[ASPHIAX]

Hi all,

I have been asked by a DJ friend to design his HTPC. The only design principle he has was: “Use real vinyl”

So I started out working the Conceptual Phase of the work named: Turntablism EP-X.

EP stands for the records used and produced by DJ’s and producers, The X stands for the alternative use of the vinyl material.

Turntablism may become a series of concept work focussed on DJ-ing and Producing.

I used to DJ some aswell (I did it for around 12 years, from 14 to 26 years) in the dutch early hardhouse period. Producing brought me a gig in paris for 1300 people (ONCE!!!)

Wasnt really good at DJ-ing technically but I sure could get a crowd moving as I always told a story with my mix. Started slow and ending over 200 BPM’s !!!

Anyway, here is the concept phase work, Its still being tweaked but I wanted to share it anyway !

Let me know what you think !









































And here is a rendered video to give you a better idea what's involved !

http://youtu.be/nY8u0MtJhks

[ASPHIAX]

Ok, here is the design phase, in this phase I will build the 3D model as a mockup to see if there are any problems with the design.
There is a difference between looking ok in 3D and looking ok IRL.

I Started out with using some of my old records (I have like 4 crates full)


But after my very very worst record I could not procede with destroying something that took more then a decade to collect.
So I went out and scored some of the very very worst I could find on the web.




This is why the design phase is very important. In the 3D design the foot was 30 cm's wide making the whole thing look like a brick.
According to the 3D it should be 2x this thick.
In 3D it looked alright, IRL no way !




Total Width of the model. I have used now only 6 vinyl records, there will be more then 50 in total


The space reserved for the Zotac E350 Wifi B motherboard and the 3 HDD's is clearly visible here.










This is what I like about the design phase, material to play with, options, take apart and redo ..




Did a quick test with a Thermoform device I have aquired some time ago. Works perfectly !




Yep, fits like a glove ...


This was an old UV reactive case I got from donored from Nixjuh, the modder I am building the 2001 - A Case Modyssey http://asphiax.wordp...-case-modyssey/ with .


And now its something else !


I wanted to design a low lighting HTPC that would not draw the immediate attention when watching a Bluray but Does have the option of lighting up the room with a nice pattern. I am thinking about making the UV cathodes or LEDS (havent decided yet) switcheable.


Let me know what you think !
ASPHIAX

[ForceFedFlesh]

Looks nice, you could have spared the bottom extra case if you used the bottom instead of having that LED Panel dunno what it is really, could have been used for the hidden power supply, and you could completely do the vinyl records over the whole case thats on top like you did with the one.


Like look how this picture looks perfect to put a hidden PSU in it in the back in the middle of the two sides.

http://asphiax.files...32.jpg?w=700&h=

Just cut holes for each Power cable maybe get some extensions if needed and ur set, would save space

On top of that I would really maybe use one good 12in cathode on the top in the middle of the casing and have it sound activated and see how that would go since one is more then enough to brighten up that whole case without also causing a rukus to ur eyes watching it. Or maybe use a 8 or 6inch as well.


If you are actually putting a fan in the middle of the vinyl Maybe use a fan with the Programmable LED's in them to maybe say the DJ Name, or just something in general so it looks more like a Vinyl then a tire?


Either way, it looks good, and glad you chose zotac for their fantastic small motherboards, even car companies do it because they are great for what you need them for.

I like where this is going, just thought id throw out my 2 cents if you didnt think of something.

Keep up the good work!

[ASPHIAX]

Thanks man for your extensive reply !

Yeah I love then mobo's too !
The idea of the hidden psu is a brilliant one!
I actually chose the Zotac Wifi B cause it comes with a 80W adapter which is easily extended to the back near the media bay.
Hiding the psu there could mean I can use a board with a more powerfull processor. I am definately looking into this idea !

May need to see if there is enough space if I want to put the LCD screen inthere aswell. The idea was to have a arduino based LCD screen in the front which stacked with the arduino itself would take up about 4 to 5 cm's.
But dropping the lcd screen for a better proc is something i could propose to my friend.

The fans need more work! I am actually looking into using a couple of small electromotors to make the record at the end spin. I glued a vinyl to a fan to see what would happen but the weight causes the fan not to rotate correctly so scratch that idea. I was planning on having his logo cut out of some nice uv reactive plexi like a fangrill, but I think I know what fans you are talking about. The dynamical working of that would also fit well into the concept. Got a link ?

Thanks !

This post has been edited by ASPHIAX: 20 January 2012 - 07:22 AM

[ASPHIAX]

Here is another update of the work so far.
Sorry cant show you the work that led to the HDD casing, I was so wrapped up into what I was doing I forgot to take pictures!


Its just one sheet, folded a couple of times. The SSD breakout had to drilled afterwards, better planning next time!


Fully mounted with 4 Tb of HDD, the SSD is a 32Gb Nova




There's just enough room for the sata cables. I cut out 2 area's for easy cablemanagement.










The Idea here is to make an aluminium plate with the text and frost the UV reactive plexi behind it making it glow.


There's gotta be cooling in there!




Gotta change the bolts into black ofcourse !








I have ordered 150 20mm x 4 mm round plexi disks as standoffs between the records to get an even spread!

And that's it for today !


Hope to get the Zotac board and Media bay in quick so we can continue!

[ForceFedFlesh]

Heres what I was talking about for the fan.
You can probably find a bigger one I was just showing you what I mean, you pretty much can google up
Mini LED Flash Fan - Programmable
Something along the lines of that.


http://www.performan...oducts_id=23076


On top of the hidden psu, where I was saying that space, it looks like you can still put the LED Screen up where that Slant is that goes to the Vinyls if its thick enough to incorporate that.

I was saying the hidden psu because you can face the fan down, so you can add a little thing of feet to 4 sides to raise it just bearly and the PSU can breathe good enough because of it. Also because of it being there, you can also have a good exaust as well just like a normal case and can look good IMO.

[ASPHIAX]

I really like the fan idea! I wil probably use this in the design instead of the lasered logo!

On the PSU side, could also only do the outer pieces of mdf completely to the ground and after that raise it a litlle for the psu.
this way the design is not changed and the psu can breath ok!

will have to wait now for some time as I am working on another major build !