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NazT
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« Reply #50 on: April 26, 2007, 12:47:43 pm » |
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We have a small talent for destruction after all.
...  ha ha ha and for understatement!  |
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Smaggers
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« Reply #51 on: April 26, 2007, 01:11:21 pm » |
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Typical creative person, always underestimating the importance of ones work. I'm convinced that this is a key part of a good artists psyche, but it's the wrong thread to get me started on it. |
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Datamancer
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« Reply #52 on: April 27, 2007, 10:49:16 pm » |
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The reactions which great cupidity can produce in the excitable human can be quite peculiar. ... Alright, I'll admit it, I nearly squealed with glee (or, to be honest, avarice) at the mere sight of your laptop, Datamancer! I think it was the cogs in the lid which produced the primary reaction, although the copper touch-pad produced a deal of wonder. I was disappointed to read it was only for show, I hope you are successful in replicating the effect without destroying the function of the pad. It got me thinking, perhaps a touch-pad could be made with it's copper grid on show, embedded in some transparent material. I believe it might also be technically plausible for a touch-pad to use a solid copper plate as an integral part of it's design, although the electronics would be substantially different.
Why thank you, sir. I don't suspect it will be too difficult to match the metal with a sticker. I could probably even lay the metal on a scanner on the "glossy paper" setting and have the resulting jpeg made into a vinyl sticker. I bet a copper touchpad could be made using the ooooold touchscreen tech. The original screens used a series of sensors (IR lasers?) on the X and Y borders of the screen to calculate touch points. If you used that, then the surface could be virtually anything...even nothing! You'd lose the pressure sensitivity, but that's rarely used by your average computer user anyway. |
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“I'm not a paranoid deranged millionaire. Goddamit, I'm a billionaire.” - Howard Hughes
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Smaggers
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« Reply #53 on: April 27, 2007, 11:06:22 pm » |
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I have a couple of motors used in mobile phones as a vibrator. They about 6mm wide, You could hoik off the offset weight and stick a worm gear on instead. I think I got them from aetherbay.
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CapnHarlock
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« Reply #54 on: April 28, 2007, 01:46:51 am » |
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if it is decided that a pager vibrator motor could work inthisapplication, just say the word-I have several that I would be happy to donate to such a worthwhile endeavor.
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Jeremiah Cornelius Harlock
At Your Service
"It's so hard to know if you're bound for a fall,
But better to have tripped than never danced at all."
"Dancing Under The Rose" - The Albion Band.
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Jake of All Trades
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« Reply #55 on: April 28, 2007, 03:08:04 am » |
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It got me thinking, perhaps a touch-pad could be made with it's copper grid on show, embedded in some transparent material.
This is a very noteworthy idea! One could likely peel the black/gray layer off leaving the metallic plate array. A thin layer of glass or clear plastic could then be placed over that, making the pad just as usable as always, but much better looking! The pattern this array of electrodes takes may be quite interesting too. Take a look at what lies beneath the iPod Photo's scroll wheel* (identical technology):  I actually just did a big presentation about capacitive touch sensing for a class, and I'd be more than happy to share the PowerPoint I made with anyone who's interested... *Why the picture shows it next to a first-gen iPod is beyond me. Totally different technology... |
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"...it's a form of fiction, and as such, while there may be times when it's considered a worthy vehicle for pointing out some of society and individual flaws - I still want a side that will let there be lighthearted adventures in the clouds, on mars, or under the sea."
--Tinkergirl
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Datamancer
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« Reply #56 on: April 28, 2007, 03:54:48 am » |
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oooOOOOoooo that's purty under there. I'll definitely have to use that for something one day. Thanks for that. I'd be quite interested in seeing that PP Presentation. Could you stick it up online somewhere? What are the chances of my laptop's touchpad sensors being antiqued copper underneath?  |
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Datamancer
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« Reply #58 on: April 28, 2007, 04:32:06 am » |
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Hey folks, I'm starting to work on the project page for the eventual unveiling of the laptop, so I figured I'd keep you all in the loop and give you the first look. Here's a mini-tutorial for the construction of the brass border. ------------------------------------------------ Well, as with most contraptions, it all starts with a plan and a drawing. After taking detailed measurements of the wooden frame, I sketched the rough design onto a large piece of drawing paper. I kept the design symmetrical by drawing one quarter of each shape then making a small template with a piece of clear plastic (old overhead projection transparencies), flipping and tracing it into each corner. Finally, my photoshop skillset applied to something tangiable!  After that, I layed a piece of graphite transfer paper between the paper and the brass and traced over the lines.  The design was then cut out with a pair of aviation tin snips and a steady hand. If you have the time, patience and equipment, it's actually more advisable to use a coping saw instead of snips. As the snips cut through the brass, the teeth leave tiny twists and ridges which warp and stretch the metal slightly. It's not too big a deal, cutting with snips will require a bit of finish work later. Ignore the off-center hole in the wooden face. It's a scrap piece from when I was experimenting with different placements of the mouse.   You may have noticed that I drew a small border around the design in the first pic. If you didn't, go ahead...scroll up and look again. I'll wait. .............ok, back? Good. That border is for a small 90-degree bend that goes around the entire perimeter of the border. Putting a bend in any piece of metal stiffens it greatly and in this case, smoothed out the warps and wrinkles in the flat display surface of the border. To make the bend, I simply clamped the brass tightly between two pieces of scrap wood (with nice, sharp corners on them), leaving the small margin sticking out, then tapped it down with a flat-faced auto body hammer. Apologies for the blurry pic.    After that, I bent the front piece of the faceplate that hangs over the front of the laptop and performed a test fit.   ----------------------------------- That's what I have so far. Next up....photos of the engraving process. -~D~- |
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Datamancer
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« Reply #59 on: April 28, 2007, 04:38:26 am » |
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Wow...reading over that again, there's quite a bit of muddled redundancy in there. Eh, I'll fix it later, I'm completely exhausted right now.
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ProfDelphiniusTucker
Gunner
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« Reply #60 on: April 28, 2007, 10:35:15 pm » |
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My first reaction to this was "oh Datamancer, that's marvelous" However, that's awkward because I have no formal, or even informal introduction to Datamancer, so I believe I shall simply say "Oh my, that is marvelous"
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Professor Delphinius S. Tucker
Professor of History and Religious Studies
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Jake of All Trades
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« Reply #61 on: April 29, 2007, 01:33:28 am » |
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My first reaction to this was "oh Datamancer, that's marvelous" However, that's awkward because I have no formal, or even informal introduction to Datamancer, so I believe I shall simply say "Oh my, that is marvelous"
Professor Tucker; Datamancer. Datamancer; Professor Delphinius Tucker. |
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Chuzzlewit
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« Reply #62 on: April 29, 2007, 06:08:41 pm » |
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Just wonderful, and the bar has indeed been raised - is there some good-natured rivalry between the various tinkering geniuses here that is helping to drive things along? Excellent, if so... We may set a record here - every last member of the forum posts an omg-type comment...  |
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"`Suppose, after all, it all ends in your butterflies and morlocks. THAT DOESN'T MATTER NOW. The effort's real. It's worth going on with. It's worth it. It's worth it, even so.' . . .
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AlexTheGreat
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« Reply #63 on: April 29, 2007, 07:32:07 pm » |
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I have nothing to add that hasn't been said before but, that is awesome!
I think I have to mod at least my keyboard now.
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Datamancer
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« Reply #64 on: April 29, 2007, 08:25:07 pm » |
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My first reaction to this was "oh Datamancer, that's marvelous" However, that's awkward because I have no formal, or even informal introduction to Datamancer, so I believe I shall simply say "Oh my, that is marvelous"
Why thank you sir. We needn't put on formal airs... I'm just Datamancer, one of the (ir-?)regulars 'round here. Nice to meet you, Prof. Many thanks for the introductions, Jake. |
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Datamancer
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« Reply #65 on: April 29, 2007, 08:32:01 pm » |
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Just wonderful, and the bar has indeed been raised - is there some good-natured rivalry between the various tinkering geniuses here that is helping to drive things along? Excellent, if so... We may set a record here - every last member of the forum posts an omg-type comment... Thank you, thank you. I think most of the "rivalry" is in jest, but I'd definitely say that we all feed off of, and cross-inspire eachother, if for no other reason than the fear that if we don't keep the fire lit under our respective posteriors, one of our other esteemed peers will beat us to all the good ideas. Even with all the similar concepts being shared around here, as CS said earlier in the thread...it's always interesting to see our individual expressions of them. |
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AE
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« Reply #66 on: April 29, 2007, 11:01:32 pm » |
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That is amazing sir, keep up the good work!
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Nebutron
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« Reply #67 on: May 03, 2007, 06:51:01 am » |
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I am awed and inspired. My next laptop WILL be almost as cool as this, by jingo....
Neb
(Howdy all. First post!)
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Fortus fortuna uvat!
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blackrider23
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« Reply #69 on: May 04, 2007, 04:03:44 am » |
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That link doesnt seem to be working for me...?
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We’re all as mad as hatters here.
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Datamancer
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« Reply #70 on: May 04, 2007, 04:07:58 am » |
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Maybe it's a Flash or Quicktime issue...there are links on the bottom of the video. Try clicking the 'Quicktime' or 'Flash' links to get a different version.
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Jake of All Trades
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« Reply #71 on: May 04, 2007, 04:47:27 am » |
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Works for me--lookin' GREAT, Doc!!!
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Smaggers
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« Reply #72 on: May 04, 2007, 12:41:22 pm » |
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That's fantastic.
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blackrider23
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« Reply #73 on: May 04, 2007, 01:34:32 pm » |
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In awe!
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WisconsinPlatt
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« Reply #74 on: May 04, 2007, 03:22:22 pm » |
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Very Flash. I'm quite interested in the mechanics behind that key winding start...if its as simple as I can image or more complex. Wow.
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