CD-rom Drive cup holder and cooling fan.

[bigdaveberg]

Hey guys i found a spare cd-rom drive lying around so i said hey, i need a cup holder. But i need it to keep my drinks cold also. So i attached a small/northbridge fan to the front of the drive bay, and took out the laser, and cd locking reading system. Now all i have is the opening mechanisem and the fan. Here is a picture. Now i was wondering what would be the best way to cover the drive, besides the metal casing, so that the wires can retract good and mountable in my case. http://picasaweb.google.com/bigdaveberg/UntitledAlbum#

[Dark Mantis]

I like it bigdave I would suggest covering the wiring with some cable braid and heatshrink and then add a little elastic from the front cable to the back of the DC case so that when the drawer closes it automatically retracts the cable inside.

[bigdaveberg]

Hey i was board, and not a  lot of computers in shop at the time.... I tested it and it does keep a drink at a respectable level to enjoy. Would be better if i could use a peltier plate. But hey for a first time mod, I do not think it is bad. I added black electrical tape over all the wires, ad now i am thinking of acrylic case, or Plexiglas to be what the metal normally was. Let me tell you that metal case is sharp, i have a cut in my thumb about inch long and 1/4" deep. Bled like a (censored) . Working progress i was also thinking of a design for  a light show effect, were the drive would push forward and make a 4"x6" piece of acrylic pop up and have a design on it, then led's attached to the top of my case would shine through the acrylic and display the design. All this when the eject button was pressed. I am going to work out a sketch of it. I'm thinking of using gimp, or like auto-cad.

[Dark Mantis]

Great idea. I really think that you should try and find some more work though, obviously too much time on your hands

[bigdaveberg]

Trying, summer is our slow time. Winter... i will be very busy, work-college, fun. All joking aside today is not to bad. But I am interested in cd drive mods, does anybody kn ow of a good site for mods and what not, i have looked through a few already

[Dark Mantis]

I am not sure about CD mods(bit niche that) but if anywhere does this will: http://hardforum.com/index.php  Some really great mods on here.

[oggmonster]

Wonder if you could make something but the reverse of that - so something that keeps your coffee warm?

[Dark Mantis]

That did cross my mind when he said about removing the laser I think he should have left it in and boosted the power a little. Overclocked DVD now there's a thought!

[bigdaveberg]

That sounds good. Maybe merge a candle warmer plate with the cd drive.

[Dark Mantis]

Little bit low tech for my taste bigdave Got to have lasers and lights etc

[absic]

Any possibility of not only keeping tea/coffee warm but re-instating the laser so we could have toasted sandwiches too? 

[Dark Mantis]

That did cross my mind when he said about removing the laser I think he should have left it in and boosted the power a little. Overclocked DVD now there's a thought!

Already thought of that absic but not the toasted sarnies Maybe he could add a microwave output too

[bigdaveberg]

LOL.
Do you really think the laser would heat up enough to do that?

[Dark Mantis]

I reckon if you ripped out enough of them from old units and had them circling the cup... a couple of dozen in parallel should do it