The problematic power/reset button

[warlock110]

i'm planning to built a customize case... ideas are collected here and there, so far so good. only one problem. i can't figure out how the hell is it possible to make a working power button. I can simply take the button from a cheap case. but most of the time the button comes in 2 part. and the 2nd part is on the plate face. so pretty much that's not gonna work as u can't really make that button stick without the whole front plate face....

i see people done it before. how do u do something like this?

[Captain Slug]

Any SPST Normally-Open Momentary switch will do. You simply need one that has some kind of face on it.
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160417w345.jpg
http://www.mouser.com has thousands
http://www.mcmaster.com has a few hundred
http://www.allelectronics.com has some interesting ones (like arcade cabinet buttons for example)
and any Radio Shack will have a dozen different ones.

Switches labelled as having the OFF-(ON) state set are the kind you need. (ON) indicates momentary.
SCREW LUG switches won't require soldering, but are harder to find.

The voltage/current rating on the switch won't effect anything because your power and reset switches will only have 2V bridging through them.

[warlock110]

Any SPST Normally-Open Momentary switch will do. You simply need one that has some kind of face on it.
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160417w345.jpg
http://www.mouser.com has thousands
http://www.mcmaster.com has a few hundred
http://www.allelectronics.com has some interesting ones (like arcade cabinet buttons for example)
and any Radio Shack will have a dozen different ones.

Switches labelled as having the OFF-(ON) state set are the kind you need. (ON) indicates momentary.
SCREW LUG switches won't require soldering, but are harder to find.

The voltage/current rating on the switch won't effect anything because your power and reset switches will only have 2V bridging through them.

nvm, i found my switches. with led too. off an old case. i took out the removable mobo. took out the reset/power switch... i'm gonna built a cross material case. wood barebone + acrylic... it'll look like **** but it'll work well lol. now i just need to do a blue print with the measurement and stuff. this is gonna be so funny.

obviouly it's gonna look like **** cuzz lets just face it, wood + acrylic + crappy front isn't gonna be your dream case. but it should be relatively easy as acrylic is easy to cut and wood is easy to drill. having a frame made of wood. side/front pannel of acrylic and steel mobo tray + steel HDD rack.... just a few problem that will need to be sort out like noise dampering. wheels and stuff like that... we'll see how this goes :)

also since this thing is gonna have some wood. any ways to prevent it from catching a spark and burn my house down?

[warlock110]

i need a template for drilling holes for HDD. i remember it was on here some where but searching yields no result. i'm sure some of u have it some where :)... thanks.

[ƒÓÒl]

You don't need to worry about wood burning your PC and your house down. You need like 800F to start wood on fire.
The magic smoke will issue from your parts long before the wood could catch.

That switch that Cap'n pictured is exactly what I'm using. There's also some cool doorbell buttons out there too. I know you found yours, but just saying incase another reader needs the same advice.

I can't help much with a HD template, I just measured twice and drilled once ;)

[demortey]

make a HD template. set the drive on edge on a photocopier and make sure it's set to 100%, and you will get the side of the drive on paper. i've done it to drill fan holes and to make PCBs for guitar effects. works pretty good

[bryan_d]

make a HD template. set the drive on edge on a photocopier and make sure it's set to 100%, and you will get the side of the drive on paper. i've done it to drill fan holes and to make PCBs for guitar effects. works pretty good

Awesome idea!

I, like others, just measured and drilled. I tried using an old hacked up HD cage as a template before, but measuring was much quicker.

Bryan d

[KnowlesTech]

You can also use Lipstick or crayons and color the holes then press the HD firmly where you want it and viola the four holes should be there. Lipstick is the preferred method.