Slashdot Mirror
Portable Desktop Computer Case HOWTO
Louziffer writes: "I've just upgraded the case on my computer with a modified IBM P70/P75 Traveling Case with solid rubber wheels, a steel retractable luggage handle, and a combination lock. The project page includes a tools and materials list, a full set of instructions, and other ideas for making your own. These instructions could easily be adapted to making a case out of nearly anything similar. (The RF debate is addressed in the pages, for those who want to rant.) I'd like to see what other cool projects people are working on in this capacity. Computer cases can go far beyond the neat-but-overdone realm of clear cases." This one looks ready for a beating, or to arouse the suspicions of airport security. Lucid directions let you join the fun, too.
You have to make SURE it never gets x-rayed.
No problem. I have a similar case. An overclocked celeron in an aluminium briefcase with a single large red button next to the handle. I was a bit concerned about airport security when I bought it to the US from NZ as cabin luggage last month. But nobody look twice. Thinking about adding an alarm clock and bundle of candles for the trip back :-)
Well, as a portable box to take to LANs, one would assume that a dual boot setup with windows, to play games, would be helpfull.
Remember, a gamer only complains about windows when it crashes.
wouldn't putting a handle on the top of your existing case do just as well? Just remove a suitcase or briefcase handle from an old case and bolt it to the top of your box. All you need is one of those dust covers to fit your box in case of rain and your good to go.
I know this is old, but it reminds me of this guy who made a rust box.... of course, I realize that they're on different levels of innovation (one for looks, the other for functionality) but I suppose nostalgia can have its uses.
On another thought - for the daredevil in us all, why not make a computer case out of bullet proof material? Sure, we're not likely to get in the "line of fire" anytime soon, but with all the "flames" we see, it wouldn't hurt. (ok, so that was really corny.. I'm sorry.)
Insert mind here.
The info on my project page is out there for anyone to use, so if anyone wishes to mirror it, please feel free. :)
(BTW - The X-ray comment got a chuckle.)
LouZiffer
LouZiffer
Now all we need to do is design a computer that can hold your underpants! :)
"How much truth can advertising buy?" - iNsuRge - AK47
"How much truth can advertising buy?" - iNsuRge - AK47
An alternative is always PC Tote, but then that requires all the lifting and the carrying and the kicking and the screaming.
"Prejudice is wrong; you should hate everyone the same."
It seems to me that everythign these is becoming more rugged: cars, tools, doors, and now computers. I wonder what's next.
-----------------
It's not really funny, unless someone doesn't get it
If you want to be able to take a desktop on the plane instead of with the luggage there is one standard case that will fit it but it is very hard to find. Its a baby xt case 7x12.5x16. Just small enough to fit in the sizer box for all airlines. (some airlines have 13 inches in the critical dimension instead of 14 inches)
but I like the industrial look of this. Reminds me of the SKB cases I've owned -- rugged as all-get-out, unpretentious, functional. I sold the one that held my old amplifier, but bought another to hold two of my pistols. For a portable computer which requires slot expandability (which seems reasonable for a gaming system), this seems like a cool solution. If I only wanted a tough portable, slots aside, I think I'd go for a Panasonic toughbook - mmmmm.
... =)
Of course, I'm not often featured in better homes and gardens
timothy
jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
Women perhaps? :P
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. --Benjamin Franklin
BTW - Redhat sponsors our LAN party out here, which is a big reason for the stickers all over my monitor.
LouZiffer
LouZiffer
why not just get a laptop?
ReadThe ReflectionEngine, a cyberpunk style n
Almost complete mirror - a couple images I can't get to come down at all...
Case Project Mirror
William Gibson, in _Idoru_, describes a computer case made from molded and fused sand, with silver and turquoise inlays. Of course that computer had VR goggles, sense-gloves, and optical data ports, too, but the case was a hand-made work of art.
Is there anybody out there in the fully-custom case market? Can I get a case that's more valuable than the components I plug into it?
In short, unless you work for IBM don't bother trying to get ahold of the exact case I used. There are plenty of other alternatives.
LouZiffer
LouZiffer
I'd rather stare at a 36" rack
;)
okay, sorry
-- Dr. Eldarion --
It's not what it is, it's something else.
not to mention that now it's been mentioned here, it'll be one heck of a lot harder to find.
-- Dr. Eldarion --
It's not what it is, it's something else.
Drilling, as you suggest, works. But it can be damaging to the components as well as yourself if the drill slips or catches on the metal. I chose the safest method... and it really is quite easy. With a bit of practice you can remove a rivet just as fast as you could drill one. You should try it sometime.
LouZiffer
LouZiffer
Moving my stuff is a pain in the ass, as I will certainly remind you of when it is time to move in and out of the dorm. The biggest pain is moving my computer.
Half the battle is untangling the wiring and other debris and freeing the major components, the other half is dragging the crap to the car. The monitor and computer cases are big and bulky. I'm no lightweight, but a handle would certainly ease hauling the stuff around, particularly since I could use my free hand to carry other stuff.
In spite of a lot of searching, I have yet to find cases which offer a carrying handle. Lack of a market isn't a reason, I bet plenty of college students would love easy-carry cases without getting an iMac.
This travel case modification looks like one solution to my problems, but all I really need is a damn handle (or computer equipment that levitates itself into my car trunk).
A slicker (but more expensive) way to do this would be with a 2 or 3 space rackmount computer case and a skb rack case..
skb racks are for musical gear but they hold rack mount computers just fine and they even custom make stuff.
AdFuel
I'd rather build a 19" rack... but gee, how to do it for cheap???
I've done this. Admittedly, "cheap" is relative to the price of buying a factory made, but it wasn't that hard, and the thing is incredibly sturdy
1) The box frame is made from 1.5-2" construction angle iron. I got mine surplus, but I've seen 6-10 foot lengths from a HQ/Home Depot for $10-20. Use perforated angle iron for the two vertical corners in front. It doesn't have the same hole spacing as a 'real' rack, but that hasn't been a problem yet!
2) Half a dozen carbide masonry bits makes for a cheap way to cut the 1/2" holes I used for bolts
3) to assure squareness, structural rigidity, and a aesthetic side, I cut plywood panels slightly smaller (by the thickness of the angle iron) than the final desired dimensions. I bolted these inside the frame as templates to hold everything together as I drilled and bolted. A cheap sheet of 4ftx8ft BC grade plywood is about $11-15
4) Then I removed the panels, sheathed them in aluminum roof flashing (a single $8 roll was plenty for the whole project) It was like wrapping a huge flat present - aluminum sheet is easy to work with. Then I bolted the sheathed side and bottom panels back onto the frame as EMI/RFI shielding and structural reinforcement.
5) I used aluminum angle iron for the rack slides. I could've used steel, but I was impatient, and aluminum is much easier to cut/drill
At this point I could have stopped, painted and been done, but I decided to make this way cool.
A) I removed the panels, welded the corners (which had been bolted) and replaced the panels. It was my first real welding project, but it went pretty well. My grandkids will be able to use it in 2030.
B) I painted the frame black, and I plan on laminating some jade green marble formica veneer onto the side panels. A jade marble tower with black steel corners will outclass any commercial rack (from past experience, I know to keep a black permanent marker handy for touch-up)
I took (old-fashioned film) photos as I worked, and someday I'll get them developed, scanned and posted on the web. If I can sort them out from the 20+ other rolls of undeveloped film I have lying around (I have a darkroom I haven't used in years, but it's hard to force myself to send film *out* to be developed)
The whole project took me a week (of spare time) but it was a real hands-on rush. I'd do it again! (well, maybe... )
_____________
If you can go to bed, knowing you did a valuable thing today, you're very lucky. If you can't... it's not bedtime
What I think would be cool on this beast would be sliding covers. So that when you are traveling (this beast looks to be made that way), you could slide the covers closed (dust/grit/nastyness). Maybe have a locking mechanizim in it so that no one could thief your gear. Also, with some integrated covers, it looks like a huge plastic box. Just a few ideas.
-Tim
I can say for certain that x-rays didn't kill my laptop 2 weeks ago when it went through the airport scanner.
Karma Police, arrest this man, he talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge, he's like a detuned radio
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
The airport cops don't actually have the power to arrest you (at least in the US)...just thought that would be a helpful tip if you ever did try somethint like that. =]
An overclocked celeron in an aluminium briefcase with a single large red button next to the handle. I was a bit concerned about airport security when I bought it to the US from NZ as cabin luggage last month. But nobody look twice. Thinking about adding an alarm clock and bundle of candles for the trip back :-)
Airport security wouldn't appreciate the joke. You can't even utter the word "hijack" in jest in an airport without raising alarm.
This isn't a new thing, back in 1991 Penn Jillete (of Penn and Teller) mentioned setting up a laptop with an autoexec.bat file designed to output text implying that it is a bomb. Many people in the security loop wrote PC/Computing (what? Penn had a column in PC/Computing?) expressing their disturbance over the article.
Remember that at airports and airplanes, these goons have uid 0.
Did you know that airport security officers can't actually arrest you in the US? Just trust me on this one...
An a totally different train of thought you could pout a computer into an esky for trips to LAN parties...
:)
You could section it off well so that half is the computer and the other half can carry about a dozen Jolt's... plus the ice required for the Jolts could be used to help cool your non-overclocked overheating Athlon
Anyone out there done this?
--- Can i borrow your Clue-Stick(tm)? I need to go beat a few people with it...
I picked up an old lunchbox PC system at a computer flea market. It is a Dolch case and features a 640x480 VGA gas plasma display. It had a standard baby AT form factor 486 motherboard. The Dolch case is extremely sturdy, much better than most such cases I have seen. It has an aluminum chassis/frame surrounded by a plastic shell. The cheaper clone units just have the plastic shell. The case is quite compact and has a well made carrying handle on top.
I replaced the motherboard with a baby AT factor slot-1 board. It is currently a portable P2-333 server. It is a very, very tight fit and agony to work inside. It works great. I have a PCI nic, 4G HD, and the original ISA VGA card connected to the VGA gas plasma display. The plasma display is usable, but I usually use VNC to control it. It's just a server so I don't care about graphics.
Another case I've made is an industrial 486 motherboard mounted into a gutted Toshiba external SCSI CD-ROM drive case. The board is a 5 1/4" form factor and mounted with litte effort. It's quite slick looking - much more attract than a project box or anything I could have made. I mounted video and keyboard connectors on the front of the case.
What do you think the iBook's are made out of. In fact all of Apple's new plastics since the B&W G3 are made out of the same bullet-proof material ;-) Go Apple!
-- DuckWing
I think you folks will like this one.
What is the point of having a case on wheels when I have a 21" Sony Trinitron that weighs upwards of 75 pounds. The case is the easiest thing for me to lug around...
I just don't get it.
-S
Scott Ruttencutter
We Apprentice Developers and Designers
No but they can call the Police officer who stands no more than 100 meters away, and they can still do a citizen arrest, until the police can come by. Same thing goes for shoplifters, and if you get violent, that is shove the security officer to the floor, you are in really bad trouble.. ;-)
nuff said
just get an espresso instead. All of the benefits this guy was after, and more. I can't imagine having many problems with transferring a machine as small as the espresso.
--------- Beware the dragon, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.
Does a US Citizen's Arrest differ from a UK one? You see, in the UK a Citizen can only arrest if they know for a fact that a crime has been commited. That's the extra power of the Police, they only need a suspicion.
I was frustrated when having to carry my computer to LAN parties, so bought a big heavy duty handle used for tool boxes and screwed that big chunk of stainless steal on top of my case.
Pros:
* Much more easy to carry
* My computer looks like a high tech tool box
Cons:
* Lugging that Full Tower, sporting a dual processor mobo and 4 fans can be a real pain on my back.
----------------------------- --- Thank You, Come Again --- -----------------------------
Remember, this case was designed to carry computer equipment. It has an inner and an outer shell (about .75cm of plastic in all) with about 1cm of air in between. You'll find that many other cases of this type that aren't specifically designed for carrying computers still have the same specs.
BTW - I did not intend this as a shipping case. It's designed so I can strap my monitor to the top of it and wheel it out to LAN parties.
LouZiffer
LouZiffer
Try scanning the negatives. It works quite well if you've got a decent scanner.
Too true. This project does have a certain amount of risk attached to it. It took me nine days of careful work to get this case to the point it is at right now. A rack mount would have taken substantially less time, though I (well... my wife actually) would have found the cost prohibitive.
I personally would consider this solution (when done right) to be less risky than carrying a rigid aluminum case around all of the time. That was my main concern. But as a professional solution, a rack mount case has its merits.
Post #66 contains a description of an interesting project where the poster made their own rack. It is somewhat between what I have done and a professional rack mount solution.
LouZiffer
LouZiffer
Get some monofiliment fishing line. It's small enough to thread into the gap between the card edge connectors and the motherboard. Use this to make a loop to secure the back edges of all the cards. I built some systems to go on the road, and the cards normally are only secured on one end by a single screw. This is not enough to keep the card secured.
Before I did this, every system had to be opened at the site before power-on and the cards re-seated. After I put the fishing line tie-downs in (using a "surgeon's knot" and acetone) we didn't have a single badly seated card. Oh, and a small amount of silicone to hold the drive connectors on.
"How perfectly Goddamn delightful it all is, to be sure" Charles Crumb
Yeah, but you'd be surprised what they _can_ do until the proper authority arrives.
I happened to be in O'Hare airport on my way to JFK the day there was an incident. Guy was trying to board with 3+ carry-on's and the gate clerk told him he'd have to check one. He said something like 'oh, then take this one... it's the one with the bomb in it'.
You'd think this guy was Hinckley taking a pot shot a Regan the way the airline agents grabbed him and dropped him to the floor with a wrist-lock. CPD was there in < 1 minute to cuff him and cart him off. Would love to have been in the interrogation room when he made his phone call.
"Um, boss... Hi this is Rick? You know how I was supposed to be in New York for that sales presentation today? Well, I kinda missed my flight...".
Airport security has _no_ sense of humor (can't say I blame them).
There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
No kidding! I've heard about things like that happening before. But I've also heard about people who get cought with illeagal drugs and just walk away from the airport security.
I am planning on removing my PS2 from it's case and building a new case out of Mindstorms. My actual goal is to get Mindstorm software working on the PS2 also so that it can program it's own case to do weird things as you play.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.