[Captain Slug]

Well, I have adapted to using the Point-Of-Sale terminal as my main monitor and I'm now very pleased with it's contrast quality and native resolution (1280x1024) which gives me plenty of room to work on graphical projects. As it is now, it's a very dominating feature of my room and is warranting some agitation. It's wonderful to use but has some downsides.
1. The back of the unit still houses space for a Single-Board computer, which I have since removed. This is wasting space on my already tiny desk
2. This unit was designed for wall-mounting and not sitting on a desk. Therfore it is excessively reinforced for my usage. This makes for an extremely heavy unit. The screen itelf only weighs 7 pounds, but is currently attached to 10 pounds of aluminum
3. The power supplies that feed the screen create alot of excess heat. Just as much (if not more) than a standard CRT. This is starting to raise the temperature in my room, and that's not something I'd can live with in the summer months.
4. The speaker amplification quality of the unit is not indicative to playing music at CD quality and I would prefer to use a speaker set. But the unit is hogging too much desk space to allow for one.
5. The touchscreen proved to be too awkward for graphical work, so I removed it. So I no longer have the need to leave the unit as-is.

I've looked over the technical documentation for the screen and I should be able to power it without using the Power supplies that it's currently running off of. I've ordered a 12v 5Amp power brick that will supply more than enough juice and can be easily adapter to power the screen independantly. With that problem out of the way I will be able to build a new, lighter and more attractive frame.
So I have the construction worked out in my head (mostly) and I have the 3/8" polycarbonate to make it. Now I just need to wait for a few things to arrive before I can get started.

In the end it will look remarkably similar to my first model. Only much MUCH larger.

[arabarabian]

That is very nice. How much was did it cost?

[violineb]

IIRC it was the 20inch or so LCD screen that Capt Slug got off of ebay that came with a whole mess of parts, very cheap if I might add. It was originally some sort of touch screen computer used for some sort of machine Don't ask me, ask him

Oh and that's one very sweet looking monitor

[Captain Slug]

Originally Posted by violineb

IIRC it was the 20inch or so LCD screen that Capt Slug got off of ebay that came with a whole mess of parts, very cheap if I might add. It was originally some sort of touch screen computer used for some sort of machine Don't ask me, ask him

Yep. I got it on eBay for $500 shipped and the unit was originally used by a hospital for Prescription Point-Of-Sale and other stuff. I've already managed to sell $100 worth of parts out of it.

I should be able to start the modification next week if nothing big comes up.

[Alice]

Was it for a PICMG sbc? Is there space to mount a backplane and some PCI cards? Did it come with a A/D converter and VGA port, or did that come seperate? How much did the smaller one cost and where can I get one? If you still have the small one, would you be willing to sell it? Sorry about all of the questions; I have some SBCs and need an lcd. Your work looks very nice!

[Captain Slug]

Originally Posted by Alice

Was it for a PICMG sbc? Is there space to mount a backplane and some PCI cards? Did it come with a A/D converter and VGA port, or did that come seperate? How much did the smaller one cost and where can I get one? If you still have the small one, would you be willing to sell it? Sorry about all of the questions; I have some SBCs and need an lcd. Your work looks very nice!

YGPM

For future reference messages like this should be conducted through PM.

[Captain Slug]

After lots of fiddling about with various parts i had to order and some unavoidable delays, I finally managed to get this project complete. I've probably spent around 30 hours soldering, machining, assembling, unassembling, machining again, and reassembling over the past 5 days to get it to look like it does now.
I finally got to use my tapping set, which I used to thread holes into the 2-inch acrylic square rod braces that hold the hold things together. In the end I managed to shave 20 pounds off the total weight of the monitor. It's still not very lightweight, but I'm sure it's one the the lightest 20.1" LCDs I've ever messed with.


As you can see, but not specifically interpret, the inside of the monitor base is lined in bright white marker rag paper which is illuminated internally by a 12" UV Cold Cathode which gives the monitor a ghastly glow when powered. The 12V 5A power brick is conveniently housed inside the base, and when plugged in is dimmly beaming that green light through the front. If I decided later on the remove the blacklight I have a secondary red LED power indicator on the left side.

And I finally found a use for my custom 60mm bomberman grill!

Success tastes so good

[SniperXX]

Another sweet mod Captain! The 1st LCD was amazing, this one holds true to your excelent designs and work. Keep it up! I like seeing the mods you do, they give all us inspiration! lol!

[glebka11]

Cool mods!
Too bad LCDs cost that much

[Captain Slug]

Originally Posted by glebka11

Too bad LCDs cost that much

And I got this one at half price! 20.1" LCDs usually sell for $900-$1200 new
My previous screen (15-inch) only cost me $200.

As a tiny update I had to remove the Power brick from inside the base as it was heating up too much to be safe. Now the whole base of the monitor glows an eerily warm blue glow.

[Pro*Banshee]

why would you put a blue light under it?

[Captain Slug]

Originally Posted by Pro*Banshee

why would you put a blue light under it?

This monitor will be my primary display for showcasing digital art at conventions so I wanted something a little more eye-catching. Plus the soft blue glow makes for a great night-light when I'm not in my room.
My crappy camera really doesn't do it justice since it's a really soft indigo-blue.

[Pro*Banshee]

looks like a hellish glow underneath it, that would be IN YOUR FACE glare, but I like the night-light idea.

nice technical looking monitor though

[Captain Slug]

Originally Posted by Pro*Banshee

looks like a hellish glow underneath it, that would be IN YOUR FACE glare

My camera is really exagerrating it's intensity. I might get a better pic with my sister's digicam.
It would be pretty bright if it were any other color of cold cathode. But this is just subtle enough for me to still use the monitor in my room with the rest of the lights in the room turned off. I'm pretty light sensitive so I know my limits.