The Colossal Lego Ubuntu Computer Case Project

[stoodleysnow]

16 months after I started using Lego Digital Designer with Wine, my huge design is complete. It is a colossal design to be sending in to Lego Factory, but they have accepted it and it is now available to download and/or purchase at http://factory.lego.com/gallery (under the OTHER BUILDINGS catagory).
Here are some pictures.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot1.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot2.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot3.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot4.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot5.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot6.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot7.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot8.png

With 3259 pieces, designed to a spacious Full ATX specification, with room for 6 hard drives, 1 3.5" floppy or smart card drive, 3 5.25" drives, a full size ATX motherboard with up to 7 expansion cards, a full ATX PSU and an apartment/office, complete with a removable side panel and removable top section and drive bay & slot covers, this is one massive model and might almost be worth the £488.92 that Lego want to charge for it!
more pictures coming up.

[stoodleysnow]

more pics:
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot9.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot10.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot11.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot12.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot13.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot14.png

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/LDDScreenShot15.png

Now I just need to raise £494.17 to buy the thing...

[rabid9797]

wow i bet the heat dispersion on that thing is horrendous

[-grubby]

wow i bet the heat dispersion on that thing is horrendous
I know I wouldn't use it for my case

[popch]

The problem lies not with those who are mad and know it, but with those who are mad and don't know it

:lolflag:

[stoodleysnow]

The heat dispersion will be fine - There's a gap between the motherboard and the wall, so the cpu won't melt the plastic and there is a space for a system fan. So long as I open the windows...:)

[Kingsley]

That is... interesting? What exactly is the case supposed to resemble?

[stoodleysnow]

:lolflag:

Finally, someone noticed!:lolflag::lolflag:

[Whiffle]

Thats kick ***. I don't know how well it would work as an actual computer case, but its still pretty dang cool nonetheless. Good job.

[stoodleysnow]

That is... interesting? What exactly is the case supposed to resemble?

Not meant to resemble much, although if you ever saw the Monty Python Crimson Permanent Assurance sketch, the apartment/office could be a bit like that, and the case itself is meant to look like... an ATX computer case=D>

[stoodleysnow]

Thats kick ***. I don't know how well it would work as an actual computer case, but its still pretty dang cool nonetheless. Good job.

Thankyou. You could help by donating money towards me buying it if you like...
/cheekiness

[Whiffle]

I will if you donate an equal amount of money to my home theater pc build fund.

/nonsensical

[stoodleysnow]

I will if you donate an equal amount of money to my home theater pc build fund.

/nonsensical

LOL:lolflag::lolflag:

[jpittack]

I would use it for my computer case. I don't need to disperse heat like others do. I do not have a desktop at the moment but when I do buy one, the heat it disperses will probably be around 45W TDP. So I won't have a desktop for a long time.

I have always loved legos and thought it would be great to make a computer out of them, whether it was functional or not.

[stoodleysnow]

I would use it for my computer case. I don't need to disperse heat like others do. I do not have a desktop at the moment but when I do buy one, the heat it disperses will probably be around 45W TDP. So I won't have a desktop for a long time.

I have always loved legos and thought it would be great to make a computer out of them, whether it was functional or not.

I only intend to have a low-mid system in this case. For that (and I have tested the theory, sort of), it should be functional enough.

Do you like the logos on the side?

[Nano Geek]

Very cool, but It's probably $10,000 or so.

[zachtib]

Very cool, but It's probably $10,000 or so.

nah, it's only like $650 or so

not that i can afford that, either

[D-EJ915]

hahahaha, that is ******* sweet.

[stoodleysnow]

£495.00 (ish)
$1000.00 (ish)

[Chilli Bob]

I bow before your genius.

[stoodleysnow]

I bow before your genius.

Thankyoh. I now bow before yours.
Not sure why...:lolflag:

[red_Marvin]

Do anyone know the esd properties of lego bricks?

[stoodleysnow]

They're made of ABS, same as the front, fan and keyboard and mouse... etc of most computers. I think there is very little static in ABS :-k

[stoodleysnow]

I may now have funding to buy one of these!
A crazy friend of mine thinks there is a huge market in customised lego PC cases and models, and so has offered to buy a couple of cases (one for me, one for him [in January]) as prototypes for something bigger, which would see these things sold to schools at low, BULK prices, based on the idea that kids could get attracted to IT by building their own computer cases at the start of the year (someone who knows what they're doing would then add the electronic parts). This actually sounds pretty cool. I could modify the design to include the school in question's logo, and then when the kids have built their cases I could install the hardware and Ubuntu for them...
School IT departments will love it (particularly primary schools).
Far-fetched and mad, and as such should work :-P
:lolflag:

[JurB]

:shock:

[stoodleysnow]

:shock:

I know!
This friend of mine's a loony. But if he's serious, things could get interesting.:popcorn::shrug:8-)

[stoodleysnow]

I guess he's brought a whole new meaning to how 'colossal' this project is...

[samjh]

Next we'll have computer cases crafted from sand, ice, and whatnot. :)

Kudos to your imagination! :guitar:

[aaaantoine]

When you build it, send us photos.

[stoodleysnow]

When you build it, send us photos.

Most certainly will!:)
Watch this space, probably in January.:popcorn:

[subs]

amazing cabinet 4 the cpu....but as far as i see this will have really big problems in cooling down the pc....

[dfreer]

Guys, heat will not be an issue! The OP just needs to install a couple of these:
http://gallery.mcneel.com/fullsize/hss_001_arhs.jpg

*ducks*

[stoodleysnow]

LOL!!!:lolflag:
Now I don't need non-lego cooling fans
:lolflag:

[stoodleysnow]

Guys, heat will not be an issue! The OP just needs to install a couple of these:
http://gallery.mcneel.com/fullsize/hss_001_arhs.jpg

*ducks*

The OP?:confused:

[fedex1993]

i dont think anyone would buy this for 4000 dollars to build a lego case lol

[stoodleysnow]

i dont think anyone would buy this for 4000 dollars to build a lego case lol

[-X
$1000, not $4000 (US Dollars)

£495, not £1880 (Pounds Sterling)

Consider yourself corrected.

[loudnlownoma]

The OP?:confused:

Original Poster / Originating Poster / Whatever other random words it could stand for that mean "the person that posted and started the thread" :)


But very very cool design!

[stoodleysnow]

But very very cool design!
Thanks:)

[the yawner]

Not meant to resemble much, although if you ever saw the Monty Python Crimson Permanent Assurance sketch, the apartment/office could be a bit like that, and the case itself is meant to look like... an ATX computer case=D>
You should pirate legos there! Just don't let it go sailing at around the edge of the world though. Heh.

[stoodleysnow]

Up, up, up your premiums,
up, up, up your premiums
Scribble Away!
up, up, up your premiums
And Balance the books!
up, up, up your premiums

It's fun to charter an accountant
And sail the Wide Accountancy
To find, explore the funds offshore
Skirting the Shoals Of Bankruptcy

It can be manly in Insurance
We'll up your premiums semi-annually!
It's all tax deductible,
We're fairly incorruptible
Sailing on the Wide Accountancy!

up, up, up your premiums
up, up, up your premiums...
-
And so, the Crimson Permanent Assurance Sailed off into the Setting Sun in the West, once-proud financial giants left in ruins in their wake, their assets stripped, their policies in tatters, while the Crimson Permanent Assurance went on with a towering business accumen... Or so it would have been, had certain theories concerning the shape of the world not been disastrously wrong...!
:lolflag:
At least, that's how I think it goes...
P.S.
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/

[fedex1993]

[-X
$1000, not $4000 (US Dollars)

£495, not £1880 (Pounds Sterling)

Consider yourself corrected.

:lolflag: achley if you do the price check on there website its 4000 dollars in us

[BLTicklemonster]

That is... interesting? What exactly is the case supposed to resemble?

Hmmm, the more I look at it, the more it resembles, a - um - Lego Ubuntu Computer Case. Anyone else seeing that, or is it just me. I really don't know...

[Eion]

How did you get the Lego Designer working on WINE?

[stoodleysnow]

How did you get the Lego Designer working on WINE?

With difficulty.
You have to hope, pray, and always have the LATEST version.:)
Who wants to lobby Lego to produce a Linux version? Anyone with me?:guitar:

[stoodleysnow]

:lolflag: achley if you do the price check on there website its 4000 dollars in us


The Colossal Lego Ubuntu Computer Case ProjectItem #: LFH002
Pieces: 3259
Price
USD 644.23
Available Now
Limit 3 per customer

Which actually makes it cheaper if I buy it in the USA using Dollars... ?!
I thought the exchange rate was about $2.05 to £1.00 ?

Furthermore, is there a way I can get rid of the 3 per customer limit?
Which person in which dept. of Lego do I need to ask?:confused:

[de_valentin]

It's even more expensive in europe, 725 euro's and that's just the case....looks nice but not really worth it to me. But that's just me, one cheap....

[stoodleysnow]

So, how about we all get onto Lego and ask them to produce a Linux version of their LDD program?:popcorn:

[fedex1993]

Which actually makes it cheaper if I buy it in the USA using Dollars... ?!
I thought the exchange rate was about $2.05 to £1.00 ?

Furthermore, is there a way I can get rid of the 3 per customer limit?
Which person in which dept. of Lego do I need to ask?:confused:

sorry about that was wrong my mistake i acdently was looking at another one that cost 4000 dollars :)

[stoodleysnow]

sorry about that was wrong my mistake i acdently was looking at another one that cost 4000 dollars :)

Can you post a link to that one? Must be huge!:)

[stoodleysnow]

Hello. Just wondering if I could have that link...?:):popcorn:

[stoodleysnow]

??
Where have you gone?
I'd still like a link to that model please.:)

[stoodleysnow]

The Colossal Lego Ubuntu Computer Case Project: Now With Safety & Spares Pack. (see attachment)
This is in response to several suggestions regarding Children and Hot & Electrically Charged items. The extra pieces laid out next to the case are for sticking to the most dangerous parts of the computer's innards (particularly around the power input on the motherboard) to reduce any chance of electric shock, by insulating with ABS. The white 2x2 bricks are for adaptation as power and reset switches, and the rest are spares :-)
The price, as a result, is now £502.91, plus postage.
:)
http://factory.lego.com/ Search the gallery for models by j411dsd

[stoodleysnow]

Heads up, folks!
Watch this space!
News of the last few weeks coming up in a big post tonight!
:):popcorn:

[stoodleysnow]

It's been a long time since I posted about this project properly.
Things that have happened since then:
:-o


In late December a friend who lives down the road and runs a home for mentally disadvantaged people neared completion of the building of her new house. It has been built in the back garden of the 'residential' home. She wants to use the First and Second floors as her house, the ground floor as a Garage and a Granny flat for her aging, wheelchair dependant mother and use the 2 room basement under the Garage as an office and a playroom/computer room Nfor the 4 or 5 disadvantaged people she looks after.
She knows I am good with computers, and that I eventually plan on starting a business recycling old PCs. She asks me if I cann kit out the new house with a couple of recycled computers and revitalise her existing computers.
While we're sat talking about how it'll all go together, I show her the designs for the Lego Case.
She loves them.
We decide on two recycled PCs running Edubuntu, one with a touchscreen added and one with a large keys keyboard
We decide the third computer for the playroom should have a Lego Case. NB: her idea, not mine. We also decide to get mostly new hardware for the new case.
For the office we decide to reuse two PCs she already has, Ubuntu on one and the other remaining on Windows until she's certain of Ubuntu's capabilities.
The Lego PC is to run Edubuntu.
Fast forward:
We purchase a cheap (~£40.00) Gigabyte Socket AM2 motherboard, AMD Athlon 64 X2 3GHz CPU, Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 HSF, Noctua case fan, XFX Nvidia Geforce 7600 GT Graphics card, 400W PSU and the lego case.
The parts arrive within days, however Lego take a long time. So I temporarily build the PC on antistatic bags in a cardboard box and install Edubuntu on the spare hard drives that will be used until budget affords replacement.
The Lego case finally arrives in the middle of a week's holiday from college - literally lunchtime Wednesday.
With much patient help from my little brother I then build the case, altering the design to better fit real-life components as I go along.
This takes Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 2:00, Thursday 9:30 to 2:00, Friday 9:30 to 2:00, Saturday 9:30 to 1:30 and Sunday 11:00 to 11:30. This Monday evening was spent preparing and tidying and photographing from 6:30 - 11:30. Today another hour or two has been spent carefuly moving it from m house to hers. In all about 75 hours.
I am sleep deprived and have poured sweat and blood into this project :-({|= (seriously. Arctic Cooling HSFs are sharp). The lady in charge has spent £508.00 or so on the Lego case alone and about £235 on parts to goin it. I hope you all appreciate the effort it has taken to get this far.
Still to do: User names, specific program choices, icons and themes customisation, getting paid, and most importantly making sure the intended audience enjoy using it.
Parts that required altering from original design: Motherboard standoffs (needed positioning and fine-tuning by means of Stanley knife and super glue), Card holding contraption for expansion cards (now rotates), Power and reset switches (super glue), system speaker (rearranged bricks).
The switches, LEDs and speaker all came from a couple of scrapped AT standard cases.

So without further ado, here are the pictures:

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0628.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0629.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0630.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0631.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0632.jpg
far more coming up.

[stoodleysnow]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0633.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0634.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0635.jpg
The bulge is due to a massive graphics card heatsink. But that's the great thing with lego, you can change it!
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0636.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0637.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0638.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0639.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0640.jpg
more coming up

[stoodleysnow]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0641.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0642.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0643.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0644.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0645.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0646.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0647.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0648.jpg
And more...

[Zero Prime]

Dude!! I though just the designs were cool but seeing the real deal is flat out sick!!. I do see that wiring seems to be a choir with this case though. I'm a neat freak with wires.

[stoodleysnow]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0649.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0650.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0651.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0652.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0653.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0654.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0655.jpg

Next up: eye candy!!!

[stoodleysnow]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0656.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0657.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0658.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/100_0659.jpg
I also installed a temperature monitor. Even under the heaviest load it won't be above 45 degrees by the look of things. If it does get too hot, open the windows!

[stoodleysnow]

The computer now resides in the new computer room at the new house.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/00001.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/00002.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/00003.jpg
The other 2 PCs in the office:
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/00004.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/00005.jpg
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/00006.jpg
:)
All comments welcome. Perhaps this should get dugg?
I think this is the first Lego PC to be made in a couple of years. :-k

[stoodleysnow]

Dude!! I though just the designs were cool but seeing the real deal is flat out sick!!. I do see that wiring seems to be a choir with this case though. I'm a neat freak with wires.
Yeah, getting the PSU wires in was hardest. I designed this with 4 molex, 2 floppy and an ATX plug in mind... This thing has thrice that.

EDIT: Digg It (http://digg.com/linux_unix/The_Colossal_Lego_Ubuntu_Computer_Case_Project_For um_Thread)

[stoodleysnow]

bump

[EmilyRose]

Thats too cool. If I ever have the money and the desire for a desktop and no little people < age 4;) running around, I might just have to do something like this. TOO cool!

[farruinn]

I love the ladder for the lego people to go down inside :)

[stoodleysnow]

*Blushes*

Thanks for the compliments :-)

Next part of this project could well involve a total redesign to a different form factor, along the lines of fitting a PC in a large Lego Scania truck...
This is because I have a friend who works for Scania.

But first I need to finish and upload the 'bugfix' version of the original design to Lego Factory.

[Arkenzor]

Now I like that.

hmm...

Anyone lend me 500£? :P

[Nevon]

Hmm, I probably have all the parts at home... And there's a holiday coming up...

[notwen]

End product turned out really nice sir. =]

[emshains]

If my little sibling would NOT lose all the lego parts every time he gets them, maybe i could build something like that...

But overall it is a cool project, but it would be cooler if you made some technical stuff or liitle windows to see your cpu at the place where it should be.

[stoodleysnow]

Yeah, there's stuff I can improve on.
My main focus on this project was to produce a computer case that was as close to 100% Lego as possible.
A computer case that LOOKS like a computer case and fits standard ATX parts.
But, being Lego, has a few interesting quirks. And an arbitary mention of Ubuntu and Tux :-D
The removeable side panel was quite tough to achieve, and has now been modified in my bugfix version to make it easier to fit.
The bugfix version will be uploaded soon.
Then my next computer case (Scania) will look more into style and how a computer can be fitted into a model of anything. This one will make it harder to do minifig scale and full ATX, so will be a bigger challenge.

Thanks for all the comments.

[stoodleysnow]

BTW, the Scania one will still be Ubuntu (of course) :-D
:guitar:

[Cloudy]

I'm interested in seeing how the removable side panel works. How, though, is physical security for the case? I suppose what I'm trying to say is - what's keeping the case together? If it takes a bad bump I assume there's something in place to keep it from shattering into pieces - glue?

[stoodleysnow]

You can glue it if you want, but in this instance (the one shown in these photos) it has been left loose wherever possible. Bear in mind we don't intend to move it far.
Furthermore it needs to be adjustable (re: the huge graphics card heatsink, what if there are similar upgrades)

[stoodleysnow]

Does anyone think this thread would be better moved to Third Party Projects, or is it better kept here in Community Cafe?

Because one thing's certain: this thing ain't over yet.
:guitar::popcorn:

[tmper]

kind of offtopic but i made this (http://users.telenet.be/famdpc/pcm/legocase/gallery/) a few years ago.

[stoodleysnow]

That's really cool. Is this how you secure your PC against hackers? :-D
What OS does it run?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I plan to do more of these PCs. This one you see here is the first of many.

[CJ56]

Brilliant! Love it.

My kids were always big Lego fans which rather made us big Lego fans too.

It's bonkers creative stuff like this which reminds me why I like Ubuntu so much..

[stoodleysnow]

To quote a teacher from my old primary school:

Madness is hereditary - you get it from your kids
:)

[fela]

wow...aren't ubuntu stickers enough for you? :D

[bwhite82]

Well since you asked....I think the thing is hideous but I love the idea. What made you want to make it look like a house?? Anyways, I may have to check out this lego designer application.

:popcorn: for the effort

[clanky]

Awesome,

both the colossal lego computer case and the crimson permanent insurance song.

[zmjjmz]

I should do this.

Do you think we can use this show of devotion to convince Lego to port their applications to Linux?

[stoodleysnow]

I should do this.

Do you think we can use this show of devotion to convince Lego to port their applications to Linux?

This was partly why I did it. Unfortunately, Lego are paying as much attention to this as Steve Ballmer does to the way the world actually works.:roll:

[stoodleysnow]

Update time, folks.
The lego computer still works fine, has not crashed yet (touch wood), and the resident of the care home for whom it was built is happy.

I am now looking into wider business ideas for lego design. The computer case is a good starting point, and perhaps I'll do a keyboard, mouse and monitor too. :-k I've also started work on designing a lego laptop, this time using MLCAD. I'll let you know how it goes.:popcorn:

[zmjjmz]

Have lego display it at legoland.
Get a Lego speaker too!

[stoodleysnow]

:( Due to life factors getting in the way, this project has been on hiatus for the last year and will be for a while more yet. I am sorry, but a whole nother world of stuff has happened since then. However, I have had recent confirmation that, despite being moved upstairs, the computer is still intact and still working very nicely on the original install of Edubuntu. :guitar:

I still intend to do something more in this vein, but it's very low on my priority list now, due to far more important things still going on in my life.

[elliotn]

To me it looks like a church tower

[capnthommo]

you should send all the info on this to legoland; i bet there'd be a good job in their r&d or design departments. go-on, what's the worst that could happen?
cheers
nigel:guitar:

[stoodleysnow]

NEW UPDATE:
I've decided to go for Lego 3D design as a full-time occupation. I'm awaiting the reply of a very optimistic-sounding Lego Group, regarding becoming a Lego Certified Professional. In the meantime I've designed a model of a Transdev Yellow Buses Optare Tempo (awaiting response from Optare as to whether they're interested), been invited to James May's Lego House in Dorking for Saturday (main building effort day) and made progress with the design of my next Ubuntu-related design: Project Legotop :-)

[nw2001]

you are my new hero :shock:

[stoodleysnow]

NOTICE
I am now transferring everything to my new account, under the name DanFoxDavies. Please see that for all newer stuff as of 30/07/2009

[DanFoxDavies]

OK, here's my new account. Time to start gathering beans again :-P

[DanFoxDavies]

The next step in Lego Ubuntu-y goodness is here: Project Legotop!
At a final cost of £284.72 (for the Lego bricks), this particular design is based on an Acer Aspire 5633WLMi (the design can be adapted for other makes/models) and replaces with Lego anything that does not need to be the original in order to work. This means Lego casing, Lego keyboard buttons, Lego touchpad buttons, Lego drive fascia, Lego webcam housing and Lego switches.
Screenshots of the completed design:
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/legotop1.png
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/legotop2.png
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/legotop3.png
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/legotop4.png
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd171/stoodleysnow/legotop5.png

Anyone want one? PM me!

[zmjjmz]

Wouldn't it be a lot harder to make this one functional?

[DanFoxDavies]

Wouldn't it be a lot harder to make this one functional?
I've designed it around the parts of my Acer Aspire 5633WLMi. In short, no. It will be difficult to get everything fitted together, sure - but once it's built it'll work like it did before I dismantled it.

[DanFoxDavies]

The construction of the Legotop prototype is now under way. This last Monday, with help from another Lego Certified Pro Hopeful, I built half the laptop. Due to a 105 mile gap between my home and the Lego bricks and building space (and the kind man who's lending it all to me), I shan't be able to finish it until next Monday at earliest. It's also not going to be in white, due to the supply available it will be a weird mix of colours.
But it's just the prototype. If someone actually commissions me for one, I'll be able to build it all to the colours they want, with a new laptop in the middle. :guitar:

[Agg23]

So what happened to the laptop? Pics?

I can't believe how good you are! I want to build one from my collection, but then I'll have to destroy my Lego town. hmmmm.. :(

[Agg23]

Could I build a Lego case and put an old Pentium II in it or would the PC get too hot?

I think it would be so cool to have a Lego case....

[Dayofswords]

someone should make a working version of this thing *grabs 50 bucks and heads for the store*

i may have enough legos to actually do this... or similar

[Agg23]

Does anyone know what the best brick box Lego has? One that has a lot of 1x4s or 2x4s?

[Agg23]

WOW! No one here knows how to get Legos in bulk?

[DanFoxDavies]

someone should make a working version of this thing *grabs 50 bucks and heads for the store*

i may have enough legos to actually do this... or similar
My apologies for a lack of update, things have been rather busy. Pictures are below.


Does anyone know what the best brick box Lego has? One that has a lot of 1x4s or 2x4s?
Forget that, go to www.bricklink.com


WOW! No one here knows how to get Legos in bulk?
http://www.bricklink.com or
http://factory.lego.com (between 2 and 3 times more expensive)

So, the laptop has been part-built, thanks to Craig Stevens of Croydon's timely help. Here are pics of the progress so far. I intend to finish it within the next 10 days.

[Agg23]

so, the laptop has been part-built, thanks to craig stevens of croydon's timely help. Here are pics of the progress so far. I intend to finish it within the next 10 days.

WOW!

Factory is now Design by Me (http://designbyme.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx) and now they have a $10 surcharge for the designable boxes they have now :(

[DanFoxDavies]

WOW!

Factory is now Design by Me (http://designbyme.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx) and now they have a $10 surcharge for the designable boxes they have now :(
Ooh, this is new! I only checked it the other day too. Thanks.
And it appears that DesignByMe is exclusive to the USA :-k Do they want my custom or not? *mutters as he wanders off to Bricklink*

[starcannon]

Now I just need to raise £494.17 to buy the thing...

I would think one could buy enough lego's to pull it off for half that price no?

[DanFoxDavies]

I would think one could buy enough lego's to pull it off for half that price no?
At that time I was unaware of Bricklink. That price was the one provided by Lego Factory.

[Agg23]

DanFoxDavies, could you upload the LDD files for the desktop case. I might build my own Lego computer case and would like to see how you did somethings.

Thanks

[Agg23]

Bump

[DanFoxDavies]

Unfortunately the design for the desktop case was discovered to be incorrect in many places, hence the 4.5 days it took to build the thing when it would have otherwise only taken 2. I still haven't got round to redesigning the case yet, when I have I'll consider it.

[Agg23]

Unfortunately the design for the desktop case was discovered to be incorrect in many places, hence the 4.5 days it took to build the thing when it would have otherwise only taken 2. I still haven't got round to redesigning the case yet, when I have I'll consider it.

What about the LDD files??? Please!!!

Also, how did you mount your motherboard? Screws? A special Lego design? I'm going to mount my old Pentium II in the Lego case I built today, if I can figure out how to mount the motherboard.

Thanks,
agg23

[DanFoxDavies]

What about the LDD files??? Please!!!

Also, how did you mount your motherboard? Screws? A special Lego design? I'm going to mount my old Pentium II in the Lego case I built today, if I can figure out how to mount the motherboard.

Thanks,
agg23
The LDD files are still of the old design of case (with the million-and-one bugs) and in LDD 2.4 format (meaning either bricks will disappear if you load in 3.0 (see below about this) or you can try and find a copy of 2.4 but not be able to connect to Lego's servers with it), giving them to you will not help you, only cause you more problems.
Motherboard mountings were the most tricky thing of all, and right now I can't show you how I eventually figured how to do them because Lego have updated LDD to v3.0, which doesn't work on Wine.
If you want my help, first solve THIS problem HERE. (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1292942)

[Pasdar]

fire hazard

[DanFoxDavies]

fire hazard
No, NOT a fire hazard. Lego is made of ABS which is stable up to (I think) 240 degrees Celcius. Correct me if I'm wrong, but any computer generating that amount of heat, whether made of Lego or not, will catch fire anyway. The CPU, GPU and hard disk are the hottest parts of a computer. The CPU and GPU have cooling systems, and if you run them with said cooling removed, they shut down at temperatures of 95 degrees anyway (and usually lower than that thanks to the BIOS) to protect themselves from cooking. Hard disks rarely get above 95 degrees either, and that's only if you thrash the hell out of them for hours. I cannot see there being a serious threat to the Lego or any of the computer parts in these computers.

[Agg23]

If you want my help, first solve THIS problem HERE. (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1292942)

Actually, I can just use Windows for using LDD :oops:

[DanFoxDavies]

yeah, well I'm stubborn and busy to boot. Wait yer hurry.

[t0p]

yeah, well I'm stubborn and busy to boot. Wait yer hurry.

agg23: I reckon DanFoxDavies doesn't want to give those designs away. He's selling cases, right? Maybe he's worried you'll horn in on the market and undercut him. Or something.

Anyway, if I were him I'd sell the blueprints. If you offered to pay for the designs, maybe it would become more of a priority?

[DanFoxDavies]

I'm in the middle of starting a business, so rather busy. However, I don't want to be all Microsoft-like and not share my ideas... I just would appreciate if you give me enough time to get ready and have better designs prepared first.

[Agg23]

That's OK, I just was wondering how you mounted the motherboard. I guess I'll figure out my own way. :)

[LinuxFox]

I don't know how well it would work as a case, but I have to say that looks pretty awesome! 8)

[DanFoxDavies]

That's OK, I just was wondering how you mounted the motherboard. I guess I'll figure out my own way. :)
Mounting the mnotherboard was the hardest bit, it involved superglue, Stanley-knife modified sideways 2x2 flat helicopter-rotor-pins (as I call them) and a rebuild of most of the case.

The laptop, meanwhile, is nearly complete. Just awaiting arrival of more parts to finish the keyboard, which has already involved use of a power drill and will need me to use a jig-saw.

[3rdalbum]

This is easily the most awesome thing I've ever seen.

I especially liked the post early on with the suggestion that it be cooled by those little Lego windmills :-)

[RabbitWho]

What was that other thing that was out.. it was like lego.. but for boys.. all metal with holes in it and you had to screw the stuff together.. began with a K i think.. Konex or something like that.. that would be a far more logical choice.

[bkratz]

What was that other thing that was out.. it was like lego.. but for boys.. all metal with holes in it and you had to screw the stuff together.. began with a K i think.. Konex or something like that.. that would be a far more logical choice.



I had an erector set that matched those details. USA

[Rhubarb]

What was that other thing that was out.. it was like lego.. but for boys.. all metal with holes in it and you had to screw the stuff together.. began with a K i think.. Konex or something like that.. that would be a far more logical choice.

Meccano?

[RabbitWho]

I had an erector set that matched those details. USA
I googled that and yeah it's something similar!

http://www.charlesandhudson.com/archives/erector-set-empire-state-bu.jpg


Different name here... this is going to drive me mad.. "skaeletrix" keeps comming into my head but those were race cars..
I could never get the things to fit together.. i didn't have the hand eye co-ordination to work a screwdriverat that point.
.................................................. ........

Turns out Kinnex was the word I was thinking of but that was for something else: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3o2BJtl0y1dut5XqsuPJIg

The thing I'm talking about was metal.

[RabbitWho]

Meccano?


YES!

THANK YOU!


Here is an entire computer made out of meccano:


but of course it's only a replica diference engine.

hee hee "only"

[Grenage]

Meccano?

Edit: Bah, beaten to it :)

[Primefalcon]

A direct link to the page with it?

[Sin@Sin-Sacrifice]

That's got to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Good work on the lego case man.

[DanFoxDavies]

Right, for the sake of clearing the matter up: the metal stuff with the holes, screws, nuts and bolts is MECCANO.
Coincidentally, the Babbage Difference Engine was already recreated in Lego: http://acarol.woz.org/

K'Nex is a system of plastic rods and connectors not dissimilar to Lego Technic. Recent products made by K'Nex have even attempted to copy Lego bricks themselves, albeit far more crudely even than Megabloks, who themselves are copycats who entirely miss the point of Lego: unbeatable quality forever.
Scalextric, meanwhile, is made by Hornby and is a slot-car racing system, regarded by most as the best in the world. Hornby are of course famous too for their model railways, with exquisitely detailed scale engines and rolling stock and a formidable range of accessories, although sadly somewhat behind in terms of track sophistication.
Anyway, I digress.

The main reason I came here to post today is that Project Legotop is, give or take a tweak, finished!
Photos will be posted tomorrow.

[steveneddy]

the heat dispersion will be fine - there's a gap between the motherboard and the wall, so the cpu won't melt the plastic and there is a space for a system fan. So long as i open the windows...:)

windows!

[DanFoxDavies]

windows!
Yes, those fenestrations built into the wall of the desktop case. Anyone who says I'm referring to a software product of the past is just silly.

[DanFoxDavies]

Well, here it is, at long last, Ladles and Jellyspoons, PROJECT LEGOTOP!
(I am typing this using said laptop, by the way)

http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-146123842

http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-rear-146124312

http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-port-146125925
http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-starboard-146126709
http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-open-146127309
http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-close-up-146127610
http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-AcerER-146131127

More photos coming up...

[NoaHall]

Resize the pictures.

[DanFoxDavies]

http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-Ubuntu-SHINY-146131703
http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-and-a-ghost-146132014
http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-on-and-ready-146133310
http://vulpinedesignsultd.deviantart.com/art/Project-Legotop-Logged-In-146133826

Enjoy.

[Marvin666]

Nice work, on both projects so far.
How about an external hard drive, or router case?

[DanFoxDavies]

Resize the pictures.
I thought the forum automatically did that. I'm obviously used to more flexible forum software than this. If I had resized versions of them all to post, I would.

EDIT: There, art thou happy?

[DanFoxDavies]

Nice work, on both projects so far.
How about an external hard drive, or router case?
Way ahead of you there. Both are on the to-do list.

[DanFoxDavies]

<threadnecromancy>
THREAD, I RESURRECT THEE! MUHAHAHAHA(...)hahahahaha....
</threadnecromancy>

Anyway, just thought I'd let you folks know that this project and the laptop are going to become a feature in Micro Mart magazine ( www.micromart.co.uk ) in the next month or so - so be sure to buy Micro Mart, in all its Linux-friendly glory...:guitar:

www.vulpinedesigns.co.uk is my site, btw, in case I didn't mention it yet.):P

[Old Marcus]

That is some impressive laptop. Well done. Is it comfortable to use for long periods?

[DanFoxDavies]

That is some impressive laptop. Well done. Is it comfortable to use for long periods?
Meh, about as comfortable as any other. The keyboard's not as easy to use in all fairness, but you learn to get used to it.

[quincyj0nes]

ill have to show my nephew hes both a computer and lego nut now if only i could rid him of his bill gates fetish

[DanFoxDavies]

Take a look at issue 1116 of Micro Mart! www.micromart.co.uk
The first feature in this issue, no less, is The Colossal Lego Ubuntu Computer Case Project!

[coolman98]

where is it

[alexfish]

where is it
Unfortunately, as anyone who’s ever been on a web forum can attest, there’s often a strange form of snobbery imposed on those who are deemed to be lacking knowledge of the subject. Beginners are seen as second-class citizens in the online universe, despite the very obvious logic that even the most advanced of tech gurus had to start somewhere (no doubt some form of leveling-up was required).

a quote from the site

but can't find the article even using their own search engine

think I must be third class:p

Linux user Extreme

[witeshark17]

That's a very cool Lego project! :popcorn:

[DanFoxDavies]

I'm sorry I can't provide you with a link to a digital article, Micro Mart sadly only publish in print for the time being. It's a newsagents-only affair unless you can figure out how to extract back-issues from them.