I like the mechanism in my CD Player, (you push it down and 2 metal balls keep the cd in place) could I rip it out and use it on a CD-Rom drive?

No, you can't. The spindle inside the CD-Rom drive wouldn't have a way to grab the CD, if you put something in the way. Why don't you just put a window in it or stealth it like normal people .

The only way for that to happen, is to cut a big hole in your cd-rom drive, and swap the spindle out for the one with the metal balls, and then take out the tray, is it worth all that? How would you even stick it in through your case?

Because i'm not normal? and who said I wasn't just going to put the cd on the spindle?
it's a brilliant idea but if I were to reveal all the details I'd have to confiscate all your pc's, a fate worse then death.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ryj I like the mechanism in my CD Player, (you push it down and 2 metal balls keep the cd in place) could I rip it out and use it on a CD-Rom drive?

I doubt that. CD-ROM spins much faster that a regular CD player (up to 52x faster, as a matter of fact), so securing the stability of the spinning disc is much more important there. I don't suppose it's completely impossible, but it would require much more precision than can be normally achieved in a DIY situation...

Be prepared to cut a huge hole in the top of your case, and cd rom drive, and take out the ejection tray.

Maybe you could take the Cd-rom drive out of it's case, and flush mount it to the top of your case, would be extremely hard, but interesting concept.

You would also have to disable the spindle from moving up and down.

ok fine here's the idea.

I want to make the drive TALL, not long, then mount it perpendicular to the ground.
This is sort of my baby in response to pimp_juice's call to arms (or computers).

Edit: since the spindle holds the cd I don't need to make it move up and down. I was hoping to transplant the 'eye' as well.

Edit 2: ok what if I just took the cd holding mechanism? do you think it would still hold the cd at high RPM?

So then you would have to do what I just said, and mount it flush with the side panel of your case, it's a risky mod, but I guess it's not impossible.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ryj ok fine here's the idea. I want to make the drive TALL, not long, then mount it perpendicular to the ground. This is sort of my baby in response to pimp_juice's call to arms (or computers). Edit: since the spindle holds the cd I don't need to make it move up and down. I was hoping to transplant the 'eye' as well. Edit 2: ok what if I just took the cd holding mechanism? do you think it would still hold the cd at high RPM?

You aren't going to be able to transplant the "eye", I don't know if the cd will be held by that ball spindle, It probably won't work, but hey, if you have the guts, go ahead and try.

Thinking more realistically, maybe you could just flush mount the CD-player to your case, and plug it into your sound card, with the volume down on the cdplayer, it could work. Then you could play cd's like that, through your computer speakers. I really don't think this is a realistic mod, but im trying to help anyways.

will it be able to READ, that's what I really want to know.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ryj will it be able to READ, that's what I really want to know.

I'm sorry, but I don't think you can take the laser from a sony walkman, and put it into your cd-rom drive.

ok, so let me get this straight. you want to mount the cd player mechanics from your favorite lets say discman and out it on the side of your computer. would the lid convering it

heres a quick paint:


the red would depict your "cd-rom" and so your question would be is how to get the cd-rom from being tray loaded to basically open hatch with the ball bearing setup in it.

the only thing i find wrong with this is that the cd-rom will spin at much higher speeds that the ball-bearing centter "thingy" could hold, that would cause major problems.

what exactely are you trying to accomplish but side mounting your cd-rom, is it just for looks. not being rude, i need to know. i would like to help.


EDIT: the laser and electronics of your discman would not be able to read data disks and say copy or install off it.

I know ZerOs, we're friends, member?
you pretty much hit the nail on the head, decoration is main thing I plan on putting an acrylic window over top (front) so I can spinny

The spindle would definatly be the major problem, do you realize how fast a Cd-rom drive spins? The ONLY realistic way you could somewhat do this, is to flush mount the actual "CD player" to the side panel of your case, and hook it up to your sound card, hey, interesting idea, just impossible the way you are trying to do it.

EDIT: It might not be entirely impossible, but you would have to re-fab EVERYTHING, and I just don't see the point in it. Also, it is taking a huge chance, what if the spindle won't hold the cd at such high rpms? Then you would have a dead cd rom drive, and a huge hole in your case.

but what do you want it to read, normal music cds....data cds...your moms porno dvd collection....
ohh yah i went there....LoL
anywayz......

There's a first for everything

Edit: I plan on making it a regular cd-rom drive, mounted vertically
How fast does it spin BTW?

Edit: I want it to read everything I throw at it.

well it depends on your cd-rom you buy. a 48x spins 48x faster than a cd-player your talking about...52x - 52x faster....and well hmm i will need to think of how this would be accomplished.....

so pretty much that ball bearing spindle would not hole the cd if you speed it up to say match a 48x

Quote: Originally Posted by Ryj There's a first for everything Edit: I plan on making it a regular cd-rom drive, mounted vertically How fast does it spin BTW? Edit: I want it to read everything I throw at it.

A LOT faster than a cd player does, the spindle might hold, take an old cd-rom drive, and swap the spindle out, then take out the tray, and disable the spindle from moving up and down, then try it out, before cutting into your case. If it works, then take the cd rom drive out of its case, then flush mount it to your side panel, it's going to be a pain in the ass. I think flush mounting it to the top would be easier, but goodluck.

Quote: Originally Posted by Zer0s well it depends on your cd-rom you buy. a 48x spins 48x faster than a cd-player your talking about...52x - 52x faster....and well hmm i will need to think of how this would be accomplished..... so pretty much that ball bearing spindle would not hole the cd if you speed it up to say match a 48x

Which is exactly what I wrote about half an hour ago...

There's no way in hell the CD-player mechanism would hold the disc--even at 16x. Forget it. Interesting idea, but this one will have to go to the "what was I thinking?" drawer... Sorry.

well the only thing that keeps the disc in the rom from flying off is a magnet....ok so what if I mount the rom vertical and use a magnet on the plexi that will cover the drive?

Edit: thanks for the optimism unholy

sorry for the doubel posting but i need a whole post to tell this:

ok, so we have decided that you will not be able to use the ball bearing spindle idea. So, this is that you do:



same concept as before but, you use a slot loading tray instead of a ejecto tray, the slot loaders have a mechanism that holds the cd or dvd at high RPMS.

Basically what you would have to do is mount your dvd slot loading rom on the side with the opening facing the front, just get some ingenuity and mod your front with the slot opening would be nice and clean and then you can plexi the top of your drive and then it would read all formats and be safe to use.

heres the type of drive im talking about: