So, really old PC goes ka-put, and I find myself needing to build a new system. I need something that be out of my way, maybe up on a bookshelf. Maybe, it could even look like books. I heard the competion has been extended, and I think I can get this done in time. I was undecided about using my tower or desktop case, but I'm thinking I'll go with the desktop case at this point.

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Interesting. How are you going to deal with the depth? I've got a case that's about as compact as you can get with a standard sized motherboard and parts that lays flat and it's still pushing "bookshelf depth"

edit: oh, looking at the pictures a little more I kind of see how this could be going. Are you going to mod front panel features on the side of a tower case? That could be kind of cool...

I did decide on the using the horizontal case. I still needed to deal with the depth issue. I started playing around with graph paper and finally determined that the minimum depth was the short side of my motherboard. There was a bracket for three hard drives/floppy drives next to CD/DVD bracket. I was able to cut that down to two and fit it under the CD/DVD bracket. So, I was able to leave the back panel intact and simply slide it over. After hacking up my case pretty good, I've managed to change a 16 x 16 box to a 10 x 24 box.

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Well done, lad, that's exactly what I was about to suggest ... love this mod idea, by the way. I think you may have some heat issues ... have you considered how you are going to hide the air intakes, or are you going to bother?

The bad news with that layout is you might have to buy some extra long IDE cables for the drives (might not), but the good news is that cable management becomes a breeze.

Keep modding!

-godling

So, I made some pieces to finish up the frame and secure everything in place.

I've been thinking I can possibly mount three fans. Right now I'm thinking one in back, one on the side, and one in front. I definitely want to disguise the one on the front and possibly the one on the side. I'm unsure about how exactly I'm going to accomplish that. I'm hoping to do some tests with the books this weekend. So, maybe I will figure something out.

By the way, "Lad" is entirely inaccurate.

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Quote: Originally Posted by Dors14 So, I made some pieces to finish up the frame and secure everything in place. I've been thinking I can possibly mount three fans. Right now I'm thinking one in back, one on the side, and one in front. I definitely want to disguise the one on the front and possibly the one on the side. I'm unsure about how exactly I'm going to accomplish that. I'm hoping to do some tests with the books this weekend. So, maybe I will figure something out.

Well, these are cheap and stealthy: Slot Exhaust Blower Fan

But those are exhaust fans, and you really want intakes in the front and side. You could always open them up and reverse the fan ... or maybe just reversing the connector wires would do the trick, not sure as I haven't ever tested that.

Quote: By the way, "Lad" is entirely inaccurate.

Lass, then? Can't tall by your nickname.

-godling (lad)

I spent the weekend testing ways to make the outer case, how to glue everything together, how to cut the books, and how to vent the front. It took a couple of tries, but I figured out the order to make the bends in my case. The epoxy worked well for gluing paper to metal and gluing the book closed. I ended up using combination of scroll saw, Japanese flush cut saw, and box cutter to cut the books. It went surprisingly well. There was a little fraying on the bottom, but nothing a little sand paper can't handle. The venting didn't end up going quite as well. None of the book spines are fabric, so I wasn't able to just hollow it out. Drilling small holes was really obvious. Pinholes worked in the lettering, but were easily seen elsewhere. Also, they didn't allow much air through, and the spine had to be hollowed out to allow any at all. (The needle went between the pages.) At this point, I'm thinking that there won't be a fan out the front of the case. I'm still working on a couple other thoughts about ventilation.

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Maybe instead of front ventilation you could also do one through the bottom of the shelf? It seems highly unlikely that you will manage to get enough airflow in front without completely giving away the stealthed look.

I'm taking a breather from the ventilation issue for a little while. I worked on the case. I had a little issue with epoxying the nuts on. Either I didn't mix it well, or I didn't mix it in the right proportions. Either way, after a day and half, they're still tacky, and two of them moved. So, I'll be doing those again. I also started cutting the books. Those will be epoxyed to hold their shape as well as to attach them to the case. That's all for now.

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Quote: Originally Posted by Dors14 I'm taking a breather from the ventilation issue for a little while. I worked on the case. I had a little issue with epoxying the nuts on. Either I didn't mix it well, or I didn't mix it in the right proportions. Either way, after a day and half, they're still tacky, and two of them moved. So, I'll be doing those again. I also started cutting the books. Those will be epoxyed to hold their shape as well as to attach them to the case. That's all for now.

I wonder if, instead of trying to make a vent in the books, you could make a vent that looks like a shelf item, or bookend, or something like that. Might give you more flexibility in how to "hide" the intake while still allowing you to have the intake.

-godling

Well, I finished cutting the thirteen books that will hang from the top. I epoxyed those books into shape and re-attached the nuts. I ended up with some epoxy in the threads. When I went to clean it out with the tap, the nuts came loose. So, I have the case the attached to frame with screws, but it's not exactly what I intended.

For ventilation, I've actually been conisdering some ideas for venting the top.

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Just a Heads Up. Rule #3 in this contest states you must make a post of your intend to enter the contest in one of these two threads.
PCApex.com & Appetite4tech.com Member Hosted Case Mod Competition - Appetite for Tech
http://www.forumapex.com/anything_go...mpetition.html

It's just a formality but the rules are the rules. It's not 2 late, your mod will be offical as soon as you comply

On Sunday, I made a panel to go around the CD & DVD drives to have more area to attach the horizontal books. I attached the panel & vertical books to the case and let them set up. Monday, I cut and shaped the horizontal books. On Tuesday, I epoxyed the bottom three horizontal books in place. Today, I worked on the CD & DVD tray covers. I decided to attach them with velcro. That way they'll be easy to remove if I need to access the emergency tray open hole or I need to remove the drives. I also took a look at the positioning of my top horizontal book. It doesn't look quite close enough to set on top, but maybe I can manipulate the spine a little instead of having to cut it.

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I cut and shaped the second row of books on Saturday. On Sunday, I cut the top horizontal books and attached the second row. After everything had set up, I was able to cut the two vertical books on the end and shape them. While, they were setting. I started putting the inards in my frame. I'll need a run to the electronics store in the morning for a few items. No, I do not intend to keep the fan or speaker attached with tape. In fact, both of those items will be replaced. When my last two books were finally set, I attached them to the case. Since, it's now 1 am, I'm going to sleep for a while.

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This morning I picked up a fan, a speaker, and two 36 inch IDE cables. After getting everything installed, I did I a system test. There were a couple of issues, but I finally got it up and running. I installed the case on the frame. Then I remembered that I still needed to drill ventilation holes in the case. I disassembled, drilled the holes, and reassembled. I took some video of the CD & DVD drives opening. If I get them ready to post in time, I will post them. Finally, I placed the computer on the shelf and made all the connections. Another quick test showed everything still working correctly.

This has been a really great experience. If I have time, I will post those videos.

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I have videos of the CD & DVD trays opening on YouTube. Unfortunately, I'm unable to post links here yet. The links are posted on Appetite for Tech.

Here are screen shots of:

The CD tray open

After the CD tray closed

The DVD tray open

After the DVD tray closed


Thank You for Viewing!

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Thanks 4 the links to the vids.... that worked out nicely....

& ... CONGRATS on yer 2nd place !!!


L8r...