Secret Project - Sun Keyboard Mod

09-05-2005, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unholy

your going to want a back plate.... otherwise ur el wire is going to look pretty bad with all the other lines...
but nice job so far... keep it coming

Actually, I figured out the backing plate last night. My Marine buddy (see gaming picture below; he's on the left) suggested I paint the current plate black. Then I thought about the black duct tape (3" wide) that I have tons of. So I wrapped the plate, and placed it in the frame. This should work out fine. Now I need to concentrate on the words or symbols that will be displayed with El wire.

bigal

XhArD · 09-06-2005, 08:55 AM

Very cool, that tape worked well. So ur trying to get the logo or whatever done now aye. I agree with unholy, AMD and the logo would be good. But its up to you, seeing as its yours and your making it

XhArD

unholy · 09-06-2005, 10:00 AM

Draw two sysmbols the AMD logo and the Sun microsystems logo... and maybe even the Ati cause it s a ATi powered system

looking good with the black back

unholy

bigal · 09-06-2005, 11:01 AM

I need to extend the black tape background too, so it continues the theme of the tape that surrounds the chassis.
Regarding the logos / text to be spelled out in EL wire, my Marine friend suggested "Big Al's Computers". What ever I do, I need to keep the letters fairly big so the EL wire can bend to form the letters. It would be much easier to make "AMD" as opposed to the Sun Microsystems symbol. If I drop the EL wire idea, I should look for something that easier to form into complex shapes. In fact, something that glows when exposed to UV light would be nice. That purple cold cathode tube can easily be swapped out for a UV tube....

bigal

XhArD · 09-06-2005, 11:10 AM

Yeah, but if you arent gonna use EL Wire, whatare you gonna use? Cut up some uv reactive cables and use them maybe?

XhArD

bigal · 09-07-2005, 02:48 AM

I have another idea, but it will probably cost too much. How about a scrolling LED display, one that I could program with different messages? Kind of like those 4-line LCD displays designed to be installed in a 5.25" bay, only much larger - I have 19" length by 5" height. My initial research found a possible fit, but it was $199. I can't afford to spend that kind of money right now...
Regarding UV-reactive cables, that might work. If I remove the UV-reactive sleeve, and trim it into strips, I could lay those out in a text pattern and light the whole mess up with a 12" UV cold cathode.
I'm kind of stoked about being able to change the display message. Ideally, I would install a 19" by 5" LCD of the quality you use for your desktop displays. Then I could display wallpaper pictures and things of this nature!
By the way, here's a picture of my new "laptop size" keyboard that cost me $30 at Microcenter in Chantilly, Virginia USA. I forget the brand - something like Areados. It works well, is small and compact, yet has all the keys I need. The control key isn't in the bottom left corner though, it's one key in. That confuses me and my touch-typing fingers. I guess I'll get used to it.

bigal

XhArD · 09-07-2005, 07:07 AM

Dude! ive got the exact same keyboard,but no silver trim, its black. the key on the bottom left is the Fn key aye, Function? and Del is juston the left of the left arrow.Took me a while to get use to it

XhArD

unholy · 09-07-2005, 08:23 AM

Paint the Log on and use Hot glue(not too much) at joins or turns u should be able to go within 1cm of the true image.. 1cm because i am covering my back so i dont have any legal problems

U can also use UV paint and UV lamps...

unholy

bigal · 09-07-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XhArD

Dude! ive got the exact same keyboard,but no silver trim, its black. the key on the bottom left is the Fn key aye, Function? and Del is juston the left of the left arrow.Took me a while to get use to it

I did some research - here is the Adesso Mini-keyboard, model AKB-901
http://www.adesso.com/products_detail.asp?productid=172

I had looked on the box and could not find a model number, but it was listed on their web site. I like the laptop-style keys, and the fact that it's small. I still like my Cooler Master keyboards more, but this Adesso fits better on the workbench.
Unholy - are you suggesting I paint a Windows logon page onto that keyboard frame and try to fool everyone into thinking it's a real desktop display?

bigal

unholy · 09-07-2005, 02:51 PM

yes, great idea!!! *looks left, then right, and left agains*
I have an idea... have u ever looked into LCDs?
u might find it costs 50 bucks for a Lcd and like 150 for an ok Analog to Digi.. or maybe u could just hook up two graphical LCDs

or get a pci graphcs card and plug in 2 littler LCDs, i heard the PS One portable LCD are easy to convert to VGA, specially the Ntsc versions!

unholy

View Poll Results: Keyboard Mods are Unique!
Yeah, but so is a monkey coming out of my.....	2	33.33%
Sure, I'll grant you that.	4	66.67%
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Voters: 6. You may not vote on this poll

09-06-2005, 11:01 AM	#14
bigal Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 1,512	I need to extend the black tape background too, so it continues the theme of the tape that surrounds the chassis. Regarding the logos / text to be spelled out in EL wire, my Marine friend suggested "Big Al's Computers". What ever I do, I need to keep the letters fairly big so the EL wire can bend to form the letters. It would be much easier to make "AMD" as opposed to the Sun Microsystems symbol. If I drop the EL wire idea, I should look for something that easier to form into complex shapes. In fact, something that glows when exposed to UV light would be nice. That purple cold cathode tube can easily be swapped out for a UV tube.... bigal __________________ Check out my site: www.bigal-computers.net What are the WORMS up to? See for yourself: www.bigal-computers.net/worms.php

09-07-2005, 02:48 AM	#16
bigal Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 1,512	Keys to my success... I have another idea, but it will probably cost too much. How about a scrolling LED display, one that I could program with different messages? Kind of like those 4-line LCD displays designed to be installed in a 5.25" bay, only much larger - I have 19" length by 5" height. My initial research found a possible fit, but it was $199. I can't afford to spend that kind of money right now... Regarding UV-reactive cables, that might work. If I remove the UV-reactive sleeve, and trim it into strips, I could lay those out in a text pattern and light the whole mess up with a 12" UV cold cathode. I'm kind of stoked about being able to change the display message. Ideally, I would install a 19" by 5" LCD of the quality you use for your desktop displays. Then I could display wallpaper pictures and things of this nature! By the way, here's a picture of my new "laptop size" keyboard that cost me $30 at Microcenter in Chantilly, Virginia USA. I forget the brand - something like Areados. It works well, is small and compact, yet has all the keys I need. The control key isn't in the bottom left corner though, it's one key in. That confuses me and my touch-typing fingers. I guess I'll get used to it. bigal __________________ Check out my site: www.bigal-computers.net What are the WORMS up to? See for yourself: www.bigal-computers.net/worms.php

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09-06-2005, 08:55 AM	#12
XhArD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,722	Very cool, that tape worked well. So ur trying to get the logo or whatever done now aye. I agree with unholy, AMD and the logo would be good. But its up to you, seeing as its yours and your making it XhArD

09-06-2005, 10:00 AM	#13
unholy Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 3,988	Draw two sysmbols the AMD logo and the Sun microsystems logo... and maybe even the Ati cause it s a ATi powered system looking good with the black back unholy

09-06-2005, 11:10 AM	#15
XhArD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,722	Yeah, but if you arent gonna use EL Wire, whatare you gonna use? Cut up some uv reactive cables and use them maybe? XhArD

09-07-2005, 07:07 AM	#17
XhArD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,722	Dude! ive got the exact same keyboard,but no silver trim, its black. the key on the bottom left is the Fn key aye, Function? and Del is juston the left of the left arrow.Took me a while to get use to it XhArD

09-07-2005, 08:23 AM	#18
unholy Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 3,988	Paint the Log on and use Hot glue(not too much) at joins or turns u should be able to go within 1cm of the true image.. 1cm because i am covering my back so i dont have any legal problems U can also use UV paint and UV lamps... unholy

09-07-2005, 02:51 PM	#20
unholy Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 3,988	yes, great idea!!! looks left, then right, and left agains I have an idea... have u ever looked into LCDs? u might find it costs 50 bucks for a Lcd and like 150 for an ok Analog to Digi.. or maybe u could just hook up two graphical LCDs or get a pci graphcs card and plug in 2 littler LCDs, i heard the PS One portable LCD are easy to convert to VGA, specially the Ntsc versions! unholy