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Dates:
Frames 01-02: 08-02-2003
Frames 03-05: 09-14-2003
Frames 06-07: 09-20-2003
Frames 19-21: 02-07-2004
Frames 22-23: 02-08-2004
It began life as an ordinary computer, sitting next to an ordinary printer cart. But after several months, lots of elbow grease, plenty of internet research, and some creativity, the two have become one - The Beast!
The idea came to me one day when I was watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Crusher's desk had a computer panel built into it, and the setup, though fictional, looked very ergonomic and efficient. I looked over at my computer desk and began imagining ways to build the various parts of a typical PC into it.
My computer desk began life as a typical Sauder creation. It was a large, two-part fixture, with a 48-inch desk and a 24-inch printer cart, originally connected by a section or 45-degree shlving that turned the unit into a corner desk. The first change I made to it,
It was difficult. To build a PC into my desk, I would have had to split up the various components, making the wiring very complicated, and put them into enclosures either over or under the desktop. It was doable, and would have looked great, but it would have been a very difficult PC to work on, with several enclosures spread around the desk's structure. It also would have made putting windows into the enclosures much more difficult; the windows would have had to be in the desktop. I wouldn't have like that, because with all the time I spend using the desk, I would have scratched any windows up beyond all recognition in a few days.
Besides, my desk is always covered with junk, anyway.
After mulling it over for a few weeks, I hit upon the idea of building the computer into my printer cart instead of the desk. My printer cart, a simple Sauder fixture that came with my computer desk, has been
| In the Beginning, there was a table... | ||
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The printer cart from the front before the project began. | |
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The printer cart from the top before the project began. | |
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Tabletop lowered 12" to create new space. | |
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Salvaged parts from 3 Gateway Pentium 120 csaes. | |
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Beginning aluminum tube frame. | |
| And then there were Parts... | ||
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Painting the drive cages I salvaged from the Gateway cases. | |
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Painting the drive cages I salvaged from the Gateway cases. | |
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My custom-made 1/8" acrylic motherboard tray in place. | |
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Mobo tray plus guides for the three drive cages. | |
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Same as above viewed from the front. | |
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Drive cage with 1/8" acrylic bottom. The cages were originally tack-welded to the Gateway cases and had no actual bottoms. | |
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Drive cages test-fit in place. | |
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Close-up of center drive cage test-fit in place. | |
| And the parts came together with the wood... | ||
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The whole animal assembled for test-fit, with foamcore mock-ups of the front and back panels. | |
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Top view of whole animal test-fit. | |
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Side view of whole animal test-fit. | |
| And then there were Lights... | ||
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Almost done. Added lighted fans and CCFL, drilled holes in bottom to route wires out of way, dualized PSUs, and covered the bottom with an aluminum sheet. | |
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Same as above with flash. | |
| But the Lights needed More Power... | ||
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Close-up of molex tap into main leads of PSU1. The leads from PSU2 plug into the molex to connect both PSUs together so they will both come on when you press the main power button. | |
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Close-up of the molex leads on PSU2 to connect it to PSU1. | |
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All the wires I routed beneath the case to hide them. | |
| And then there was Clarity... | ||
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Front view with new acrylic front and project board back panels. Lights up pretty, don't it? | |
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Same as above with flash on to show details. Note new switch panel on right and new case badge on left. | |
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My tiny little small mini workbench. It's not real big. | |
| And then it was done... | ||
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Last Revision: 2005-10-08