to those people with acrylic all clear cases

[ArkAoss]

specifically people who have made them on their own, what glues\adhesive do you use to bond that stuff together, and what is the best way to cut the stuff?

 

[eia430]

I havent built any cases but I have worked with some plexiglas in the past. To cut them, one method is to score it (scratch the surface where you want it cut)with a knife then put a wood dowel below the score and put pressure on both sides. Done right it will snap in two right along the score. The other method is to use a high speed rotational tool like a dremel with a spiral cut bit (looks like a drill bit but cuts sideways) Of course there are band saws and other ways that will also work. As for adhesive, clear silicone applied between the materials and along both sides of the joint. Go to a store and see how fishtanks are built, you'll notice that silicone does a great job. Hope this helped

 

[eia430]

Oh yeah and one other thing... There is a good reason why every quality built tower computer like the macs, when they are built on plastic or transparaent cases that they also have a sheet metal shield under that plastic. The reason is radio interferance, and contrary to popular belief it's not to keep it out but to keep it in. Digital electronics by nature give off a lot of radio frequency garbage. The FCC requires that the radio frequency emissions given off by equiptment is held below a certain level. This is done through a grounded shield just under the plastic case. So if you build a clear plastic computer case without proper shielding, be ready for your nearby cordless phones and other electronic stuff to receive static.

 

[ArkAoss]

that would explain why my pc's (which i used to run open on the bench) gave me some problems, i was actually asking about the acrylic cause i have a pet ball python in one tank, and a newt and fish in another, and i thought it would be neat to integrate all three, cause if i want more than a gold fish, any fancier fish they need heat, soo what better than an old sytem rigged so that the processor was cooled by the fishtank, and the fish tank warmed by the system, and alos i wanted to make it so the snake could go from his tank to a feeding area built out of lexan or somthin, and he's crawl around like a cdrom/hardrive array, and thought it'd be neat, giving myself all kinds of ideas now, and i could integrate the pc into the stereo system based in that area, and pump mp3's into the stereo, and of course integrate it into my net, and have a snake (aptly named Boba Fett) that could crack keys. . . . ideas oh the ideas

edited for spelling

 

[ArkAoss]

but how do people get away with those all side windows you see on virtualhideout.net i would hafto rig some shielding into the present case i am putting a window into since i use cell phones and cordless and all kinds of equipment in the area

 

[Darius]

If you are using 1/4" plexiglass or less, a dremel will cut through it very quickly and with very clean edges. I have also used a jigsaw with great results.

 

[403Forbidden]

I have a clear case WITH many electronic devices surrounding it.

As long as your other electronic devices are shielded fine,
one unshielded device won't harm anything.