I had more time last weekend to think about my project, and have come to a final cabinet design.
Since Covid is messing with the supply chain in many ways, I wanted to get all of the steel required so I can get the cabinet cut and welded before the snow flies here.
The design posted earlier had some issues such as not enough room for the 600-800 ICs I may require (yes, seriously!), and because it would be difficult to get at the boards for any repairs. I have also been looking at a dual display system so one monitor can do live coding, debugging and single stepping while the other displays the running program. Such a system only requires a text generator, which I can do easily in a few dozen ICs. I also have a stockpile of 1702 monitors with damaged cabinets so this works out perfectly!
The problem of PCB access has already been solved by the elegant PET cabinet design, and since it was my very first home computer, I shall pay tribute to the design, and capture the style for my Vilcan-74 cabinet design.
Here is my final design, modeled so that I can begin cutting plates from the 3D components...
Yep, very much a two headed PET!
For the solution of working on the massive hand wired board (no PCB will be used), I have decided on a hood and a drawer style system that will allow the board to pull out and even tilt up for working on the underside...
The top section is based on fitting the 1702 monitors inside, and has a screen back for optimal cooling. I measured the monitor guts to be sure I would have adequate room inside.
The PET style bezels are my favorite part, and since I am a welder, they will be the most difficult parts to fabricate. i will probably carve them from wood and then epoxy them to make the clean. I really want to capture that vacuum formed llok of the PET bezels, and am not quite sure how to do that yet. Perhaps some kind of sponge painting on the drying epoxy to rough it up a bit. You can see the dimpled look on the original PET bezel...
So that's my new design. I have the 12 gage 4 foot by 10 foot plate sitting here and will start cutting parts as soon as I have an entire day to play.
I would estimate that building this cabinet will be 2 full days of cutting and welding, and will take plenty of photos along the way for the blog.
I know... I need to update the blog soon, but now it is going to be split into several sections; Proto, Case, PCB, GFX, Sound, Monitor, OS, etc.
Thanks to all those who have been visiting my site and emailing me to keep working on this project! It is certainly my favorite WIP!
Later!
Radical Brad