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Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: cerebus on August 14, 2005, 03:48:21 am

Title: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: cerebus on August 14, 2005, 03:48:21 am: Inspired by and loosely based around Oscar's bartop (http://www.skum.org/bartop/), I've done enough on my own version to start showing it off. Here it is after some priming:

(http://www.chrisinjapan.com/media/1/20050814-primed.jpg)
It's quite obvious in that shot that the rear panel isn't flush! MDF has a tendency to split a little when screwed into near the edge, causing things like this. But I'm not so bothered since it is around the back and will look a lot better when painted black.
The top hole will have a fan on the inside pulling fresh air onto the monitor, the bottom one is just for ventilation. Grilles will cover the not-so-neat cuts.

Here's the control panel with black vinyl covering:
(http://www.chrisinjapan.com/media/1/20050814-cpanel.jpg)
I think eventually I will create a new one cause I'm not 100% happy with the button layout, but it will suffice for the moment. It's not very colourful but the cab will have a marquee and sideart to make it a bit more exciting.

The very best find so far is a couple of classic hourglass stools I picked up at the Camberwell Sunday Market for only $10 ;D

(http://www.chrisinjapan.com/media/1/20050814-stools.jpg)
Title: Re: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: Bones on August 14, 2005, 08:36:07 am: Hey well done so far.

Great to see another Aussie project on the go and I haven't spotted a homegrown bartop before. Keep the pics coming, a bartop for the kids interest me for my next project!
Title: Re: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: captainpotato on August 14, 2005, 08:43:44 am: Quote from: BrokenBones1 on August 14, 2005, 08:36:07 am
Hey well done so far.

Great to see another Aussie project on the go and I haven't spotted a homegrown bartop before. Keep the pics coming, a bartop for the kids interest me for my next project!

Don't forget my bartop (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=38343.msg343594#msg343594) (which still isn't finished :P) - it's in Adelaide and is homegrown :)

Once I get the furniture built that I'm making currently (people think that making a cabinet is a steep learning curve - I'm making a 5.4m x 2.4 shelving/workbench/desk unit...), I'll finish it off.
Title: Re: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: Bones on August 14, 2005, 08:52:03 am: Quote from: captainpotato on August 14, 2005, 08:43:44 am
Don't forget my bartop (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=38343.msg343594#msg343594) (which still isn't finished :P) - it's in Adelaide and is homegrown :)
Ooops! Ain't my face red...? :-[
Title: Re: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: captainpotato on August 14, 2005, 08:55:27 am: Quote from: BrokenBones1 on August 14, 2005, 08:52:03 am
Quote from: captainpotato on August 14, 2005, 08:43:44 am
Don't forget my bartop (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=38343.msg343594#msg343594) (which still isn't finished :P) - it's in Adelaide and is homegrown :)
Ooops! Ain't my face red...? :-[

It wasn't announced so well, and until it's ready, it's nothing spectacular (yet), so you're forgiven ;)
Title: Re: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: cerebus on August 28, 2005, 08:11:10 am: I got a lot done this weekend!

(http://www.users.on.net/~cerebus/marqueed.jpg)

Routing the slot for the t-moulding was a real nightmare. Because I'd already screwed it together I could only route between the screws. This was a very slow process - I didn't want to accidentally hit the screws - and because I was viewing the router side on I got covered in nasty mdf dust. When I installed the t-moulding I had to cut out the vertical part of the "T" for all areas that didn't have a cut.

After this I touched up a few areas of the paint and gave it two spray coats of acrylic sealer. I also installed the speakers, fan and fan grilles.

I ordered a styrene marquee which is quite light and so I was able to attach it with velcro only. Easy to remove when I need to take out the monitor to move the cab.
Title: Re: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: Bones on August 28, 2005, 11:06:57 pm: Looking pretty damn sweet!
Title: Re: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: D5A1AC on August 29, 2005, 04:26:25 am: Quote from: cerebus on August 14, 2005, 03:48:21 am
The top hole will have a fan on the inside pulling fresh air onto the monitor, the bottom one is just for ventilation.
May I suggest that you have the intake fan on the bottom and outlet fan (or just the vent) up the top? this way it should cool more effectively as hot air rises.

If the intake were at the top and outlet at the bottom the fan would have to work against the hot air to get it out the bottom. If the top vent was designed specifically for the monitor you could have the fan up the top blowing out which will draw air warmed by the PC past the monitor, but will still suck the warm air from the monitor.
Title: Re: My bartop cab {Aus}
Post by: cerebus on August 29, 2005, 09:29:48 pm: Quote
May I suggest that you have the intake fan on the bottom and outlet fan (or just the vent) up the top? this way it should cool more effectively as hot air rises.

Yeah, that makes sense. The only problem is there isn't much space between the back of the monitor and the rear of the cab. The cooling is for the monitor so I'll probably flip the fan around to exhaust the hot air.