Portable Console

[Rodm1954]

Inspired by Hoss's console I have been planning my own for a couple of months.

Mine will be portable and will be used on my X3 as well as a couple of gantry routers I have built.

It has taken about a month of research and trial and error on a few components but I am confident I have a handle on some of this mumbo jumbo electronics for the console.

I have a Hagstrom Keyboard encoder and this will send multiple keystrokes from a switch. It has the capacity to hook up 72 switches which is more than I will ever use.

I folded up some galvanised iron for the case and the front has two slopes - one for the switches and monitor and the lower one for the keyboard and touch pad. I got a 12 inch touchscreen for the monitor.

The case will house a 3.2ghz dual core computer with 2 gig of ram. Plenty for CAM and design software. With the 12 inch screen I don't think I will do a lot of design on it though.

I have cut up the mountings of a computer and arranged and installed them in the case. There are three 80 mm fans plus the power supply fan in the case so there should be plenty of air flow.

I have put a couple of photos of the case and a protoype switch panel so you get an idea of how it fits together. The protoype panel will be scrapped and a new panel made to fit this case. The switches are momentary and have a LED built in.

More later......

[cjdavis618]

Very nice, I will be watching this thread with great interest. Your sheet metal work is always so clean and perfect. What equipment do you use for it?

[Rodm1954]

Thanks cjdavis618

Prior to this project I used to cut with tin snips and then clamp steel on the fold line and then use a piece of heavy steel to form the bend. I would then hammer the fold against the steel to make the bend tight. It's not foolproof but if you are careful it works well.

On this job I spoilt myself and got one of those 3 in one machines. It can cut and fold 760mm by 1mm. It is a handy thing to have in the workshop and wish I had got one years ago.

[cjdavis618]

I have seen them, but I always wondered if they were wide enough? I think I'll look into one myself and see if I can find one that fits.

Right now, I just use a break that mounts on vice jaws.

[JerryFlyGuy]

Looking pretty swell there Rod! I'm in the same process myself. I've got a running machine but wanted to upgrade and there just isn't enough room in the current console. I've pain-stakingly layed out every component and even the wire runs in 3D and made sure everything fits. I'm putting my PC on it's own back plane inside the box, however I'm liking your idea of just using a cut down case.. I might have to give that a whirl..

Keep us posted on your progress!
J

[Rodm1954]

cjdavis618,
I still have to break down a sheet with snips to use the machine so a wider unit would be better.

JerryFlyGuy
I wish I had your discipline in designing. I just made the box pretty much on the fly and spent a night with the bits working out the best way to fit them all in.

[hoss2006]

Looking awesome mate.
Hoss

[JerryFlyGuy]

Originally Posted by Rodm1954 JerryFlyGuy I wish I had your discipline in designing. I just made the box pretty much on the fly and spent a night with the bits working out the best way to fit them all in.

It comes from doing it 9 to 5.. [or in my case 7-6 ]

I decided I wanted the cleanest console I could build, which had high voltage seperated as far as possible from the low stuff, was compact.. and looked like a pro had done it all.. We'll see how that last part turns out

It doesn't help that I'm a perfectionist either.. Drives me' wife NUTS..

Pic show's the basic layout..

J

[Rodm1954]

Thanks Hoss
The electronics is a bit out of my depth but I will keep plugging away and re-visit your thread and videos from time to time to learn how to do it.

JerryFlyGuy
That drawing would take me longer to do that make this console.
Nice work
Mine is a lot simpler because the driver board stays with the machine and I will run a parallel cable and USB (video camera) from the console to the driver box.

[SpeedsCustom]

This is great looking! I first need too get my machine working but In the end hope too make a nice console.

Very sweet looking!


-Jason

[Teyber]

Originally Posted by JerryFlyGuy Looking pretty swell there Rod! I'm in the same process myself. I've got a running machine but wanted to upgrade and there just isn't enough room in the current console. I've pain-stakingly layed out every component and even the wire runs in 3D and made sure everything fits. I'm putting my PC on it's own back plane inside the box, however I'm liking your idea of just using a cut down case.. I might have to give that a whirl.. Keep us posted on your progress! J

btw, if you don't have any cases lying around then-
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=3387

Looks fantastic rod!

[Rodm1954]

Thanks Jason and Teyber

A little more progress yesterday. Have cut all the case external holes for the hardware and installed the fans, motherboard, CD drive and hard drive and a couple of switches on the front. Also ran some tophat to strengthen the case so the motherboard was fixed secure.
I will start work on the panel facias and the couple hundred soldered wires to the switches.