MiniMIG Case Design

[Crom00]

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?

[amigean]

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 "

[amigakid]

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

[alexh]

Eight metal standoffs and two bits of 12x12 plexiglass, that would suit me.

[Ranchu]

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.

[freqmax]

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.

[Tripitaka]

How about a nice biege wedgey keyboard thing. That'd look nice.  :-D

[persia]

Yeah, exactly, sort of like a minimalist version of the old Mac Cube!

[persia]

http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx.html This looks nice.

[billt]

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.

[amigean]

@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.

[weirdami]

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.

[Tripitaka]

@ 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

[Tripitaka]

...and yes, that's exactly the sort of case I'd prefer.

[Blinx123]

Does anyone of you know if a Mini-ITX mainboard would fit into an Amiga500 or 600 Case?