My first woodworking project
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Ok, I've made a bit of a start on a 'for construction' version. I've had a go at adding bits of detail here and there. I've also allowed 2mm clearance around hinging and rotating parts. I still need to work on how to support the front hinge down panel when it is closed and open. I had an idea that the timber veneer sheets came in 1200mm wide pieces (which is why the top is 590mm deep) but I had no idea about length and thickness. I am now working with 19mm thickness.
Feel free to poke around the model. No dynamic components in this one though. Thanks for all the help so far. Before now, I didn't even know what veneer was.
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Good start.
I made some modifications to your model.
I corrected some of the component definitions and axis orientations. I also added some of the edging. Note, on the vertical dividers, I modified them to make them easier to construct and make the case easier to assemble. You moved the bottom up like I suggested but when the doors are opened you'd see the cleats the legs attach to so I made the edging for the case bottom wider. There's still some joinery to draw and the details on that rotating projector thing need to be worked out.
The first thing I would do for that is decide how you'll support that mechansim. Choose exactly which hardware you'll use. I would be inclined to use in-line skate bearings on the pivots. Once that part is figured out, you should be able to sort out how the front panel is supported. If you use the cam idea, you'll need a way to pull the panel closed while allowing it to open. Suppose that panel were split into two pieces. For the sake of discussion, an inner panel and a frame. Maybe the frame is hinged to the case and connected to the projector support so that the support can pull the thing closed. Then, if you need to open it manually, you'd open the inner panel only. I'd draw it but I'm running out of time to get ready for work.
By the way, I think I'd modify the way the doors are made a little. I don't think you need that thin plywood frame to be as wide as it is.
Barker Mediagram - For Construction.skp
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Cheers Dave. The dark mesh does look good. Unfortunately my home theatre PC is black. The white was a nice touch though. I was actually thinking about skate bearings for the rotation. When there was a crank, the bearings would have been bigger but without it, there is no problem.
I'm not at my PC tonight so won't get a chance to look at your tweaks in detail for a few hours. Thanks again for all your help so far.
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Sorry about the PC. I didn't catch the color change. I removed the materials from the components and groups and put them on the faces where they belong. I missed fixing that one, though.
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The reason for the axis orientations being wrong is because I foolishly built the whole thing facing another direction. I guess this effects material orientation? Thanks for changing the the front to be easier to construct. What materials are all those front pieces made up of?
With the edging, I'm a little confused. I was researching and noticed that the standard single layer edging was just 0.6mm thick. I see that you've added 6mm thick edging. This is where I've been getting my info from:
http://sharpplywood.com.au/Edging-for-Veneers-pg17537.html
http://sharpplywood.com.au/How-to-Specify-Timber-Veneers-pg11475.html
In my lunch break today I'll add the bearings and have a think about the rotation. I've been toying with the idea of magnets for locking things into specific locations rather than locating pins. The inner and outer front panels is a clever idea for achieving the 2 functions of spring return and fully opened. I'll post my changes and concept sketches in a few hours.
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I made most of the edging 6mm thick. that would be similar to the typical 1/4-in-thick edging that would be common here. It would be soild wood glued onto the edges of the plywood. It is more durable than that thin glue on edge banding and I think it looks much nicer. You can use a matching wood or a contrasting one. Some of the edging is thicker but in most cases it's all the same.
If you wrapped a steel band around the cams (the sides of the pivoting part) and put rare earth magnets in the hinged front panel so they contact the band, the panel would follow the cams as the top rotates and yet you could pull the panel open for access.
As to the axis thing, yes, mainly I corrected the axes to make applying materials with proper alignment at least more predictable.
I'll be interested to see what you come up with.
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Added some more edging. Re-worked the rotation with magnets for holding the front panel to the cam. Added skate bearings for the rotation (not sure that this is the best method, but I had to try something). Added locating magnets for the rotation open and closed.
I also did a little work on the doors but I'm not all that happy with it. I'm not sure what I want it to look like to be honest.
Barker Mediagram - For Construction V3.skp
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At least you can work it out in SU before committing to wood.
Do the side piece on the center section have to be shaped as you have them?
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With next to no woodworking experience, Sketchup allows me play around with concepts and design variations at no cost but time. I'm not sure how you all coped before 3D modelling.
The side pieces don't have to be exactly like I have them but I do want them to be rounded for a gentler contact with the front panel (the circle in my model is the path of the rounded side). I guess the sides could be made up of 2 pieces, one for the pivot and another for the cam. The thin board between the cams is to hide the projector a bit and has to have a clearance gap for cables to pass through. I have some more ideas for this that I will work on a bit over the weekend (it's late Friday night here). This has been a very interesting and enlightening week.
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Things have been a little hectic, so not a whole lot of progress. Here is an updated, yet still in progress 'for construction' model. I have altered a few things, removed the false bottom below the projector, added speakers (thanks to CaljuCotcas on 3D Warehouse for already drawing them) and some airflow management for the HTPC rear fans. I still need to think about airflow for the projector and more cabling holes.
I'm not all that happy with my method of supporting the front panel when it is in its closed position. All I have is two small triangular stops, but I am struggling to come up with a better method that isn't in the way of the projector rotation.
I will keep plodding along and continue to update as I go.
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