Unoffical empeg BBS

Quick Links: Empeg FAQ | RioCar.Org | Hijack | BigDisk Builder | jEmplode | emphatic
Repairs: Repairs

Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Topic Options
#29777 - 20/04/2001 18:25 Clear panel?
ineedcolor
addict

Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
Thought about this the other day and saw another request for it tonight in another post...ever any thoughts to producing a clear front panel? The color panels are great but I think that the natural color of the VFD shining through would be cool too. The "lightning white" of the VFD would look great at night time I think and kinda high-tech...any one else's thoughts on this? John

Technoweenie
12 GB Blue / Red MK2
_________________________
01001010 01101111 01101000 01101110

Top
#29778 - 21/04/2001 17:31 Re: Clear panel? [Re: ineedcolor]
muzza
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 21/07/1999
Posts: 1765
Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australi...
I think it would look great as long as you dont mind seeing the components on the display board.
The colour panels tend to hide them a little

____________________
Murray 06000047
_________________________
-- Murray I What part of 'no' don't you understand? Is it the 'N', or the 'Zero'?

Top
#29779 - 22/04/2001 05:37 Re: Clear panel? [Re: muzza]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Actually, there was a discussion back a while ago about this. It need not be clear, more likely a neutral grey or smoke color that would not change the color of the display, but would obscure the board behind it. See this for more information. I would personally like to see these as well - I think it would match my dash better, but I haven't heard anything more lately.

Paul G.
SN# 090000587 (40GB Green)
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

Top
#29780 - 22/04/2001 14:17 Re: Clear panel? [Re: pgrzelak]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
I did a smoke one here with a CNC about a year ago. I was not concerned about hiding the components (this was the time of the iMAC), but I have to confess, it looked crap. The intensity on a Mk1 was just far too bright at night; I went back to my original blue and have stuck with it. YMMV.

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Top
#29781 - 23/04/2001 12:02 Re: Clear panel? [Re: schofiel]
ineedcolor
addict

Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
Wow! I would just love to have a smoked panel for my car...It would match the overall theme perfectly...Maybe we could make some sort of arrangement to have a MK2 panel made (if you were interested?) John

Technoweenie
12 GB Blue / Red MK2
_________________________
01001010 01101111 01101000 01101110

Top
#29782 - 23/04/2001 14:42 Re: Clear panel? [Re: ineedcolor]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Hmmm... well, all I did was went out and bought a piece of GM smoked perpex from the local hardware store, took the face plate off Emma and passed it to a mate in Eindhoven who just so happens to be the main programmer/operator of one of the most accurate CNC machines installed in the Netherlands (MEGA bucks). It's smart; he just clamped the old face plate in place, it scanned it, worked out the milling trajectory for itself after scanning the outline, then it cut a new panel in about one minute flat. Perfect fit, first time. The wonders of modern technology (he's done me a set of bike pegs as well )

I don't have a Mk2 and although I know what the panel's like, I haven't cut one, neither do I have a sacrificial lamb to get one made from. Surely there must be a milling shop near you that could do the same? I know the idea of batching up sets of plates and selling them is attractive, but this one was a personal favour over lunchtime; to get a batch done would mean commissioning the machine shop, a mimimum size batch, and the costs to match, which on this particular machine would NOT BE CHEAP, believe me. Additionally, these days I only do stuff cash up front after getting stung for a batch of circuit boards that ?everybody wanted?, but nobody wanted to pay for when they were made. Ignition synchroniser board, anybody?

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

Top
#29783 - 23/04/2001 14:54 Re: Clear panel? [Re: schofiel]
fvgestel
old hand

Registered: 12/08/2000
Posts: 702
Loc: Netherlands
Ignition synchroniser board, anybody?

Well, I can't remember having my ignition synchronized lately. Sounds like a cool board. Tell more...

Frank van Gestel
_________________________
Frank van Gestel

Top
#29784 - 23/04/2001 18:01 Re: Clear panel? [Re: schofiel]
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5549
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
...and bought a piece of GM smoked perpex from the local hardware store

And then when you turned on the empeg, birds fell out of the sky with their feathers on fire, and the entire Netherlands Nuclear Missile Defense System went on red alert because of all the unfiltered RF energy leaking through that non-screened AR face plate.

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"
_________________________
"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

Top
#29785 - 24/04/2001 16:55 Re: Clear panel? [Re: tanstaafl.]
Henno
addict

Registered: 15/07/1999
Posts: 568
Loc: Meije, Netherlands
And then... birds fell out of the sky with their feathers on fire, and the entire Netherlands Nuclear Missile
Defense System went on red alert because of all the unfiltered RF energy leaking


Nothing that serious: only his ignition needed re-synchronizing!

Henno
mk2 6 nr 6
_________________________
Henno mk2 [orange]6 [/orange]nr 6

Top
#29786 - 27/04/2001 11:18 Re: Clear panel? [Re: ineedcolor]
beaker
addict

Registered: 19/08/2000
Posts: 588
Loc: England
In reply to:

Thought about this the other day and saw another request for it tonight in another post...



It may have been in the thread I started about custom coloured displays. I mentioned Empeg/SonicBlue might like to offer some colourless AR & Conductive coated screens but there probably wouldn't be enough demand for them to make it financially viable (as was pointed out by someone else). So unfortunately I don't think it's going to happen any time soon.
My Empeg's got a Blue/Magenta/Orange/Yellow screen at the moment and (IMHO) it makes the standard Blue look very boring indeed.

beaker
12 gig blue
_________________________
Marcus 32 gig MKII (various colours) & 30gig MKIIa

Top
#29787 - 27/04/2001 16:05 Re: Clear panel? [Re: fvgestel]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
I work at a sign company operating a CNC router and have made a clear faceplate for my Mark 1 because the VFD's color by itself matches the display's in my Lincoln Mark VII LSC better than the blue does.
I might be possbily inclined to make more if people were to make it worth my time (possibly not definitely).
I included a picture attachment so you all can see how it looks.

Steve

Edited by DarkStorm on 28/04/01 12:07 AM.

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29788 - 27/04/2001 16:07 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Try the attachment again. It has to be smaller than 100k, and I think it has to be a GIF or a JPEG....

___________
Tony Fabris
_________________________
Tony Fabris

Top
#29789 - 27/04/2001 16:12 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Well I tries to include a picture but it didn't work.
It must have been too big. I'll try again.

Steve



Attachments
29341-Empeg.jpg (206 downloads)

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29790 - 27/04/2001 16:15 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31600
Loc: Seattle, WA
Cool picture. But you blaspheme with the "AutoPC" logo.

___________
Tony Fabris
_________________________
Tony Fabris

Top
#29791 - 27/04/2001 16:20 Re: Clear panel? [Re: tfabris]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Aww. I thought it was cool. Anyway I'm still experimenting with what I want to use for a logo.

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29792 - 27/04/2001 18:13 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
rmitz
member

Registered: 09/06/1999
Posts: 106
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Well that all depends on the price.

Fly me to the moon...
_________________________
Fly me to the moon...

Top
#29793 - 27/04/2001 18:28 Re: Clear panel? [Re: rmitz]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
I would be interested for one for the Mark 2. One question I have, though, for the folks@empeg: I know the internal coating is there for a reason. Can you comment on this idea???

Paul G.
SN# 090000587 (40GB Green)
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

Top
#29794 - 27/04/2001 18:44 Re: Clear panel? [Re: pgrzelak]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Unfortunately I don't have a Mark II fascia to use for a template.

If the lens is a seperate piece from the rest of the fascia (I know it's probably installed as one piece) meaning that it could be seperated from the rest of the fascia and reattached then maybe if someone let's me borrow one to use as a pattern to go by I could make the same offer to Mark II/Rio owners also.

But unless that happens you guys are out of luck. At least with me.

Steve

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29795 - 27/04/2001 19:41 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
muzza
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 21/07/1999
Posts: 1765
Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australi...
The MkII facia is two pieces, the colour screen and the darker plastic bezel. this is how the colour is so easy to change. Simply unscrew the same screws ( in exactly the same place as the MK1) and slip on the new colour. The shape of the buttons would be the more difficult part to mill but is entirely possible

____________________
Murray 06000047
_________________________
-- Murray I What part of 'no' don't you understand? Is it the 'N', or the 'Zero'?

Top
#29796 - 27/04/2001 23:59 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
I might be possbily inclined to make more if people were to make it worth my time (possibly not definitely).

OK, what'd make it worth it?

/Michael - definately interested

_________________________
/Michael

Top
#29797 - 28/04/2001 01:19 Re: Clear panel? [Re: pgrzelak]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
You would invalidate the FCC / CE approval, and the unit would radiate quite a lot of RF. In practice this shouldn't be such a problem, but if you did interfere with local TV reception or somesuch, you would be responsible for that.

I don't think that's very likely though.

Rob



Top
#29798 - 28/04/2001 01:21 Re: Clear panel? [Re: muzza]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
No, with the machine that my company bought it is impossible because they didn't opt for the 3d software to let machine mill in a z-stroke. Only xy.

Buttons would be up to you guys.

All I could offer is the smoke or clear lens itself.

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29799 - 28/04/2001 01:26 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
I think he was referring to the cutout that accommodates the buttons. It probably doesn't need to be as complex a shape as the original - we matched the profile of the buttons as closely as possible because of the EMC coating, but you won't have a coating so it doesn't matter..

Rob



Top
#29800 - 28/04/2001 02:03 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
ineedcolor
addict

Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
I, for one, would gladly shell out for your time and effort to make this reality...I really would like to have a smoke or clear panel because it would match my car's theme....I would also be willing to offer up a MKII panel to be used as a template if required....:)


Technoweenie
12 GB Blue / Red MK2
_________________________
01001010 01101111 01101000 01101110

Top
#29801 - 28/04/2001 04:34 Re: Clear panel? [Re: ineedcolor]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Greetings!

Well, if it is just RF, I get enough exposure to that in the local machine room!!! As long as it doesn't cause sterility (i.e., police with radar guns) or make me glow in the dark... What kind of coating is used? Is it something that could be self applied?

I would be interested in both a clear and smoke. I also have a spare faceplate available as a template if needed.



Paul G.
SN# 090000587 (40GB Green)
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

Top
#29802 - 28/04/2001 05:22 Re: Clear panel? [Re: pgrzelak]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
The coating is ITO, which is a specialist process (and which increases the cost of the panel by about 400%). It probably isn't practical in very small quantities.

Rob


Top
#29803 - 29/04/2001 14:38 Re: Clear panel? [Re: ineedcolor]
beaker
addict

Registered: 19/08/2000
Posts: 588
Loc: England
Hi all,
I've measured my faceplate & drawn it up. If anyone's interested you'll find both AutoCAD .dwg & .dxf files here. The dimensions may not be as per the original Empeg drawing (which of course I don't have) but they do correspond to the dimensions of my faceplate, so should be near enough. Anyone who has access to a CNC milling machine should be able to read either the dwg or the dxf file into their CAM software to produce a cutter path. I do actually work for a company (http://www.dawson-shanahan.co.uk) with mostly CNC machinery but it's not always easy getting stuff made on the quiet.

Rob & Hugo et al: If you have a problem with me reverse engineering this and making the drawings available please let me know and I will remove them immediately.

best of luck...


beaker
12 gig blue
_________________________
Marcus 32 gig MKII (various colours) & 30gig MKIIa

Top
#29804 - 30/04/2001 17:07 Re: Clear panel? [Re: beaker]
beaker
addict

Registered: 19/08/2000
Posts: 588
Loc: England
BTW I've now added a Coreldraw 5.0 file to the link in my last post for printing your own coloured screens.


beaker
12 gig blue/magenta/orange/yellow (at the moment :-))
_________________________
Marcus 32 gig MKII (various colours) & 30gig MKIIa

Top
#29805 - 30/04/2001 20:43 Re: Clear panel? [Re: ineedcolor]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Ok guys, how does $20 US a piece sound plus mailing cost.

"ineedcolor", you were the first to offer up a Mark 2 for a template so I'd give you a discount.

Steve

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29806 - 01/05/2001 01:34 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
beaker
addict

Registered: 19/08/2000
Posts: 588
Loc: England
You shouldn't need a template - that's why I did the drawing. Anyone with access to a CNC milling machine or router will probably have access to some CAM software that can read in the geometry from either the DXF or the DWG file. At a pinch it could even be programmed manually. That would be a bit laborious on the button cut-outs though.

beaker
12 gig blue/magenta/orange/yellow (at the moment :-))
_________________________
Marcus 32 gig MKII (various colours) & 30gig MKIIa

Top
#29807 - 01/05/2001 04:11 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
This sounds fine by me. Do you have an electronic payment (i.e., PayPal, etc.)?

Paul G.
SN# 090000587 (40GB Green)
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

Top
#29808 - 01/05/2001 10:03 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
ineedcolor
addict

Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
Sounds great....email me your mailing address and I'll send the panel on it's way to you soonest. My email is "ineedcolor1@yahoo.com" Looking forward to this

Technoweenie
12 GB Blue / Red MK2
_________________________
01001010 01101111 01101000 01101110

Top
#29809 - 01/05/2001 11:52 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
Sounds OK to me... Sign me up for a MkI panel.
How do you intend to handle payments?
Do you have a Paypal account or something similar?

/Michael

_________________________
/Michael

Top
#29810 - 01/05/2001 12:16 Re: Clear panel? [Re: ineedcolor]
beaker
addict

Registered: 19/08/2000
Posts: 588
Loc: England
As I said earlier in this thread: "You shouldn't need a template - that's why I did the drawing."
So to reiterate: You might like to check with whoever's going to make these screens whether they need a screen as a template at all. They should just be able to take the CAD drawing file I've made available here and generate a CNC part program from it directly. ie without using a template.
Please let me know if anyone's having a problem understanding this. Or is it me that's missing something?

beaker
12 gig blue/magenta/orange/yellow (at the moment :-))

Edited by beaker on 01/05/01 09:53 PM.

_________________________
Marcus 32 gig MKII (various colours) & 30gig MKIIa

Top
#29811 - 01/05/2001 17:11 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
drakino
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
[Shameless plug for logo site]Have you uploaded that logo to the empeg logo repository site at http://empeg.miniinfo.net [/Shameless plug for logo site]


Top
#29812 - 01/05/2001 18:28 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Ok guys. Yes I do have a paypal account. It is drkstorm@bellsouth.net

Anyone that wants one needs to email me his/her shipping address, whether it's a Mark I or Mark II/Rio, specify clear or smoke and send payment through paypal (use my email).

If you don't have paypal, email me and we'll find a different way to pay.

I figure that $2 should cover postage to most anywhere.
So include the postage with payment.

Mark II units will be a bit before they're ready to be sold.

Beaker, though they are very good drawings I would rather have an actual unit to go by to see clearances I have to work with and be able to match it up with an original correctly.

Steve

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29813 - 02/05/2001 01:18 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
beaker
addict

Registered: 19/08/2000
Posts: 588
Loc: England
OK, I just thought I'd draw it up and make it available to save someone the hassle & cost of postage. The dims on the drawing are actual measured sizes so to be safe I would have probably used a minus 0.2mm tolerance on external dims and a plus 0.2mm tolerance on internal dims. Anyway if you'd rather have an actual screen to make from it's up to you. Just thought I'd try to help out. Good luck .

beaker
12 gig blue/magenta/orange/yellow (at the moment :-))
_________________________
Marcus 32 gig MKII (various colours) & 30gig MKIIa

Top
#29814 - 02/05/2001 19:09 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
dionysus
veteran

Registered: 16/06/1999
Posts: 1222
Loc: San Francisco, CA
ewww; why mix empeg w/ autopc??
-m

...proud to have owned an Empeg since 00287
_________________________
http://mvgals.net - clublife, revisited.

Top
#29815 - 02/05/2001 19:16 Re: Clear panel? [Re: dionysus]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Alright now, guys.
The AutoPC was only a starting point because I wanted a logo with PC in it because after all the empeg IS a pc.
I have since modified it. It is now displaying empeg mobilePC.

Steve

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29816 - 03/05/2001 04:20 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Remember to keep in mind guys that Mark II/Rio lenses will be maybe a couple of weeks before they're ready.

I need to wait for my test faceplate to arrive before I can make my patterns.

Steve

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29817 - 03/05/2001 04:23 Re: Clear panel? [Re: mtempsch]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Go ahead and email your info like I said in my earlier post to drkstorm@bellsouth.net

Steve

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
#29818 - 03/05/2001 05:25 Re: Clear panel? [Re: DarkStorm]
pgrzelak
carpal tunnel

Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Do you need a faceplate? I can get one in the mail to you if you need one.

Paul G.
SN# 090000587 (40GB Green)
_________________________
Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs

Top
#29819 - 03/05/2001 22:51 Re: Clear panel? [Re: pgrzelak]
DarkStorm
addict

Registered: 13/04/2001
Posts: 481
Loc: Pompano Beach, Florida
Thanks but "ineedcolor" said he sent one to me on the 1st.

I don't think there's going to be any problems but if things don't work out with him I'll keep you in mind for a backup.

Steve

_________________________
Steve DarkStorm Designs

Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >