[Coco] Laser Cut Cartridge Case (was Re: miniFLASH product)

[Ron Bihler]

I am a Scientific Glassblower, it would be possible but not easy to make 
the cases in glass.
http://www.pgboptical.com is you are interested.
It would be much easier to machine them in Plexi to create a clear 
case.  I might try one sometime soon.

Ron Bihler


On 9/11/2013 7:05 PM, Gene Heskett wrote:
> On Wednesday 11 September 2013 20:35:10 James Hrubik did opine:
>
>> Sort of along the lines of what I was thinking.
>>
>> Just measured a Downland cartridge : outside 3 x 4-1/16 x 7/8 (76 x
>> 108 x 22 mm).  Slot for board is 2-3/16 wide (55 mm).  Board is 1/16
>> thick.  Depending on your mount position and independent of the
>> thickness of the case, top of board is mounted 5/8 (16 mm) from
>> outside top of case and bottom is 3/16 (5 mm) from outside bottom of
>> case.
>>
>> 1/8" Lexan would require a 1/16 spacer between the board and the
>> bottom; too close, maybe.  Mounted from the top of case like the
>> Downland board, would require a 1/2" (12.5 mm) standoff with 1/8"
>> Lexan.  Side strips could be 5/8" wide, and with a little glue, you
>> could have a totally enclosed clear plastic case for cheap.
>>
>> I probably have enough old scrap storm windows to make several dozen,
>> but it would cost a minor fortune to obtain the necessary round tuit.
>>
>> Now there is a wild idea : has anyone repacked a CoCo in a clear
>> glass case?  Gene -- have you ever welded glass?
> Sorry, no. My experimentation with hot glass has not been "fruitful".  Lots
> of ferrous stuff, a small amount of aluminum, but alu really s/b done with
> a TIG, whereas my highest tech kit is MIG, and the commonly used gas for
> the MIG is a mix of argon, used for the flooding/shielding gas, mixed with
> CO2 to add a bit of carbon to the weld, enhancing its strength at the
> expense of a poorer appearance when done by wannabe MIG welders like me.
> Somehow, my work seems to hold up about as well as it did when I was using
> the oxy-acetylene to weld with though, no clue why.  The difference in
> puddle control you get with real gas has to be seen to be believed.  With
> gas, I can take a pile of cheap coat hangers and give you a weld that is
> extremely ductile, or is nearly rockwell 60.  All in how fat or lean the
> flame is and how you push the puddle around to ensure the proper amount of
> carbon is either mixed into the weld, or burned back out of the molten
> metal.
>
> I have a next door neighbor, and in fact could probably round up 50 people
> here in Weston who could 'weld' that glass as there were and are yet, lots
> of specialty blown glass done in the former home town of Louie Glass.  When
> that was closed down due to Chinese imports taking all the business at 25%
> of the price, lots of the better blowers built their own glass "tanks" and
> are still doing custom stuff.  But these guys don't normally blow into a
> mold, its all free-hand, occasionally rolled on a flat surface to become
> more cylindrical.
>
> One thing all you repackers tend to skip, is that the coco, running naked,
> is one ultra noisy machine, generating huge amounts of RFI at the harmonics
> of its crystal.  So any such repacking really needs to have the insides of
> the case coated with a carbon/metallic film paint, connected solidly the
> the ground rails of the PCB's.
>
>> On Sep 11, 2013, at 1:07 AM, Andrew wrote:
>>> What about this?:
>>>
>>> Rather then laser-cut a metal case and bend it, what if you
>>> (someone - not me, too many other projects, this is an idea for
>>> someone who knows what they are doing) created a DXF or some other
>>> CAD file (or even a PS/PDF) that could be sent to a laser cutter
>>> (or a company that laser cuts), and have the cutter cut out flat
>>> pieces of acrylic (1/8 inch would be ok).
>>>
>>> Have holes cut/drilled (by the laser cutter again) to mount a PCB
>>> with the edge connector, as well as holes for "standoffs" for the
>>> PCB and for connecting a "top" and a "bottom" plate.
>>>
>>> Sure, it'd be open with all the electronics exposed, but who really
>>> cares? It'd look all the more cooler, right? Add some LEDs to light
>>> it up!
>>>
>>> Include a PDF or such of a double-sided PCB (edge connector, and
>>> strip-board traces or something?) that can be printed and toner-
>>> transferred (or UV etched); maybe eagle-cad (or better, some open
>>> format - kicad or something?) for a PCB - something you could send
>>> off to a company to have printed.
>>>
>>> Dump it all into a ZIP file and stick it somewhere. If you need a
>>> cartridge, send the files to the appropriate places (send the laser-
>>> cutter files to one company, and the PCB files to another - or etch
>>> your own PCB).
>>>
>>> Such a case/PCB combo would be fairly cheap; only those that want
>>> it would need to grab and print it, and no one would be stuck
>>> trying to sell something not many people want or need.
>>>
>>> The only problem here is finding someone willing to make the files
>>> and test them out. If I had the time and/or skills, I'd do it
>>> myself. We all probably have all the measurements, cartridges (for
>>> examples), etc; hmm - can we crowd-source this in some manner?
>>>
>>> Just a thought I'm tossing out there...
>>>
>>> Andrew L. Ayers
>>> Glendale, Arizona
>>> http://www.phoenixgarage.org/
>> ...---.../...---.../...---.../...---.../...---...
>> "Repent! the Kingdom of God has come near!"
>> ###Gospel according to Jesus of Nazareth###
>> ...---.../...---.../...---.../...---.../...---...
>> "Some offensive messages are always appropriate."
>> ###Sayings of Grandpa Jim, (c) 2013###
>> ...---.../...---.../...---.../...---.../...---...
>>
>>
>> --
>> Coco mailing list
>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
>> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>
> Cheers, Gene