As promised I updated my blog with the details of putting my 6502 machine into a nice metal and timber case. No one reads the details these days so I made a little film showing it working

http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bb/2015/04/25/orwell-computer-case

It's running very well now.



Simon

Edit: Forgot to include a picture!

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My 6502 related blog: http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bb/category/6502-computer

I love it... Again, beautiful work...

Cheerful regards, Mike

Simon:

Thanks for sharing the project with us. It certainly demonstrates a wide variety of skills, and the result is very nice and inspiring.

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Michael A.

It looks really amazing, I like it!

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Marco

Cool looking machine!

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x86?  We ain't got no x86.  We don't NEED no stinking x86!

Ah, don't ask me why, but that is really cute and lovable.

Really neat. Ah, is the ENTER key really that small ?

Yep, single key width. The other odd thing with this keyboard is some letter keys have symbols on them. That made me have to use the FCTN (function) key as the modifier key to get the symbols instead of shift which changes case of course.

So to get a double quote you have to use FCTN P, a question mark is FCTN I! It's a bit quirky but you learn it quickly. I seem to remember a lot of 80s computers were odd like that!

The other thing I didn't mention is it all runs off 12 volts so is in effect portable. Well, luggable. Can be powered off a 12 volt battery.

Simon

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My 6502 related blog: http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bb/category/6502-computer

Sorry to bring up an old post. But where did you get the metal piece for the case?

Did you have it made?

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Cat; the other white meat.

Amazing work. I wish I could make lovely cases like that.

Sorry for the slow reply! In the last 6 months I have moved cities and careers so things have been busy. I made the case. Metalworking is another of my hobbies. Nothing complicated in it, just some simple folding and cutting really with simple wooden ends attached. If I had a thicknesser I would have made the ends thinner but I didn't have access to one.

Simon

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My 6502 related blog: http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bb/category/6502-computer

Well, I was going to ask if you would make one and sell it but seeing you're in New Zealand it would probably cost a small fortune to mail it!

I'd love to do something similar with my SBC. Would you be willing to share the dimensions or any drawings of it? Perhaps I could find some metal workers in my area that could create it.

Thanks!

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Cat; the other white meat.

I don't have the dimensions on me and Orwell is still packed somewhere (I recently moved cities) but I did a blog post at the time about making it. You should be able to get some idea of how it was made here: http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bb/2015/04/25/orwell-computer-case

I can provide actual dimensions when I find it again!

Simon

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My 6502 related blog: http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bb/category/6502-computer

So I got my new (large) perf board in yesterday. I'm itching to start building on it because it's the nicest and largest one I've bought. So after that I will need a case to put it in.

Anyway, I really like your design so I hope you don't mind me stealing some ideas off it. Especially if I can find a local metal worker that would do the bending.

How did you cut out the interface ports on the back? A rotary tool like a Dremmel or something?

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Cat; the other white meat.

Steal away! I put things online so people can use them if they like. I think I used a hand nibbling tool. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Nickel-Plated-Nibbling/dp/B0002KRACO

You drill a hole then that tool take little bits out of the metal. Very handy. You can also use a Dremel with a cutting disc and then file the edges smooth.

Folding can all be done by hand if you have things like clamps and some short lengths of steel to fold against. If you're interested in that stuff I really recommend this guys DVD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGElSHzm0q8

Probably overkill for making a simple computer case but it does show a lot of basic techniques about folding and so on.

Simon

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My 6502 related blog: http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bb/category/6502-computer