So this is kind of an interesting "different" project:
I'm building a model train layout, and I've reached the point of designing and building the control panel along the front of the table. (I'll post some pics of the table and the various things that need to go in the panel later)
One of the key elements of this is the PC: The PC connects to the control system (by a company called Digitrax) and allows more to be done with it than can be done out of the box with pure Digitrax OEM stuff. It uses a FOSS project called JMRI (really great software, one of my favorite Java programs ever) to do all this, allowing everything from computerized signal systems to using phones/tablets as throttles for the trains.
The PC I've been using for months now is an 11+ year old Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop, with a Celeron (1.33ghz single core) and 2GB of RAM. Yes. I'm serious. I've been using this thing. It works fine with Debian Linux on it for simple web browsing and using JMRI. Waste not want not :P
But today I ran into a problem: I'm pretty sure the LCD is biting the dust. It's been showing a red tint on startup, and in about 5 minutes on Google I've come to the conclusion that my LCD panel is about to quit. (I can't complain too much I suppose :P) A new panel is about $50, and the whole laptop probably isn't even worth that now. So I think the obvious decision is to replace my original plan of somehow building a laptop stand, with a more open alternative: I want to have a VESA mount for a monitor, with a spot below for a keyboard/mouse.
I'm not going for a crazy incredible plays-every-game-in-1080p experience here. In fact I'm probably going to pick up a used Celeron D machine because my school throws 'em away pretty often. I just need one thing...the way to mount the monitor/keyboard to the control panel.
I'm going to build the whole thing out of wood, and the control panel will have a housing for a plastic "box" from Digitrax (the "base station" so to speak) and some toggle switches to toggle power on and off to the various ray tracks coming from the turntable. So I imagine it won't be terribly hard to have a board that sticks up to mount a VESA thing on, I just need some help with the design, particularly the keyboard/mouse aspect. How would you do this?
I would do an inlay for a surface touch screen deal-e-o-thing. Completely snug and flush with a notched finger hold should do it. The important thing is to make sure it can breathe. Pay attention to vents and whatnot. The backing of the inlay would have to be open, possibly the sides... depends on the device.
If the software you use has an app for apple or android you could use a tablet without phone service, like a galaxy one note, apple ipad, or their contemporaries. In that case it would be pretty trick to have a felt lined inlay for it with the same notched finger holds. Even a fixture on the roof of a sturdy miniature building would be cool.
As for your system. I don't think you can make a wood enclosure large enough for a system like that. Wood is a natural insulator so it would be better to suspend a standard case under the table and route your wires through to a small fixture or podium.
Sorry, that's what I meant. I really don't care where the actual PC is, and I was already thinking "let's find a cheap case and mount it underneath the table frame", I just need to build a mount for the monitor and the keyboard/mouse. I can't use a touch screen because the software (JMRI) needs quite a few numbers entered into it, and I don't think that would work well with a touch screen. Plus I don't really have the money for a touch screen monitor :P I can scrounge up an old decent-enough desktop monitor from someone who's getting rid of one, I can't exactly "scrounge up" a touch monitor haha
Well, I was still thinking about it. You never mentioned what size layout you're putting together. If it was smaller like a sheet of 4x8 or a ping pong table I would actually suggest making something like a speaker's podium or mechanics computer cart. It would be free standing, but you could notch it into a corner of the layout. That way a standard case with no side fans could slide through a window at it's base. The keyboard would be partially under or resting on a glass top adjusted to bent elbow height. I say that because if it is a smaller set-up you don't want to obscure any views with controls in the way. A cheap wall mount could save you from needing a fixture tall enough for eye lvl with any old flat screen.
Hey, not on your project plans here, but if you want a replacement LCD for the laptop that will last until you complete the upgrade, take a pic of the actual LCD tag on the back of it and I can send one to you for free. Assuming I have one of course. I have a ton of used LCD panels laying around at work. Model railroading has a special place for me and have no problem helping out.
EDIT: if you don't know how to take the upper assembly apart, give me the model of the laptop and I can help w that too. It's fairly easy
I'm not sure how to take the laptop apart, and I'd rather not do it right now. I haven't actually built the control panel yet (it's sitting on a plastic table right now, ugly and clunky but gets the job done, that's why im taking into account any future issues like this in my front control panel design)
The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 6000, with a 1.33Ghz Celeron single core. I got it used from my uncle, so I don't know what the exact model # is. I can look in the BIOS in a little while if you need more information, but that seemed to bring up a lot of results for LCD panel replacements on ebay and amazon for me.
That laptop is incredibly easy to get the LCD out and I have several LCD's for that. If you decide you want to replace it, let me know. I'd like to see a pic too, and what scale are you doing?
It's HO scale, with a modified version of the old Atlas "Great Eastern Trunk" track plan. I'm about to post some pics, they'd probably already be posted if it weren't for Mediacom-which is pronounced "MediaCRAP"-just hating me using my 1mbps upload speed at all...
I might try to replace the LCD on that laptop just because I want to, but I don't think I'm gonna build the panel around that machine because obviously it's not gonna last forever. I'd rather build it around a standardized thing like VESA/a cheap VGA monitor so if/when the PC dies, I can just grab a new one, plug it up, stash it under the table, and I'm ready to go.
I'll post a reply to this when the pics are uploaded. Out of curiosity, what got you into model railroading? Do you have a layout ATM?
Here's a link to the album of pics on imgur (the Tek forums wouldn't let me upload, were being weird about multiple images) They all have descriptions with them but I can give additional info/take additional pics if you'd like.
Sounds like a great layout. I used to do HO, I had a 10x15 layout with a cutout for controls and contour. It had a switching yard and a decent mountain with a tunnel. Didn't mimic anything. Then I moved to N when space was an issue. used a 4x8 sheet with quite a grade to gain height. I tried to mimic the Rio Grande in Colorado, where I am, and am from. Now I am married and have kids so I keep my MR on display in small parts. I also had G which I had a small garden track. tried to get a functional rotary snow plow but those things are expensive. Now the cars and locomotive are just display
Wow, that HO layout sounds incredible! I've thought about G, but being a kid I just don't have the money (a lot of my HO stuff is Christmas/birthday money anyway) and there's nowhere in our garden to put any of it. Plus I don't want the hassle of cleaning the track out there :P
Assuming the layout PC doesn't completely quit, I've been able to get a webcam feed from it put in a browser, and JMRI allows me to have a web based throttle system and turnout control panel (turnouts from tablets/phones is absolutely amazing, I must say) so if you ever want to connect on Skype or Steam maybe we can try it out sometime. I've done that with a friend a time or two (stayed up till 3AM once, it's highly addicting) and we managed to keep the latency below 500ms the whole time.
I'll let you know about the LCD, I'll have to talk to my dad first, thanks though!
That's really cool you have a webcam feed. Get some textures and your layout will look really good. Here's a few links to my favorite places. I visited Caboose Hobbies almost every weekend as a kid. They are the greatest. Their website looks good, the store is like a candy land
I was thinking along the same lines where an inexpensive home security system could have multiple cameras and a software suite to switch the feed to use on a television set up with dual monitor to your controls. Wrap that bitch around the basement and pray the family can still do laundry :D
Do I need the special "opening tool" to do it without breaking something, or can I just use a similarly sized flathead screwdriver? (I'm fine with buying a cheap tool if I need to but if a screwdriver will work no sense paying for a tool)