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Kizers Project

Started by kizer, February 12, 2007, 12:48:58 AM

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Barcrest

Good going sir... Good Going. I will try and put a vid up of the one i helped build for my neighbour.
Keep on Rocking in the Free World \m/ ;D\m/



Jukebox Stats...

kizer

Well a buddy of mine came over last night and since its been raining like cats and dogs here I guess because I live in Washington state its the laws.  :dontknow

He has a HUGE van and said he would give up some time and gas money to take me down to the local lumber store and pick up some wood. We decided to go with some Particle board instead of MDF because its a few bucks cheaper. In the long run my final project will be built out of Oak, but for now we know we are going to screw things up and its a lot cheaper to screw up with Particle board over Oak.

Anyways I took my measurements from my Card board box mock up and we started cutting out the sides and the top. Man having a new blade on a table saw rocks. I didn't take any photos simply because well if you've seen somebody use a table saw once its well the same thing. I'll take some photos when we do the Oak one, but for my prototype I didn't. ;)

Heres what its going to look like from the front. Its 4 feet tall and two feet wide with a 45 degree angle on the face where the flat screen touch screen monitor is going to be sitting once I cut out a hole to sit it in.



Heres a side shot. Nothing really much to it. Its approximately 25 inches deep from the front to the back.



Heres a shot from the back looking to the front. We used a pice of what I would guess is 1.5 x 1.5 or maybe a little less that was screwed into from the outside of the box into it. When the final product is done all screws will be screwed from the inside out so there will be no visable screw heads.



Heres nearly the same photo, but looking near the bottom. Inside I'm going to install another sheet of either Particle board or maybe some MDF that will go flush up against that piece of 1.5 x 1.5 which my speakers will be mounted to from the backside. Then on the front Im going to cut holes or slits I haven't made up my mind as of yet with some kind of design and the holes/slits will have some fabric on the backside to let sound through, but hide the speakers. My son has a habit of wanting to touch the speaker when he sees it. So I figure lets sub-surface mount it so he cant touch it. ;) Also Im going to attach two more pieces of 1.5 x 1.5 on the sides and attach the bottom on top of the 1.5 x 1.5 so I can sub-surface mount some casters so I can move the Jukebox a little easier. The depth might be a little fun to deal with because of carpet opposed to a concrete floor.



Things I still need to figure out where and how to mount. Since its all mockup I'm expecting to cut holes and re-cut panels If I must because things have to be modified and converted. ;)
- Finalize touch screen mounting method. There is no external case on screen so its a little more fragile than a standard LCD style monitor.
- CD-rom access from outside of the Juke
- CD-rom eject with touch screen monitor
- USB access so I can import more music other than wireless, which is installed
- On/Off of Amp, Monitor and PC
- Keyboard and mouse access if needed. Keyboard for sure to tag and rename music files
- Single Power cord from Juke to wall. Im thinking either power strip or UPS with a long cord
- Volume control for AMP. luckily its a non digital volume so I could extend control knob to the surface along with power on/off.
- Placement and powering of Internal fans to bring in fresh air and exspell internal hot air out. I'll probably go with some 120MM Pc power supplied fans, which I'll need to upgrade my PC's power supply to run them. No biggie just another consideration.
I'm not around 100% so please feel free to PM if you need direct help. Trust me I'm not ignoring you in a post. ;)

Barcrest

I assume you are going to use a usb hub to give you usb access. I think for a mouse and keyboard you might as well go wireless. That way you can take them out and use them when required then just hide them away again after, you probably already figured that out anyway right... You really are tempting me to build one.
Keep on Rocking in the Free World \m/ ;D\m/



Jukebox Stats...

kizer

Believe it or not I spoke to the wife about the wireless mouse and keyboard. She said NO. I have to have a drawer or some other way of using the keyboard. She doesn't want a hook it up when you need it solution. Of course I can respect that and keeps me on my toes. She knows me and knows I'll start doing doing things half-way if I get lazy. ;)

Anybody know if you can hook up a power cable to CdRom and open/close it without the ribbon cable hooked up? I have a control idea I'm considering if it will work.

I did find out last night that with modern CdRoms you can actually load/unload a disc with the drive sideways, pointing down and up. I know it sounds like a stupid discovery, but I'm thinking of putting my cdrom on top so when it ejects it comes up from the top of the jukebox from inside opposed to on the side somewhere hidden. I want it to look like it was built to be there not hidden like its not part of the jukebox. I'll have to skin the top or in this case the face of the cdrom drawer to match the top of the jukebox out of Oak.

Sorry this build has been well dragging, but money has been super tight and its been tough trying to get some shop time in. A home made Jukebox has been 10years in the making so what's a few more months. At least I finally found a front end that works the way I need/want it to and has given me a reason to build one. When I'm completely done I'll make my plans completely available for anybody who wants them to modify or whatever they choose.

As for the USB access I'm thinking of using a USB extension cable and a USB surface mount plate/jack that will look really simular to theback of your PC. You would basicly just plug into it and your connected from the outside of the Juke. I suppose I could use a hub from there or a Hub inside with a few USB extension cables and surface mounted jack/plates for multiple devices. Hmmmmm, I'd probably go with the second option over the first if I did.

My next big task is figuring out how to secure my touch screen. It doesn't have a plastic frame around it like the LCD monitors do. You can see the wire traces along the edge of the LCD monitor glass and I want to make sure I don't crush them or disrupt the sensing ability of the monitor. A buddy suggested maybe some neoprene padding between the edge and the back of the cabinet to act as a pad. Ok, now hot to secure metal straps across the back?

On the subject of my monitor. Does anybody know where I can get a drawing or pin out for a ELO monitor not the VGA or serial plugs? My monitor has a power on/off button on the back of the monitor and some plugs on the bottom edge. I'd like to know if I can make a remote on/off button for it becasue I'd have to open up my cab to get inside to push a button on the back of the monitor when not in use.
I'm not around 100% so please feel free to PM if you need direct help. Trust me I'm not ignoring you in a post. ;)

coffee

#19
Hi Kizer

Watch out if want to strap the touchscreen to the back of the board. A common problem with them is that if there is any pressure on the touchscreen it causes spots that doesn't register if you touch them or you have to press harder. Rather make a bracket for it to lay in but don't let it press on the back of the board. Remember glass is a liquid and it can change it's shape with time especailly if pressure is applied to it.
Give us some closeup pics of the touchscreen's plugs and layout, maybe I can help you with the pinouts.
Another tip, always mount your harddrives verticly and if you use speakers with a lot of bass don't mount them in the some cabinet. This will extend the life of your drives.

Always nice to see your project.
Coffee
    

Barcrest

As for wireless keyboard and mouse, they will be hooked up all the time via the reciever. Have you never used these? It just means you don't need to have them plugged in as the reciever is plugged in. Personally i think you are wrong not going with this solution... It's up to you but what you are going to do is a step backwards for no gain only hastle...
Keep on Rocking in the Free World \m/ ;D\m/



Jukebox Stats...

kizer

#21
Barcrest
I understand what your saying about the wireless always being connected with the receiver and having a cordless connection. I currently at work have a keyboard with a touch pad mouse built into it. Its small as heck to. I'd guess its no bigger than a laptop keyboard. In the end I might go wireless if my creative juices stop flowing. I have a few ideas that I want to try first before I settle. I'm not saying that wireless is settling, but I want to try a few things first.

Coffee
On the drives you mean stand them on end opposed to the way they lay in a standard PC case?

Ah so what your saying is make a cradle and let it sit in it or I guess in this case hang from it just below the surface of the opening. I never thought of that. Good idea, I was worried about the surface and it having odd effects from the touch of the glass on the screen.

Heres some shots of my ELO Touch Screen 15-inch








I did discover that a CDrom will eject and close with the push button even though the ribbon cable is unplugged. ;)
I'm not around 100% so please feel free to PM if you need direct help. Trust me I'm not ignoring you in a post. ;)

Barcrest

Use the screw holes on the edge of that screen to mount it onto a piece of wood/board whatever. Mount it so the screws come from the back to the front so the screen sits behind the wood. Then if you use some sort of bezel on the other side it will cover any gaps.
Keep on Rocking in the Free World \m/ ;D\m/



Jukebox Stats...

coffee

Hi Kizer

You can leave the power of the screen on so if you switch off the juke the sceen should go on standby or you can solder 2 wires to the back off the PC on the start button and then use a normal arcade button on the back off your cabinet to switch the monitor on or off.
It looks like the touchscreen interfase is build into the screen. I don't use this type of touchscreens but I'll still try and find out how to connect it. I always use a separate touch panel from the screen.
Do you have the driver software for it? That can be a problem to find. It is normally trail and error to find the perfect driver.

Coffee
    

Barcrest

Another good tip is check in the bios and see if you have an option to power on after power outage. Most modern bios support this function. It just means as soon as you switch on the mains the computer will power on. This saves having to mount or even use a pc power switch... It how we sorted out the gamebox conversion for my neighbour.
Keep on Rocking in the Free World \m/ ;D\m/



Jukebox Stats...

coffee

Thanks Barcrest.

I've just learned something new and I will deffenately use that. I was struggling to sort out the power on side off the juke but now I'll sort it out. I'll tap the power switch of the UPS to switch it on and off.

Coffee
    

kizer

The touch screen works flawlessly. I downloaded the drivers from ELO when I got it a few months ago. Currently when you shut off the PC it does power down into standby, but I was hoping to have a power off so when its not used for extended periods of time I could just turn it off.

I suppose I could plug the monitor into the back of my AMP/Receiver's switched plug so when I turn on the AMP, which will have a remote button extended from the AMP towards the top along with the Volume control to trun on/off the monitor.

I have another odd one. When I shutdown 2000 it tells me its safe to shutoff my computer. I looked in my Bios and can't find a setting. Is there a specific name or lable for it and maybe I'm missing it? Its a 1ghz machine and its a p3 Intel.
I'm not around 100% so please feel free to PM if you need direct help. Trust me I'm not ignoring you in a post. ;)

Barcrest

Quote from: kizer on March 27, 2007, 03:14:46 PM
I have another odd one. When I shutdown 2000 it tells me its safe to shutoff my computer. I looked in my Bios and can't find a setting. Is there a specific name or lable for it and maybe I'm missing it? Its a 1ghz machine and its a p3 Intel.

That is under your power management settings.... Also check to what you have your power button set to do as that can affect it.
Keep on Rocking in the Free World \m/ ;D\m/



Jukebox Stats...

kizer

Thanks, I'll give it a check tonight.

Currently the button turns it on and I have to mash the button in for 10seconds to shutdown my machine. However a shut down windows via start button is prefered, but looking might solve my problem unless my mobo is just old or a wire isn't connected properly since I did put everything together.  ;D
I'm not around 100% so please feel free to PM if you need direct help. Trust me I'm not ignoring you in a post. ;)

Barcrest

no change what the power butto does and it will work... sorry i am pissed.
Keep on Rocking in the Free World \m/ ;D\m/



Jukebox Stats...