock hazard if not done properly (I am a electrician)! Most insurance companies in the states wont even insure a house with that type of wiring in it.

Wilno45 great job on this build it has been interesting to watch this cab take shape so cleanly.

[drventure]

Oh, I wasn't suggesting using that for any kind of high voltage stuff. It looks like a nice way to run LED control wires and such around if you want them to show.

Yeah, I'm sure there's lots of reasons that sort of stuff isn't used anymore 

[wilno45]

Trust me, I'm **** scared by electricity, won't be doing anything silly.  

I was pleased with the Beeswax, but it wasn't quite what I wanted.

Bought some Danish oil and it looks exactly like I hoped it would.



Finally the post arrives, still waiting on leaf switches though.





Heavy sanding is done, now 120 grit then 180.

Cheers

[drventure]

Niiiiice!

[wilno45]

Thanks mate, power sander woke up the little one so had to stop for today. Was soooo close......

[wilno45]

Busy day....

Had six hours to myself and got a load done. Our house now has a thin layer of sawdust covering everything. 

Paranoid me added a little more last minute structural help....





First coat is done and a couple of hours dry......





cont...

[wilno45]

cont...

[wilno45]

Was dark by the time I added the oil - looking forward to seeing it in daylight!

Cheers.

[emphatic]

Beautiful! 

[drventure]

Very Nice.

Just curious, are you going to give the same treatment to the internal mounting bits (like how you'll be mounting the motherboard, etc).

And damn. I see a LOT of cable wrap in your future 

[wilno45]

Not sure yet drventure, I just can't wait to get everything cleared away and swept up. You're right about the cable wrap - my own fault. 

What I don't want is a big white smartstrip/powerstrip/intellipanel thing on display, why don't they make these things in black?

Cheers

[saurian333]

Oh man, that is freaking gorgeous work.  All those mitre cuts and hole plugs...I like woodworking, but I don't think I have the patience for something like that!

The oil brings out the color really nicely; I like how that turned out.

Incredible job!  I'll be following.   

[drventure]

What I don't want is a big white smartstrip/powerstrip/intellipanel thing on display, why don't they make these things in black?

you know, you might want to build a hinged wood box with some cable exit slots to hide that kind of stuff. Stain it like the rest and it'd look very nice in there. Heck, put a fancy fan grill and an led behind it, and it could actually be a nice element in the design.

[wilno45]

Not like drventure to create work for me.  

Think I'm done with woodwork for a while though - I want everything to be seen (just not ugly white bits of plastic)!

Still, I forgot to do top supports that hold the plexi where the speakers go so almost done.



I like the idea of having some bits of plexi hinged so am researching them at the moment - wife's eyes roll....

Maybe the marque, top panel and all three on the control panel so it all opens up. Maybe even the side panels, who knows.

edit - Looking at spot lighting too, forgot to add.

[drventure]

There's lots of black powerstrips out there.

http://www.google.com/products?q=black+power+strip&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=bjQ6S_HOMpHdlAeRl_2hBw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CC0QrQQwAA


I'd grab some black, or maybe UV cable wrap to tidy them all up. That could look right proper.


I like that last sketch model, but are you planning on using 3/4 plex? That's what it kinda looks like. Or am I just reading the shot wrong. Would that be heavy? or no more so than MDF?

[wilno45]

I wanted one of those clever ones that power everything of when you switch off the computer - think I saw a US one searching
late one night and I could put US plugs on but not sure if it could handle the voltage difference.

This is my other option http://www.oneclickpower.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/TVA106.html - would have PC and monitor cables running
out the back via kettleplug connections. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=218978

Thinking of 12 or 15mm for the sides - yep it will be heavy!

Polycarbonate (lexan) - more expensive, but more forgiving.

Acrylic - slightly cheaper, craaaack!

Might get it custom cut!

[drventure]

Very cool. Are you going to finish the edges or put tmold on? I'd think finishing and polishing the edges would be FAR more impressive looking. But I'm guessing that'd have to be professionally done? I've never worked with stuff like that before.

Very interested to see where this is going!

[wilno45]

No, no t-molding for me - I agree, polished edges would look best. I've cut some small pieces in the past and they were ok-ish
trouble is they show up every mistake. People swear routers are the best thing to use, never tried myself though.

I will definitely have a go at the thinner panels myself though - quite fancy engraving some artwork on the back or some kind
of stained glass thing.

Cheers

[saurian333]

Thinking of 12 or 15mm for the sides - yep it will be heavy!

Polycarbonate (lexan) - more expensive, but more forgiving.

Wow, that's heavy duty; should be pretty awesome.  You're not kidding about it being expensive though; Lexan is expensive even at .1"!

[wilno45]

Thanks saurian333

They are not hole plugs btw, they are (miller) dowels. Until I screwed in the feet it could have passed through
airport security!

Don't think I'll be using Lexan as it's about 50% more expensive than acrylic. I'm not
going to kick it. Thinner pannels seem to be cheapest in the UK from greenhouse suppliers.

http://www.casupply.co.uk/acatalog/solid_acrylic_sheets.html

Once the thickness goes up - 12 X 1800 X 900mm X 2 - ouch!

http://www.plasticonline.co.uk/ have given me the best price so far for 12/15mm.

Cheers

edit - crap - just realized I am building a greenhouse and putting in electrical things that generate heat!

[Silas (son of Silas)]

edit - crap - just realized I am building a greenhouse and putting in electrical things that generate heat!

This might not help cooling but could but useful?

[wilno45]

http://sherav.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/marijuana2.jpg - nice little sideline!  

Before someone says it - I am not going to grow illicit drugs in my arcade machine!

[RobbyMac]

edit - crap - just realized I am building a greenhouse and putting in electrical things that generate heat!

Well you can always put a big patio type outdoor thermometer inside it!
Maybe even a sundial!

[drventure]

Don't worry, unless you're gonna put it right in front of an open window (and I wouldn't do that just for the sake of the wood, not to mention reflections), the plex won't have any adverse effect on cooling. Just leave vent slots and throw on a few case fans, it'll be fine.

Illicit drugs 

That would be hilarious. Throw some blueish grow lamps in there....

[saurian333]

http://sherav.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/marijuana2.jpg - nice little sideline!  

Before someone says it - I am not going to grow illicit drugs in my arcade machine!

   Wow...I don't think I'd do it either, but it would make a sweet picture!

They are not hole plugs btw, they are (miller) dowels. Until I screwed in the feet it could have passed through
airport security!

Oh, that's even better.  See, if I tried putting something together with dowels, I'm sure it would fall apart!  I rely on screws for everything.  You've done an awesome job though; that's some serious woodworking.

[Nacimroc]

Looking great!

I used these to buy my acrylic from! (They posted to Ireland). cheap delivery aswell!

http://www.hindleys.com/materials/plastics-and-foam/

As few years ago i read a topic on a acrylic PC case and I remember every talking about how it would cause alot of static build up! I couldn't figure out how it could but I'm no genius, but it may be something to look into!

[saurian333]

As few years ago i read a topic on a acrylic PC case and I remember every talking about how it would cause alot of static build up! I couldn't figure out how it could but I'm no genius, but it may be something to look into!

Funny, if that was a real problem, you'd think they wouldn't manufacture and sell the things retail.

I've put together an acrylic case.  It was fairly static-y out of the box, but that's mostly from the friction of the packing materials.  It goes away after not too long, and I wouldn't imagine it being much of a problem.  I also have a friend who's been running his PC in an acrylic case for about 2 years now, and he hasn't had any unusual problems.

...Well, he is running Windows, but that's not the case's fault. 

[Silas (son of Silas)]

...Well, he is running Windows, but that's not the case's fault. 

 

[kizer]

Hope everyone is joking about the nob and tube wiring, big time fire and shock hazard if not done properly (I am a electrician)! Most insurance companies in the states wont even insure a house with that type of wiring in it.

Wilno45 great job on this build it has been interesting to watch this cab take shape so cleanly.

I didn't mean literally do it that way. I just meant if he shows off his wiring right it can look cool opposed to hiding it or worse just have it loose hanging around and would be a total shame to close everything all up since its obvious hes put forth so much effort on everything else. I would never suggest anybody to build a death trap or a fire waiting to happen.

[wilno45]

Thanks for the link Nacimroc, unfortunatly they only do 600mm width and I need 705mm.

Good news is my leaf switches have finally arrived from Lizard Lick   - I know this cause the
taxman wants his 17.5%  , picking them up from the post office depot on monday. I was
really worried they had gone missing as they were posted on the 22nd Dec.

I have ordered 14 black and 2 white ones to use as 1/2 player start buttons - does anyone
know If you can get the 1/2 player start stickers to go on them?

I've also been thinking on how to mount everything on a perspex panel.

Buttons, easy (now I know I've got them), have a forstner bit burning a hole on the shelf.

U-track, was driving me round the bend on how to do this but spoke to Andy at Ultimarc an he
says no problem, the inserts supplied with it work fine. Wish I had emailed him earlier!

Cont.

[wilno45]

J-Stik and Ultrastick, think I am going to use a 12mm layer of polycarbonate and route out
a space for both and have them sandwiched between a top layer of acrylic 5mm thick. I think
the (leaf) pushbutons need to be mounted in 17mm, so will wait and see when I get my hands on them
and go from there.

Not at all sure yet if I'll have a spinner, the pushbuttons look like they take up alot of space.

Cheers

[wilno45]

Sorry, no pic's or anything like that I am afraid.

Unfortunatley Lizard Lick sent the wrong leaf switch holders (short)...  I had waited 3 weeks for them! 

To their credit though - as soon as I emailed them letting them know -  I get a reply straight away apologizing - and the guy (Chad) sent out the correct ones
the next day.  Everyone makes mistakes, nice to know some companies care about their customers. Should be here any day.

Still waiting for Ultimarc to get the J-Stick balltops back in stock..... oh, and my pay check at the end of the month. We get paid a week early in Dec so Jan goes
on forever.

Cheers
 

[saurian333]

..... oh, and my pay check at the end of the month. We get paid a week early in Dec so Jan goes
on forever.

Ugh, that's always the counterpoint to getting paid early on a holiday week, isn't it? :/

[ratzz]

WOW! Looks great -- I've not been logged in for a while, so its great to catch up on beautiful designs like these! 

[drventure]

@Wilno45

I +really+ want to see some turned walnut button caps on this cab 

hehe, more work, more work!

[wilno45]

Sorry drventure don't have a lathe, would be a tad difficult to do the screw thread!

I would like the CP hinged but am having a hard time finding the hinge I need. Concealed (European style in US I think)
I thought would work but they tend to be too wide. I need the space they take up for the Joysticks and buttons.

Because I may want to add a glass or screen of some kind over the monitor a 'normal' hinge would push the CP into it as
it opened and TBH there's not much room for the screen as it is.







Could mount the Joysticks 90 degrees to how they are shown but they look beter this way I think, horizontal space is tight.

It's not the end of the world if I can't get it to work, I will have access underneath so I can switch the
J-Stick 4/8 way.

[drventure]

Hehe, no I'm talking about the arcade buttons! But you'd still need a lathe.

Yeah, I had some issues with controls getting placed a little too close to the edges too. My cp has the battlescars to prove it