kevinb70

I have been thinking about building my 2 PCs inside a coffee table that I build. Right now I am in my dining room with a huge computer table hogging up most of the room.

I started thinking about - if I could just hide this PC out of the way, I could free up this entire room.

First thought: wouldn't it be nice to be able to work at the PC on the sofa, watching the big screen plasma?

Coffee table PC.

I first started looking at what max sizes I could make a table without it being too big. I found my max to be 52"L x 32"W x 22"H. But also learned that the top should be 1" less than height of sofa, and length should be 2/3d of the sofa's width.

so i get
17" H
54" L (I am going to reduce this to 47" - 48" is a whole lumber unit, 1" for shaping.)
29" (golden ratio)



I am designing in google sketchup (free) along with sketchyphysics for the hinges.

The panels will be fit in grooves in the frame, to allow for settling. The strength will be in the frame and top.

As you can see, the two 22" LCDs are mounted on a hinged box. I have a technique to fit the LCDs entirely flush with the top. The other hinged top (left) has 3 stops is used to prop the LCDs up.

Then you fold the LCDs down, and the other lid hides and protects the LCD screens. I will have a groved pattern on top which will hide the existence of any moveable lid.

INSIDE:

bottom will be a thin 3/16" hardboard. Cut holes in the bottom as needed for air intake. The table sits on 1" or 2" legs so air can come up from the bottom. I will have a window screen stapled to the bottom to act as a rudimentary air filter.

power supplies mounted inline vertically
hard drives all installed in a single vertical tower
bonneville rad / eheim pump in corner. air intake from bottom.

not yet designed....

keyboard mouse foldout tray (and hides the keyboards away obviously)

good circulation: hot air rises and it rises straight up and out... cool air comes from the bottom

as far as the LCD just falling... there will be tension, so the LCDs have to be pushed down.

crossing my fingers i will have room to make a printer hideaway door


I figure in designing it i should have some kind of journal (overclock came to mind first) and SUGGESTIONS from other people on what might make this the perfect furniture mod?


Me building this is contingent on me getting a good planer like the dewalt dw735.

I can probably share the project file on google sketchup site if anyone wanted to go 3d view on it....

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Disclaimer: I only sound smart. 100% pure BS lol jk

Join the Clothes Folding Team and make your room a cleaner place!

If they ask you why not use the extra money to buy a faster processor rather than waste money in a water/TEC cooling system... tell them because, unlike you, I plan on unleashing the maximum potential of my current CPU AND all CPUs that I buy in the future. You, my friend, are condemned to stock speeds, on your current and future CPUs.

kev_b

I love that LCD idea, that's very original and super cool!

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kevinb70

thanks, me

__________________
Disclaimer: I only sound smart. 100% pure BS lol jk

Join the Clothes Folding Team and make your room a cleaner place!

If they ask you why not use the extra money to buy a faster processor rather than waste money in a water/TEC cooling system... tell them because, unlike you, I plan on unleashing the maximum potential of my current CPU AND all CPUs that I buy in the future. You, my friend, are condemned to stock speeds, on your current and future CPUs.

meticadpa

Wow, that's really, really nice man.

I'd love a copy of this so I could view it in SketchUp!

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Syrillian

This is not a Thread-jacking, it is for inspiration.

May I present our very own CyberDruids creation: Crunch Build Log Bandwidth-Killer edition

*subscribbled*

Can't wait to see this pan out.

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WIP: Scarab
Custom Cases:
Silentium, Halcyon, Indigo, Gemini, Prometheus, Anvil
Case Mods:
Liquid Chameleon, VF1000 LAN box

Semper Fidelis

Ramzinho

i have an idea for the printer man.

on the bottom shelf, where the pc parts rest. you can create a piece of it on Rollers with the side stuck to it. and the side will be cut into two pieces. so when you need to print out something you can easily drag this part of the table out.

it's like sliding a Whole piece of the lower shelf out with the side cut to be in two pieces. and on the other side you can do the same making it a storage place for paper and discs etc.

also why don't you make the whole top part removable so when you need to do some modding or changing a piece of hardware on the components it become easier. also one last idea. placing a full metal mounting piece above the bottom self wood will be awesome for letting the components cool down. like 2-4" high.

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We Are Gr33n Machine

jigglylizard

Great idea. I would love to see this as a finished product.

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kev_b

Unless that 70 at the end of your name is your age I'm betting I had this name long before you.

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kevinb70

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehou...6287&scoring=m



i didnt look at in from the web, it asked to remove 'unused' objects, so i let it. dont know if it affects how it works. the lcd hinge wont fold all the way down til i redefine the surfaces so they dont collide

ramz.. i like the roller idea. i hadnt really thought about it. or a door with the hinge on teh bottom, so the door opens downward, which serves as a paper tray support. im thinking ... make it wireless and throw it in a closet out of the way.

as i progress, ill replace the objects with better defined ones... like one day i will update all the support pieces with the joints cut and maybe use a 'virtual router' to smooth corners ...

__________________
Disclaimer: I only sound smart. 100% pure BS lol jk

Join the Clothes Folding Team and make your room a cleaner place!

If they ask you why not use the extra money to buy a faster processor rather than waste money in a water/TEC cooling system... tell them because, unlike you, I plan on unleashing the maximum potential of my current CPU AND all CPUs that I buy in the future. You, my friend, are condemned to stock speeds, on your current and future CPUs.

CurtisGreene

Thats a great idea. Cant wait to see how the monitors look together. Its something that would impress people as well as saving you space in your house.