Positronic Brain - scratch build

[Guest awadon]

Welcome all of you.

I'm in a middle of the project. So I want to share with You all my work done so far. Then I'll be successively updating.

The main theme will be positronic brain. Work will therefore refer to the Sci-Fi climate of the early twentieth century. However, the establishment will be very loose, since I do not use steel, wires, and "lights", but again wood, copper and glass.

Sponsor of the work is:

The first purchases - that is what I intend to use:

Positronic brain in all its glory -

And a distiller. I'm going to fill it up with two different liquids, and also plan to use it as a part of the water cooling system.

If I can do the first fitting today, then tomorrow I will try to present the initial draft of the work.

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Today I spent several hours in the workshop cutting, sawing and milling. I had to make a few elements.

I've started with housing the plasma ball. To be able to embed it, it was necessary to mill a channel around the mounting hole. Last year I did a stator to mount a simple manual milling machine.

Thanks to that I can mill a simple shapes using a template.

As a result, I've got the channel around the hole.

Now I could embed the mesh. This is the first element of a Faraday cage in which it will place the balls. Of course it is hard to trim the mesh. But I've left it to specialists and bought something ready ... kitchen strainer:) A little paint, and here is the effect.

In a next step I've used a bandsaw.

I set it at 45 degrees and cut the mysterious shapes.

I will describe how to use them in the next episode.

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Last few days and probably a next few will take me glueing all parts. This time I'm using beech wood. Its very fine structure would not dominate the whole case.

Below the front part.

Here you can see a CD-bay.

These elements will be used for installation of plasma balls on the right and left side of the case.

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Today I've sanded previously glued parts. Using an angle grinder and coarse sandpaper was a very good idea. I'm surprised myself how fast it went.

Of course I use the large disc sander. Similar to the one below, but with the wheel of 45 cm. Made myself of course:)

Thanks to that, shaping of such a curve is a breeze. Here are glued three elements.

And pictures bellow presents a initial outline of the front of my case:

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Today, further progress of the work. I continue glueing and sanding.

Here are the photos of the right side before and after treatment.

The central module has already gained the upper part of the cover.

Just a little experiment with copper wire incrustation. In the channel I've pasted copper wire and sanded it to the plane.

How do you like something like that? I am thinking of using it in some places.

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Finally I've received a package with Lenovo ThinkCentre M58. It is a Ultra Small Form Factor version. I must admit that I was surprised to see Core 2 Duo inserted in such a little thing:)

In order not to be groundless:

Now I can perform the appropriate fit and fixes of my case.

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Today I came back with the monitor to the mod. 22" should be enough, but I wonder whether or not to use the secondary screen.

And so is the general outline of the computer.

Over the weekend, all of the parts glued together.

And this involved the use of large quantities of carpentry clamps.

At the same time I slowly modify the shape of the rear.

I'm going to settle the monitor on a shoulder.

And now I'm going to use the only advantage of beech wood - flexibility.

And I have no confidence, that I'll achieve the desired effect.

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

I spend last few hours sanding wood. I'm trying to give the case desired shape.

I've also disassembled the LCD

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Over the last few days I struggle with the monitor arm. The effect is... disappointing. I do not have the proper tools and equipment that I need to bend the wood lengthwise. However, bending across the fiber results in such a effect.

The only solution that I see at this moment is veneering.

And while I have been forced to do so, I'm considering the use of oak facing board. So I'll make inlay with two woods significantly different.

I wonder what would you do?

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Today I'll try to fill all the gaps in the monitor arm and in the evening I hope to sand it.

A first attempt to attach it to the case.

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Sanding, sanding and more sanding.

I've added two profiles to the both sides of the arm. Central part will be cover with the veneer. Between it, and the profiles I will put a copper inlay, as I showed before.

Positronic Brain - scratch build update

Work is in progress. Now I'm glueing the LCD frame.

I chose the same method as earlier. Reinforcements on corners, and the whole frame will be bilayer.

Here, in comparison with the original frame.

Today I was also in my "candy store. " I got a little brass.

I want to use a brass tube, cut it a "window" in the middle to put the distiller inside.

Would not be a simple operation due to the nozzles sticking out of the distiller.

And for the dessert yesterday's package with a vacuum pump. I will use it for veneering.

[shiryu_libra]

looks good... nice job with the wood....

let's see it from this side of the corner

[Guest awadon]

Frame before sanding.

And after sanding the edges.

[Guest awadon]

Vacuum veneering.

And its effect.

[Pobbrett]

are you going to veneer the sides of that piece ??

[Guest awadon]

are you going to veneer the sides of that piece ??

No. As You can see in early posts I have covers on both sides. Wait a little longer to see the result.

[FrenkieNL]

Vacuum Veneering. Megacool !

[Guest awadon]

Progress in work - the LCD frame.

Here in comparison with the previous mod.

I still have to do the back cover.

Frame has already been veneered and I've glued both sides.

And here's a first sample of inlays.

[Guest awadon]

LCD cover is almost ready. Just some little details and final sanding left.

[Guest awadon]

Yet a little something. Frame with inlay. Think of color as an illustration. I just wanted to highlight the brass. Finally color will be darker.