Project Shadowbox Worklog

[Southerntracker]

Well I'm about 75% finished with Project Shadowbox so I thought I'd post the progress to date. For those who haven't read the initial idea, I had an old computer (I called it Frankenstein) made up of left-over components. The case it was in was from a prior attempt at modding which failed miserably.

My concept was to make a PC in a shadow box that still functioned, yet could hang on the wall out of the way.

After making some initial drawings, I took peg board and placed components to get the layout before cutting it. I decided to use peg board for the back b/c it already has holes in it which would allow for air circulation.

[Southerntracker]

After cutting the peg board to the size I wanted, I then did a test fit of the components.

[Southerntracker]

The next step, with a lot of help from my dad, was to build the frame. Luckily my dad owns a frame shop and someone had just given him some shadowbox molding with extensions. This is a photo of the extension with the components installed where I wanted them. I decided to have the pwr supply and the mobo facing down, with the CD-RW facing right, the floppy facing left.

[Southerntracker]

This is a pic with the top part of the shadowbox installed.

[Southerntracker]

Next I cut the openning for the floppy drive.

[Southerntracker]

CD-RW openning was cut out next. The CD-rw is mounted on top of an old CD-rom that is not being used, but I needed something to raise the RW drive up so it would open near the front.

[Southerntracker]

Next I cut the openning for the monitor cable, the power switch, reset switch, and mounted the 2 leds.

[Southerntracker]

I also cut an openning for the power plug, mouse, keyboard, and usb connections. There is also a small hole cut for a speaker lead if I decide to use it.

[Southerntracker]

Finally I cut a piece of plexi to fill in the space where glass would normally go.

I still need to sand down the opennings and stain them to match the rest of the molding. I also am going to get rounded cables and some loom to dress up the wiring in the case.

I may add some fans later once I've had time to see how the system works on the wall.

To secure it to the wall, I made the top part of the molding removable and will just use dry-wall anchors to connect it to the wall. This also serves the purpose of letting me have access if I want to upgrade later.

My total cost on this project so far is just the cost of the rounded cables. The molding and plexi were free. Labor was about 4-5hrs so far.

I'm very pleased with the results.

[scifikg]

Cool, another worklog. :D You made a lot of progress over the weekend. I think you should cover the exposed pegboard or paint it. You also might want to anchor the case to a stud at least in one place. That looks pretty heavy. Otherwise, looks like your on the right track.

I was just looking at another pegboard computer (http://www.dutiel.com/fun/) the other day. Check it out.

[LAMA]

tracker that looks awesome, I really like how its in the shadow box all on display.
I really think its cool and creative mod.

[supagal]

wow that is neat. :thumbs:

[WVJammer]

Looks good tracker.

[Southerntracker]

Finally got it hanging on the wall. I had to put 1/2 spacers behind it so air can circulate behind the mobo to keep the temps down. It has a 366mhz Celeron processor but I'm running it overclocked at 458mhz stable (used a mobo setting in the bios). I've got a kvm switch running to the bottom to aleviate some of the wires.

To secure it to the wall, I'm using butterfly-type wall anchors rated for 150lbs (case only weighs 15lbs).

I did have one slight problem when I went to put the front cover back on, I accidentally hooked up the internal speaker lead backwards. Turned it on and the whole inside filled with smoke, but no damage to the case and I have since set it the way it was suppossed to go. I took this pic with my digital camera, but I've got some I took with my 35mm camera and I'll post them once I get them developed.

[JonR]

Take a photo flash off but light on and then the reverse (flash on light off)

Nice work! Computers are art!


(and Jon's a nerd)

Hey who said that?!


/Me waves fist angerly