Making a custom case..............??

**brandondere** · 01-06-2001, 02:29 PM

Can someone give me ideas on how to construct the smallest possible computer case for my mp3 player? I have visited various sites on how to but nonw of them go into detail. wood or plexiglass? insulation?

**Arby** · 01-06-2001, 07:56 PM

Plexiglass looks a lot cooler. Or Lexan if you have spare money laying around.

You gave me a good reason to update my site. I guess I'll add box construction to the hardware page. I'll have it up by monday.

My box is 8.5" x 8.5" x 7" - that small enough?

my page does have pictures, just no instructions - yet...

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http://mp3box.2y.net

**Fosgate** · 01-07-2001, 04:03 AM

Well dude i made my case from sheet metal.
its not to thick around .5mm and size of the whole case is 8.5" x 8.5" x 2.5".
Well i dont think it would be easy to make as you need this special welding machine which i used to stick the sides together.
but you also can use nuts and bolts to do the same thing.
In the box i got the 3.5" HD,DC->DC, Video and sound cards and soon will put the FM card in. Considering i got no more space left in there, i dont think it can get any smaller. Oh by the way HD is sitting on a special shock system which itself takes some space.

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Fosgate

**Catfish** · 01-07-2001, 07:28 AM

Nice website arby, can't wait for it to be finished properly

We're thinking up ideas here on the best way to make mp3 boxes because we want to start a business out of it! (In Queensland Australia here) We've been thinking of the best ways to make them theif-proof too. The best we thought up was under the seat, with the case bolted to the floor of the car, then the actual computer is put together while the case is bolted to the floor of the car, only the harddrive would need good suspension then. And in addition have a security PIN (write software) to activate the player, and have all the mp3s comment id3s contain the owners name. (Lets hope they're not computery theives)

Some questions: how big are these power inverters, and whats the average cost of them (USD)? My cousin says they are spastic, but if they are economical I would use them. (12V power supplies are over 100$US apparently)

**johnram** · 01-07-2001, 12:37 PM

Excellent Site Arby!

How did you mount the components (motherboard,power supply,drive rack) to the case?

Are you using an inverter?

**Rob Withey** · 01-07-2001, 05:52 PM

12"x6"x2" case, includes mobo, 2.5" hard drive and DC2DC power supply. And there isn't much room left. Built from an off the shelf plain aluminium case from www.maplin.co.uk drilled to my own needs for connectors and air vent holes. Easiest way in my opinion, and quite cheap.

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-- <A HREF="http://www.nav.to/robwithey" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nav.to/robwithey
</A>

**Arby** · 01-07-2001, 10:00 PM

Yes, I'm using an inverter, and they are about the size of a 3.5" hard drive. The only real problem I've had with mine is that sometimes it overloads when I start the car, so I have to flip it on and off, but mine was a cheapie anyway. ($30)

The motherboard and everthing else it just screwed to the plexiglass case. I drilled holes, and screwed the motherboard standoffs into the plexi. For the hard drive, i just used normal case screws to go through the plexiglass and into the drive, and for the ps, I used the screws that it had that were holding it to the metal.

I'm working on my site now, I'll have all the box info up later tonight

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http://mp3box.2y.net

**Arby** · 01-08-2001, 01:30 AM

Ok, all done now... Any problems with the page or questions about the box, just post them here or e-mail me.

http://mp3box.2y.net/box.html

**Aaron Cake** · 01-08-2001, 09:55 AM

A picture is worth a thousand words, so to save me from typing, here is a picture of mine:

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Aaron Cake
London, Ontario, Canada

Player: Cyrix 200, 32MB RAM, 10.2Gig Quantum HD, Onboard EtherNet/Sound/Video, Custom Lexan Case, Arise DC-DC, Win95 Kernal w/Custom Player
Car: '86 Mazda RX-7 w/Basic Performance Upgrades