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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Crom00 on July 26, 2007, 11:45:10 PM
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With the ITX form factor seems to be desired I propose that the a custom case design be implemented. Something that reflects the desires of the community.
The design can be executed in a program like solidworks, Maya, or Rhino and actually a 3D file of the design can be printed via some low cost rapid portotyping methods. The resulting casework will require a fair amount of sanding, paint primer, and painting but... hey kids, this is homebrew. But it's possible.
The case designs 3d file can be available for free so that as rapid prototyping costs come down you will be able to print out a case or shell for less money...
Any thoughts?
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Any thoughts?
IMHO "thoughts" ain't gonna make it happen...
Remember the amiga fantasy case? or that "soon to be mass produced" amiga laptop frame? One could probably name a dozen case projects; all nauseatingly discussed to death....nothing actually came out of any of those!
Dennis DID something first and THEN posted here about it - we need someone who can do the darn case, rather than a torrent of irrelevant babble as to why "it should look like a boing-ball" or a "tick"...
just my €0.02 (now go on - fire ahead with your "the case should be like "
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I tend to agree. Besides what good is a case when there isnt anything new to throw in it. We all know really well that the Amiga ACK crap is just that crap. Dont expect to actually have someone put in time to design and make a case when there isnt anything to go inside. But if you really need to know maybe it can look like ... hmn not sure really. cheers
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Eight metal standoffs and two bits of 12x12 plexiglass, that would suit me.
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I think it should be made to Mini-ITX standards then people are free to choose from a wide range of cases.
The reason I suggest Mini-ITX is that it is the smallest form factor that still has a decent range of cases being produced for it.
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Last time I checked with for example futurlec, they took .35 USD/cm² (2-L cheapo), so a 12x12 cm board will cost 50 USD. But a MiniITX would cost 101 USD. A doubling of the cost. And in the end that space isn't likely to be used but will be just a filler to accomedate screws.
It's way more economical to use a plain plastic/metal board of 17x17cm and cut out a square that is 5mm or such smaller than the minimig to allow for screws.
That way you could also use a minimig (144 cm²) in a 3,5" slot (15.24x10.16cm = 155 cm²) with minimal extra cost to fit. And such slots are available even in a 80386 chassi should anyone feel like it or a off the shelf external harddisc chassi.
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How about a nice biege wedgey keyboard thing. That'd look nice. :-D
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Yeah, exactly, sort of like a minimalist version of the old Mac Cube!
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http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx.html This looks nice.
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or that "soon to be mass produced" amiga laptop frame?
Eh? Never heard of that, I don't think anyway. The Paws thing? Or something else? I never considered Paws to be a "laptop". I do very much want a real laptop. I'd love to see a decent Mini-ITX laptop frame, but I could not imagine a decent one by today's standards and gave up on that.
Anyway, do we really need a custom case? My motivation to use a popular intustry standard is that then we don't need a special case. We can use anything from the large variety of cases for this standard. I'd go for the Travala C134 myself.
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@billt
I vaguely remember a discussion along the lines of "we should build an amiga laptop" - at least I think so. It was not the Paws, but some bottom-up community inspired idea. Now that you ask I did a quick search I but couldn't find anything to substantiate my claim, so I may well be mistaken. :oops:
My point stands though - unless someone can build the actual hardware, these discussions belong to amiga cafe and not the hardware section.
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Why does it need a case design in the first place? If it ever gets produced in any quantity, just slap it into some old case you have laying around or screw it to a wall. Case designs are for brands. Nobody is going to care if your mini mig isn't in an approved design case, just that it works at all.
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@ persia
Thanx for that link bud, I found that page a few weeks back then deleted my caches and lost it again, I've been looking ever since. You made my day. :-D
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...and yes, that's exactly the sort of case I'd prefer.
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Does anyone of you know if a Mini-ITX mainboard would fit into an Amiga500 or 600 Case?
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my thoughts are that if you need a company to build the prototype..I could possibly help..
The company I work for has all the tools/machines/designers/engineers/and artists.. to do the job!!..
I can talk with the engineers on Monday. If you could send me
a rough idea(a basic sketch) and I can run it by them.
www.prg.com. Just to give you an idea of what we do. Although we do a whole
lot more than the web site suggests, Im working on changing that.
Anyway let me know. Would love to help if I can.
Thanks
Rich
NY
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I am not sure if a Mini-ITX card will fit an A500/A600 case since it is a thick motherboard.
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Ok,
then I'll try a Flex-ATX mainboard in an Amiga1000 Case,this should fit with a AGP Graphicscard and 2 PCI cards:)
It's for my special hardware project I'm planning at the moment:)
Of course the Amiga1000 Case will only be used for an early prototype. Final hardware revisions will get a custom desktop case.
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Blinx123 wrote:
Does anyone of you know if a Mini-ITX mainboard would fit into an Amiga500 or 600 Case?
I would think this would depend upon the board. Some Mini-ITX boards are slimmer than others, this is most often due to the type of CPU and cooling system used. If anyone is unsure of "will board a fit in case x," look up the sizes before buying bearing in mind your own skills of case conversion et al.
Having said that I'll have a look ...
...yup, take a good look on google and I think you may find something you could use, It'll be damn tight but it can be done I'm sure.
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Ok,
but I'll rather use a bigger case. The CPU I'm planning to integrate will get too hot using a case smaller than desktop standard. I already forgot about the airstream but with it in mind it will probably not work in an Amiga500/600 case.
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Fair 'nuff. Good luck with the project. :-D
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Thanks.
Hopefully the kernel os will work with the cpu.
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For those with artistic flair in case design (ie: not me) can take a look at protocase.com (http://www.protocase.com/) and get something custom made with powercoating and all the bells & whistles if you are that desperate. Looks simple enough but I have no idea on prices though but they they do look pretty professional compared to anything I could make :)
I also came across emachineshop.com (http://www.emachineshop.com/) if you wanted something made from plastic but from toying around with the design program it seems anything substantial would require serious planning and money.
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alexh wrote:
Eight metal standoffs and two bits of 12x12 plexiglass, that would suit me.
Seconded, just the current design of board/layout and some plexiglass to protect it a little. Beautiful.
Andy
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I would put it in an A600 case... would that be pointless, probably :)
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Here is a drawing of the kind of case I'd like to see, something that would look nice next to my XBOX-360, Wii, Ps3 and Dreamcast. Cast as ABS plastic in gloss (painted)silver, or injection molded white or black.
I know that things like the USB ports on the front, and the back ports don't exist, but again this is just a quick and dirty concept.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x122/Crom00/mini-mig-case-small.jpg)
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persia wrote:
http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx.html This looks nice.
(http://www.bazix.nl/img/onechipmsx.gif)
That looks indeed *very* nice.
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Yes the MSX clone is very nice.
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@Crom00
Cool Design; very professional.
Oh and I really like the logo :-)
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Crom00 wrote:
Here is a drawing of the kind of case I'd like to see, something that would look nice next to my XBOX-360, Wii, Ps3 and Dreamcast. Cast as ABS plastic in gloss (painted)silver, or injection molded white or black.
I know that things like the USB ports on the front, and the back ports don't exist, but again this is just a quick and dirty concept.
Nice Crom!
Looks like you cross-bred a Mac Mini and a Dreamcast... Not a bad thing though ;) I love the design of both!
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Here is the outer shell of the case I drew in Adobe Illustrator redone here in Solidworks. The Mini-MIG board would snap into a series of snap hooks on a separate bottom case. The bottom then attach to the top via screws.
This is more of a proof of conecpt regarding my orignal post, where I mentioned a 3d file that folks can download and print themselves.
Or... if someone wanted to print a prototype/mold/cast and run off a small production run that would work to.
Ideally I'd want to have a REAL Mini-MIG board in my hands first, before finishing a case.
The cut out section of the back would have all the ports, similar to an ATX or ITX rear panel.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x122/Crom00/minimigcase.jpg)
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Various views of case. Note the open back section for various ports.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x122/Crom00/minimig.jpg)
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With the ITX form factor seems to be desired I propose that the a custom case design be implemented. Something that reflects the desires of the community.
How about a "Semi-Custom Case for Minimig?"
see this thread...
http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=30587 :-o
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Almost like a Mac Mini.. :-)..only better..
Is this the final design? I just got your email before I checked the
thread...lol.
No firewire ports?? :-(
Rich
Crom00 wrote:
Here is a drawing of the kind of case I'd like to see, something that would look nice next to my XBOX-360, Wii, Ps3 and Dreamcast. Cast as ABS plastic in gloss (painted)silver, or injection molded white or black.
I know that things like the USB ports on the front, and the back ports don't exist, but again this is just a quick and dirty concept.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x122/Crom00/mini-mig-case-small.jpg)
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Vlabguy1 wrote:
Almost like a Mac Mini.. :-)..only better..
Is this the final design? I just got your email before I checked the
thread...lol.
No firewire ports?? :-(
Rich
Firewire? lol!!
Not the final design, I checked the current Mini-MIG board layout by Dennis... now I know why so the MSX clone case design was suggested.
Eventualy if the board designed into an ITX form factor with the ports in the back that would be great.
Can always mess with more designs at some point.
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@Crom00
I'd go for your design. The logo is nice and the case is clean and straightforward.
Fester
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Fester wrote:
I'd go for your design. The logo is nice and the case is clean and straightforward.
Thanks, the design is being executed in Solidworks so if anyone gets a hold of a Mini-MIG one day feel free to pm me for the source files. Solidworks is a parametric modeller. So you simply change dimemsions to adjust part sizes. So if you want to make the whole thing .25" wider, you can do it with a few button presses.
Cheers!