Project: Paranoia.

[Beta-brain]

Thanks guys, appreciated and it's good to be back

[Beta-brain]

Hi, I've done some work on the DOSBox so here's a little update.

Fitted some mesh to the fans which was quite easy with the grooved profile tubing just slot some short bolts into the profile, cut the mesh to size and bend around the fans and bolt it up, the mesh came with a silver finish but I might spray it another colour not sure yet will see what it looks like when the fans are working as they have blue LED's in them, can't remember where I got the mesh but I always think it's expensive considering there's more holes than metal!

I've made some front panels using gold mirror plexi I was a bit cautious about cutting the stuff as I had read that the gold can chip off when cutting and I didn't have a spare bit to practice on but it cut alright using my jigsaw with the normal settings I use for plexi which are zero pendulum action and a stroke rate setting on four.

The groove in the profile is 6mm wide and 5mm deep so the 3mm gold plexi fits in it leaving a 3mm gap behind it so I put some thin 3mm strips of plexi behind the gold panels to hold them in place, it's all fitted together quite nicely but the shots of the front gold panels don't really show up that well as they are difficult to photograph without getting my ugly mug or the flash in the reflection.

The wiring and I/O panel are going to be hidden inside the case behind the rear plexi panel so I masked up some black plexi marked it out and cut it, there is going to be an access door in the panel so I can get to the I/O panel to use USB memory sticks as there isn't going to be a permanent DVD/CD drive just one hooked up for the initial OS install and by USB if needed later.

The doorway is cut squarely it's just the reflection of the bottom frame rail in the plexi that makes it look crooked

The rear panel fits in the profile groove the same as the front panels and all it needs now is a door to cover the opening to the I/O panel, I thought about fitting a door with hinges and springs and all sorts of overly complicated things but eventually I realized the simplest way was a simple sliding door, hardly original but simple, just another piece of black plexi fitted in the groove behind the panel and sliding in the groove, I like simple especially as I don't have a workshop and only have a very small working space.

The rear panel, now you see it,

The only wire that will be visible outside is the power cable which is routed inside and exits through the bottom of the case.

That's it for now, back soon.

[madd0ct0r]

very nice, and a surprisingly familiar idea. grin.

I like the idea with the frame.

[Beta-brain]

very nice, and a surprisingly familiar idea. grin.

I like the idea with the frame.

I thought of it first but built it last!

[DonT-FeaR]

wicked sick

[Waynio]

Looking awesome so far going to be a really nice case when its done, wish my alluminium stockist had bars like that, can just get the basics ie angle, flatbar a few tube types but nothing fancy like those, shaping up brilliant.

I'll be starting my v2 next week, already redesigned it on google sketchup, ordered my sheets, bars and nut & bolts and a countersink bit, I'm going for a no rivet aproach this time and to make the motherboad tray and back IO bit so it is all made by myself, looking forward to getting busy.
Once I have completed my v2 that will be my 24/7/365 pc rig and I'll be trying something special like some of the brilliant mods featured throughout TBCS and really take my time.

lol nearly forgot +rep again great looking case so far.

[Beta-brain]

wish my alluminium stockist had bars like that, can just get the basics ie angle, flatbar a few tube types but nothing fancy like those.

Hi Waynio, I see your in the UK, I'm in Cornwall, I got the ally tubing from here as usual the postage is not cheap but they do deliver quite quickly, the profile I used is 20x20mm @ £2.90 metre.

I really like your "Frankencase" build it really looks like it should be in some mad scientists laboratory
Thanks for the rep and look forward to your new build.

[Waynio]

Ahh brill, added to my favourites thanks, think I'll have to get some of that. looks like it goes together really well.

Had to call it frankencase because its such a botched job drill holes all over it, its being used for shelving in my room now hehe thanks for the compliment.

Going to be using my dads drill press this time round for most of the holes, was doing freehand mostly unclamped drilling with a very much past its best drill up til now lol.

[Beta-brain]

Sorry to anyone looking here but my ISP has managed to delete some of the photos on the first/second pages for this build from my web space, expletives cannot express the "slight dislike" I have for them (it's not the first time it's happened!) I will try and rebuild the posts later but as my ISP claim they are doing "essential work" I cannot even FTP to my web space to upload the photos, and they expect money for such a service

Pages rebuilt now.

[Beta-brain]

Hi, I have finally finished this build which due to health problems and the usual life hassles has taken way too long, I had done most of the work but I hate not finishing projects especially before I start something new, I don't have photos for all the work but I've posted what I remembered to take.

The original idea for this build was a PC linked up to some cameras with an integral screen for a security system hence the original name of "Paranoia" but that changed into a PC for playing old DOS games with DOSBox but still with the built in screen, I also wanted to make it very clean and minimal looking with as few as possible of the wires and cables visible, so here is the final assembly.

I've fitted a small two way toggle switch and red led to a rear panel slot blank, this is for power, reset and the led is HDD, using some wiring and connectors from the old spare parts box.

I found that with the screen mounted vertically it was a bit awkward to look at so I altered the mounts and leant it back a few degrees, much better to look at and I think it looks a bit better as well, I used some plasticard to fill in the gaps around the screen, the first time I've used the stuff but it's easy to cut and bend, very useful.

Mounted the simple HDD cage made from a few pieces of plexi and some of the alloy frame tubing to the clear plexi case base and fitted some rubber feet to the case base.

This view from underneath shows how it all fits in the case with the clear plexi base fitted, I remembered to attach the graphics cable to the monitor and card this time!

Fired it up to check if it was all working, it was and the front fans look quite nice.

A quick look inside before the top goes on.

Cut some black plexi for the case top and cut a hole in it as this is where the rear fan vents out and stuck a piece of alloy honeycomb grill to it with some heavy duty tape.

A logitech wireless keyboard and mouse will be used to keep it clean with a minimum of wires exposed, I put the logitech USB receiver inside the case and put the case lid on just to test if the keyboard and mouse would work, I had expected to have to cut a hole in the case somewhere and mount the receiver right behind it so it would pick up the signals but it works fine just lying in the bottom of the case.

Finally I decided to change the gold plexi for black as it was way to bling and shiny, but I ran out of black plexi so the side opposite the screen is a chrome mirror finish it's not what I want but if I have some spare black plexi left after my next build I will replace the chrome, the only exposed wires are the power leads

The monitor has two speakers in it and a line in so I use the on-board sound and run a lead from the audio output socket on the back panel to the monitor

The second skin works well and the rear fan shifts plenty of air.

I get most of the DOS games I play from Abandonia.com

DOSBox running the great old DOS game "Fable".

Game Over, Build finished, I hope the next one doesn't take as long!