Calculator Mod V 1

[GuardianAero]

Ok. So everyones thinking, "Yeah sure a mod for a calculator, just some nice LEDs, proboly right?". Although LED's are great (and will be incorporated later if all goes well) they just don't satisfy a modder anymore. So I started this mod. Ok heres a little background. also please note this is basicly a "practice mod", so I can learn to use the tools of a modder and make my ideas work right.... ok so its my first complete "mod". Anyway the Calculator, a Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus. The Mod, a GameBoy Color placed inside of it with the TI-83 still working. Atleast thats the basic mod.

Ok so here it is!

First I opened the TI-83, and took the GBC out of the case. Then I dremaled out the "support plastic" (for lack of better term) in the back of the TI-83 to make room for the GBC.

http://img97.exs.cx/img97/7901/calcgbcmod0019po.th.jpg (http://img97.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img97&image=calcgbcmod0019po.jpg)

(yes thats a comp side panel under the modies)

better pic of the GBC.

http://img27.exs.cx/img27/9061/calcgbcmod0029rr.th.jpg (http://img27.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img27&image=calcgbcmod0029rr.jpg)

[GuardianAero]

I soon realized that I would also have to remove the battery holder to make more room, so, its out-a-there.

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/8371/calcgbcmod0068jf.th.jpg (http://img90.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img90&image=calcgbcmod0068jf.jpg)

Once that was done I now had enough room for the GBC to fit withen the case (be it extreamly tight but it fits). I then turned to the back of the calculator which was anything but Modliciously beautiful. There was the gray paint I randomly added when I was board the night before, and multiple holes from my first modification to it. (a small 40mm fan I had attached with 4 screws and wired into the battery, it actually worked pretty well, kept your hands nice and cool). And sanded it looked even worse.


http://img114.exs.cx/img114/7967/calcgbcmod0054bh.th.jpg (http://img114.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img114&image=calcgbcmod0054bh.jpg)

[GuardianAero]

But those would have to go if it were to look nice after this is complete, so enter the world of Bondo. I mixed up the Bondo and applied to to the back of the calculator to fill in all the holes and make it look nice and smooth.

http://img62.exs.cx/img62/3230/calcgbcmod0097dk.th.jpg (http://img62.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img62&image=calcgbcmod0097dk.jpg)


It filled in the holes extreamly well, even came out the other side.

http://img62.exs.cx/img62/259/calcgbcmod0105fq.th.jpg (http://img62.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img62&image=calcgbcmod0105fq.jpg)

Well, thats where this mod stands. It not pretty yet but hopefully it will turn out nice. I'll give updates as often as I can. And hope yall like it, a mod from a forum noob, whats this world coming too!!

lol, well tell me your thoughts, comments, suggestions, etc..

Thanks.

[hungrych]

This seems like it will be pretty cool. Good luck!

[zeLupin]

So far it looks good. BTW, how did you manage to get the GBC open?

[GuardianAero]

I used a dremal. First I went around the screws to remove most of the plastic, then I went back and cut them off on one side and then just punched them out the other.

[zeLupin]

Hmm. After I posted I managed to get one of those tiny flat head screwdrivers and used one of them. Saved me a screwed up case. Anyway, good luck on this.

[GuardianAero]

I had one of those, but it kept stripping the screws. But at this time it seems I may get a second chance. Just before I was ready to make the cut for the screen and buttons, I thought, "Hmmm, I think I will test it to see if it still works." So I whip out a 9 volt battery (you may wack me on the head now) and touch it to the 2 contacts. The power LED flashes a few times then nothing. I think, "Oh crap". So I go upstairs, grap a few AAA and test them in it, nothing. I have yet to get a way to test the AA's, but I doubt they will do anything (same voltage as AAA). So I may have to go out to Gamestop and hope they have a GBC, if they do it will be cheap. But it just sucks.

[GuardianAero]

freakin mod resurection here. Ok so I finally have to to work on this. My friend wanted to build a wireless transmiter for our calculators and he remided me I should finish this. Anyway I have changed this mod. After discovering somethings about voltage and being too lazy to figure them out, I am dropping the gameboy part. It was just a pain, and I think I lost my gameboy in a box when I had to clean the basement...but thats not the point.

Ok yes this has changed a little but I plan to finish it tomarrow if I can, or atleast come pretty close. (I'm stuck baby sitting all day so I have nothing else to do). Even though the gameboy is gone I can still take this as a learning experience to work with some different materials. So I am going to be using some plexiglass in this. How you ask? Well, you'll just have to wait till I can find my digital camera...dang boxes. But hoefully this can still be resurected...

I wonder if my programs are still archived on that calc... :cool:

[victorpan320]

Whoa, that is cool!

[GuardianAero]

Update:

Ok so well heres what I did today. I Cut a long peice of pleigalss and then use a heat gun to heat it up and shape it to about the size of the case. Just smaller actually so it will fit with out sticking out. Then I took some silicone and used it to attach it to the front part of the case. Also I scratched up the plexiglass to blur it alittle. I plan on doing a bit more to this, (obviously paint, some LED's, and other things if I can think of some). Right now I'm trying to figure out the power problem (http://www.yoshi.us/forums/showthread.php?t=16844). If you can help plese do, I'm kind of stuck untill I can figure that out. Anyway here are the pics I have of what I did today:

http://img185.echo.cx/my.php?image=calcmod5wm.jpg

http://img162.echo.cx/my.php?image=calcmod29ah.jpg

http://img162.echo.cx/my.php?image=calcmod38hl.jpg


I am looking at other mods (HL2 mod in particluar) for some inspiration. I'm thinking of doing something simialr to the rust look that is used in it. Please post thoughts :cool: .

[computerman]

kool, good job

[GuardianAero]

Ok, after thinking it out, I am going to take a page from Polix's book and go after the rust theme. I just think it looks sweet, I always loved the HL2 mod and is great for inspiration. The one thing I am going to have to figure out is how to get the texture though. Anyway, this is finally starting to shape up. I cut out the back window and bought a new battery holder today. While at radioshack I noticed they have Orange LED's on clearence for 97 cents, not sure about the brightness though. I am stuck between Green or Red/Orange LED's. I don't want to be ripping too much off the HL2 mod, but it seems like that mod has everything. Anyway I'll post some pics tomarrow proboly once the paint dries.

[Limp_Trizkit]

GuardianAero,

How are you keeping the labeling above the keys for what they can be used for with the 2nd and Alpha keys. I was thinking of modding my TI-83+ too (paint and overclock, there are some really good overclock guides), but I also want the labels since I program and need to know what every key is...

I'm in skool right now, so I gotta get to class, check back later...
-Triz

[GuardianAero]

well, most of the modding is done to the back. As for the keys, I would take masking tape, and cut small pieces and try to cover them up. Thats why I dicided to do most to the back and not the front, didn't want to mess with the key's.

[Limp_Trizkit]

That makes sense... *slaps face*

I do have an idea for you with those orange LEDs. Why not backlight the screen with them and mount a switch to the side of the calc? It would be functional, yet match the colors of the rest of the mod... ;)

I also was thinking of a 6V AC-DC adapter, so you don't suck up batteries when you are at your desk at home...or if you are in a classroom with an outlet a few inches away like me ;).

I will try to give links to a few of the better OC guides when I get home - my school doesn't let you get to TICalc.org because from what I can tell they think you are going to download the stuff to your calc....makes sense.

Take care, see you around.

[GuardianAero]

well, I did have 2 oraange, but couriousity got the best of me. "Hmmm... what would happen if I dont but on a resistor?"

*fizzle*

"Oh..."

And I changed it up a bit, its not as orange as the HL2 mod. It is more gray with layers. Anyway I should finish it up today and then I'll post some pics. I just need to solder in the switch and mount the new battery compartment.

[Brad_c]

This is funny... I used to use one of those in High School math. hahah dont let your math teacher see that!

[GuardianAero]

lol

"Take out your graphing calculators class"

class " OOOOOOOOOOO"

*My desk glows red*

damn, I hit a wall, I need to get the power to the clac, but the contacts are too flat to let solder stick. Well, I'll take a break I have a German oral final tomarrow and I need a good grade.

[Lockblade]

oooooo.... glowing calculator....
I've been thinking about adding a backlight to mine too, maybe white, and modding it to look like an iPod. BTW, what voltage does the TI-83 plus run at? I know there are 4 AAAs, like this:
-+-+
||||
+-+-


Also, how would you go about opening the calculator? I know it uses a T-5 torx screw, but I'm too cheap to go and get one. Any ideas? And for the orange/ red glow, there are small LEDS in disposable camers that you can use... but I don't know the voltage. I'll look it up and post back

[GuardianAero]

each AAA is 1.5 volts

1.5 * 4 = 6 volts

If you look closely at the botom of the batteries, when the battery holder cover is of you should se a small wire running down to the calc from both of the end batteries, one + and one -. If your just installing lights, the easiest way is to simply solder the wires here (and then add the resistors and LED's). Also, don't forget a switch, the power is constinly coming off the batteries, without a switch they would be on 24/7 draining your battries..


Well, I still need to be able to power the calc, which is getting me mad. Well time to sleep on it, With 40% of my german final tomarrow I need sleep. I'll figure this all out tomarrow after school.

[Limp_Trizkit]

Also, how would you go about opening the calculator? I know it uses a T-5 torx screw, but I'm too cheap to go and get one. Any ideas?
One common way to do this is to melt down the plastic tip of a BIC pen and stick it in one of the screws while plastic is cooling off...I have the screwdriver bit for it, so I don't need to worry....you should pick a set up though, they are pretty cheap in my book (although my dad bought me mine :P ).

Installing a Backlight (http://richfiles.solarbotics.net/Backlight.html)

As for the overclocking guides:
TI-83 Overclocking (http://richfiles.solarbotics.net/Turbo83.html) - I don't see why this wouldn't apply to us either....
Old Yoshi's Forums Thread (http://www.yoshi.us/forums/archive/index.php/t-12122.html)
Sorry I couldn't post more right now!

[GuardianAero]

i would just buy the Torx, and I don't think its a t-5. i'm at school but I'll check later. They are only about $1 at sears though.

[Lockblade]

i would just buy the Torx, and I don't think its a t-5. i'm at school but I'll check later. They are only about $1 at sears though.

I don't know what else they would be. A T-10 torx screwdriver is just a little too big, but I'll but\y the next two sizes, just to be sure. Also, while at school today, I had an idea for a calculator mod... make it look like an iPod! White backlight or frontlight, metal back with a glowing Apple computer sign! Then, paint the case all white.

[GuardianAero]

I got it. Its a T-6. The T-5 is a little too small and might strip the screws, a T-6 is the perfect size. Craftsman make a nice one, and only about $1.50 I think.

[automaticDEATH]

that is a very cool idea and a great way to pass time in school. great idea and great job!
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[benjamin1254]

great sweet mod man. I have to hand it to yah. but what are you gana use to light up the case and how are you gana have this thing wired? in series im guessing seeing as all that power you need. maybe a 9vold stuck in there would help boost up power or act as a backup for if you need to save programs on the calculator. The whole LED thing might be cool. but adding a fan is freakin cool. I should see what to do with my school calculator. man what a suprise it wouldbe to walk into school with an awsome moded case with complete set of LEDs and a blacklight. I wouldlike to use the white led as a backlight. i just think stuff like this would be sweet to do. keep me posted on how well this mod goes.

[GuardianAero]

did the whole fan thing last year. I used an old cpu fan, not sure the exact size, but it was abut 1.5 in x 1.5 in. It didn't work that well, all it did was create turbulence around itself, not really what I was hopein for. There wasn't significant room beneath it to allow air to come through, and if you reveresed it, the air still just hit the calculator and blew off.

also I have 2 Claculator, one I got in 6th grade and the other in 8th when the old one was lost/stopped working for some reason. One silver edition and one normal 83 plus. Since the silver is clear I might just get some blue LED's and toss them in, just so I have something to show off before school lets out this week. I'm still stumped on how to get it wired correctly. And I'm not a soldering master either, actually this is really this first time I've soldered anything, which is one of the reasons its taking a while. I keep messing it up and the wires break off, or fall out, but I'm learning.

[kennyt772]

man this is a pimpin calculator

[Jimbo-b]

about the batteries, i dont know how your calculator goes, but the batteries probably arent in series, and thats how the voltages add, if they are in parallel then the voltage is the same, ie 1.5V instead of 1.5*4, but.... if in parallel, the current adds, so you will have the same # of volts but a higher # of Amps

[GuardianAero]

Well for those of you who have missed this project or couldn't follow it upto here. Heres what happened.

Ok, this was my first complete clac mod that I started. The goal of this project at first was to incorporate a Game Boy Color into the back of a Calculator. That ultimately failed, so I just had fun with it. The result has been about a year and a half of this thing sitting in my drawer. So I finaly decided to fix it up. And Here we go.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2395/battlecalc8ho.jpg


First I apologize for the quality of some of these pictures, they were taken a year and a half ago before I knew how to work our (then) new camera. Well, as I said, this started out with the plan of placing a Game Boy in the back plate. That failed because of the different voltages required to run the game boy, broken pieces, and 1 fried game boy (I really didn't know anything about electrcity back then). So I decided to make the calculator look like it had been through war. So well heres how it all started.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/1160/eww1qa.jpg

I had gotten board one night and spray painted the case gray. So I tried to sand that down and it looked disgusting. I also had holes in the back because of the fan I used to have attached on their. It helped to keep your hands cool while typing. Worked prety well too. Anyway I, for some reason or another decided I wanted to replace the battery pack. By the way, that was the main reason it hasn't been finished. I had no way to attach the power to the calc. Solder just fell off the metal contacts. Anyway to fill in the holes and smooth out the case I decided to bondo the back to the case.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6148/bondopic0xc.jpg

[GuardianAero]

I had one hole that was large enougn to let the bondo all the way through, it looked kind of funny, but anyway, heres the back finished.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/8627/bondopic22sn.jpg

So then I didn't take any pictures untill I got it pretty much finished. I cut a small window in the back and added some paint to make it look rusted. I also added 3 LED's, 2 red and one orange. I didn't want to take a pic of the soldering, first time soldering and it wasn't pretty, I think I'll need to rewire it anyway with a real on/off switch.

But heres what the back looks like.

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5078/rustplate7hf.jpg

It may look mostly finished but its not. I still need to find out how to attach the wires to the circuit board to power the actual calculator. AlsoI need to find a way to attach the back plate to the front. I tried using plexi that I molded to the shape of the case and attached it with silicone but heres what it looked like.

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/715/plexifail7kg.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6499/plexifail20cr.jpg

Now that I know more about materials, have reall tools, and have alittle more skill. I'm thinking of going with something a little more sturdy like Aluminium. I will need to bend it around nails to get the right shape but it shouldn't be too bad, *knocks on wood*. Well that where this stands. Hopefully this fills in what happend to Calc Mod V1 for ya guys.

[pokyfizzle]

Its looking good so far..

Im afraid to take apart my calculator.. they are too expensive!

[dog2525]

Its looking good so far..

Im afraid to take apart my calculator.. they are too expensive!
you mean the 99c one from dollor tree.

anyway good work on the mod.

[themage]

dude it looks good...i wish i has a gbc when i was in algebra