Building the PC housing

It's been a power weekend.  I cut out the walls and assembled them together.  It would have helped if the base had been a perfect rectangle.  Oh well, just plane off a few more mills! 

The walls are made of 3mm MDF, screwed onto a quarter section of 20mm round dowling.  I included a flap, so I can access the computer sockets (e.g. video, keyboard LAN etc), and for the wireless antenna.  The flap will be held open/closed by a HD magnet.  It will be quite sturdy, after it has been screwed onto the base, and fitted with an acrylic front plate.

 

(Close up of the flap (access hatch) - closed)

 

I enjoy designing and building things in wood, but I find the painting and finishing a bit of a chore, as it takes so long to do a half decent job.  After the white undercoat, it then took three coats of yellow paint to look ok.  I should finish painting the walls next weekend.

I have also been pondering how to start and stop the boat with out the luxury of a wireless link.  I came up with using some PC PCI slot blanks.  A bend here, and a bend there, drill a few holes...

(Just showing what it all looks like side on.  In the middle is a referance PC slot blank.)

 

The white knob is the on/off switch.  The red and black ones will be programmed via the PICAXE.  If needed, there is room for one more switch.  There is a power on and a HD activity LED, plus two more under programatic control.