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Student Designs Cardboard Computer Case
SpaceGhost writes "The Houston Chronicle has a story on a Grad student at the University of Houston who has designed a cardboard case for a computer. This is not a new concept, but this one is meant to be used in manufacture. The idea is that it will be faster and easier to produce (no fasteners for example) and dramatically easier to recycle."
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/recompute-a-closer-look-at-the-sustainable-cardboard-pc/ for a better description and better pictures
The case is either Al or steel sheet metal, easily recyclable. The toxic sludge and heavy metals in the PCB, capacitors and solder are the problem. Call me when they invent cardboard solder.
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
Grounding has always been via the power supply primarily, the power supply always has a ground plug for that reason. The case was just a handy secondary ground when working on the computers. I imagine that lame grounding strap will be more important for this case, but really grounding isn't a big risk unless you are in a very dry area and producing a large static buildup in your body.
Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
What needs to be grounded? There are ground return paths in all component connections, and that is desirable over having random ground currents circulate in the case.
Having debugged a few interference problems on PCs myself, as far as RFI is concerned, radiation is primarily from external cables. The main problems with PCs are 1) Reradiation from the external power, peripheral, and network cables, 2) Pickup of stray radiation on cables inside the case itself.
Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and he'll say "WHERE'S MY FISH, YOU IDIOT?"
Almost all of them do. In fact I am unaware of any case that doesn't.
devices(CD-Rom. hard dirve, etc) use their case for grounding, and you attach metal screws to old them onto the case, and most likely have other contact. You do not want to start having different 'ground points' in a case. That will casue drift and multiple different potentials.
This is why you should leave the computer plugged IN, but turned off at the power supply when working on them, also maintain contact with them usually via a strap.
That said, the risk of damage in normal conditions is real, but low.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Apparently you haven't opened one. There aren't many plastic cases around. There are aluminum cases with plastic molding on the outside.
a 100% aluminum or steel case is 100% recyclable. This "cardboard" thing is a gimmick. In fact most computer cases metal components are always recycled as the metal has the highest value.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
But its probably not recyclable after it catches on fire from my overclocked processor
No worries. I think the melting point of solder is lower than ignition point of cardboard. So there's an automatic safety mechanism: solder melts, electric connections break, heating stops.
So you are saying that electronics don't start fires? You forget about sparks that can fly off the circuit boards and components that can fail and burn before the leads do. Also, liquid solder will still keep an electronic connection. Cardboard just sounds like a dangerous idea without some kind of fire retardant in the cardboard, which generally makes it unrecyclable.