Valentine's Teddy bear case mod

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
My girlfriend loves Teddy bears, she collects them. She has also been badgering me for a computer upgrade the last few months (I guess the Voodoo Banshee just isn't cutting it anymore :D) so I figured, with Valentine's day coming up, I can kill two birds with one stone. Here is my artist's rendering:

http://home.comcast.net/~shortsinwoods/Teddycomputer.JPG

(luckily I'm slightly more skilled with a dremel than I am with MS Paint)


I plan to purchase a gargantuan bear, preferably Panda. Any suggestions on good B & M deals on these would be appreciated. I already have the computer parts, so that is a non issue. I intend to make three incisions in the back of the bear to create a flap, which will be closable later one with velcro. I can then destuff the necessary portions to make room for the case, wires, and ducting. I will cut for the two CDROM's in front, and around the bays I will line with velcro and also along the inner skin of the bear, so once the system is in place it will hold the bay holes in position while allowing the case to be removed for maintenance. I will do the same for the exhaust fan port in the rear.

Next, I think I will run some ducting (like to that for a drier but narrower) through the left lower paw for an intake fan, which I will run into the side of the case. Probably 80mm or 92mm depending on the size of the bear. I will run wires for an external dual USB port into the opposite paw, and the power switch in the right top paw. Since it is a pressure switch I could be able to mount it under one of the pads without much trouble. I will probably also drill the eyes for LED's unless you guys think that's too cheesy, I would just leave it alone.

Comments, suggestions, tips, or helpful links would be appreciated. I will post pics of the process and try and keep you guys updated. Let me know what you think! :)
 
C

CaseTragedy

Platinum Member
Oct 24, 2000
2,690
0
0
if this is a parody of the 'wedding-case-mod'--nice one.

if its for real--nice one.


-Case
 
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Good luck not sucking fur into the fans.
Click to expand...

Good call, hopefully the padded parts of the feet will be less furry, and I will use a filter.

Originally posted by: CaseTragedy
if this is a parody of the 'wedding-case-mod'--nice one.

if its for real--nice one.


-Case
Click to expand...

No parody, I have a great deal of admiration for the wedding case mod guy.


Originally posted by: Quixfire
Where is the exhaust? :Q
Click to expand...

You know what they say about a bear in the woods. ;)
 
S

Storm

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 1999
3,952
0
76
Wouldnt having the air intake on a lower paw be a problem if your gf has a lot of crap in her room if thats where the computer is going to be?. It would suck to have random lint etc get into the computer.

I guess that all depends on how powerful the intake is.
 
Z

zimu

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2001
6,209
0
0
dude thats a great idea! can't wait to see the finished product, if there is one!
 
W

WannaFly

Platinum Member
Jan 14, 2003
2,811
1
0
Ya, pretty creepy. You better get started, you have less then a week! my only suggestion, go with mini-ITX.
 
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
Bump for giant bear vendor recomendations. :D I went out yesterday and scoped all of the local marts, grocery stores, drug stores, and the mall, and I have two possibilities so far. I still have to check Costco and Ikea as I hear they have big bears too.

There was a perfect one at Hallmark that had the right posture and girth to conceal the boxy shape of the case completely, unfortunately it was $119. :Q
 
MaxDepth

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Wow you got a tight schedule if you haven't picked out the plush bear yet.

Intake fan is going to need some real uumph to draw air down to the components. From the sketch, I'd say at least eight, maybe 10 inches until you get to the components. The CFMs won't be enough for those fans at that distance. Maybe two fans, one at the paw and the other at the leg join? Also, ribbed venting sleves are a must if you don't go PVC pipe through the leg. Anything more flimsy and it would either be crushed or kinked at some point.

And to this, that fur is going to act as insulation and as a heat trap. Maybe fans in both hind legs?

Why not "bearify" a couple of speakers for her system? Remove enough padding in the bear to fit a single speaker. Remove enough of the bears belly to let the speaker grill (the main part of the cone) show through. Paint the speaker grill to match the bear's fur (or remove all the padding and fur from the bear's stomach area, just leaving the fabric). You might get this project done before Saturday,

 
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Wow you got a tight schedule if you haven't picked out the plush bear yet.

Intake fan is going to need some real uumph to draw air down to the components. From the sketch, I'd say at least eight, maybe 10 inches until you get to the components. The CFMs won't be enough for those fans at that distance. Maybe two fans, one at the paw and the other at the leg join? Also, ribbed venting sleves are a must if you don't go PVC pipe through the leg. Anything more flimsy and it would either be crushed or kinked at some point.

And to this, that fur is going to act as insulation and as a heat trap. Maybe fans in both hind legs?

Why not "bearify" a couple of speakers for her system? Remove enough padding in the bear to fit a single speaker. Remove enough of the bears belly to let the speaker grill (the main part of the cone) show through. Paint the speaker grill to match the bear's fur (or remove all the padding and fur from the bear's stomach area, just leaving the fabric). You might get this project done before Saturday,
Click to expand...


Thanks for the ideas. As for the intake fan, its draw should be supplemented by the vaccum created by the exhaust fans, and beyond that, I'm not hugely concerned as the system is comprised of a 1.8 GHz Duron and a GeForce3 Ti200 so it should not generate an enormous amount of heat. The PSU is a quality dual fan unit and there are two other exhaust fans in addition to that near the CPU, so I figured a 92mm intake with relatively high RPM's should to the trick.

I would like the ducting to be flexible so PVC might be tricky, but I'm going to take a trip to home depot tonight to peruse the flexible tubing/pipe supplies. I will have the bear by today, I just have to narrow it down. The speakers are a cool idea too, I will look into it.

As for the LED's in the eyes, that seems a little cheesy, I may forgo that. Although if I find one with a heart shaped nose that is opaque then I may hook it up that way. We'll see. I need to take Friday off from work. :D
 
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
Originally posted by: Storm
Originally posted by: Garion
Here's a guy who has done something similar, with a mini-ITX system.. Pretty cool. Teddy Bear Computer.

- G
Click to expand...

Hrmm that might be a better idea for you OP...
Click to expand...


I decided against going small form factor for a few reasons. First, cost. I have all the parts and don't want to buy a whole other computer. Also, I need two optical drives and a floppy.
 
S

Storm

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 1999
3,952
0
76
Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Originally posted by: Storm
Originally posted by: Garion
Here's a guy who has done something similar, with a mini-ITX system.. Pretty cool. Teddy Bear Computer.

- G
Click to expand...

Hrmm that might be a better idea for you OP...
Click to expand...


I decided against going small form factor for a few reasons. First, cost. I have all the parts and don't want to buy a whole other computer. Also, I need two optical drives and a floppy.
Click to expand...

Ahh... Hrmm if an FAO Swartz is nearby you could probably get a big teddy bear for cheap...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom