Nothing is ever quite like I imagine it. This whole drive upgrade on my machine is going way off in that direction too. Here’s my cardboard mock up in situ by the machine. I’m not completely sold on it so far myself.
I think this is going to take some mulling over, in order for it to sink in better for me. If truth be told I am far from thrilled as of yet. It may be back to the drawing board over here.
What are you thinking in terms of it not working for you yet? Location, size, layout, features, usability, ?
@marmil
I like the layout, and features. That I have complete control over. I am not so keen on how much room it takes up, or its location though. Originally I imagined I would put all of these controls right on the box that has the drives in it. But I had to put that box under the machine, so putting switches on that became inconvenient as far as using them goes. So I hit upon the idea of this remote control box.
It brings the switches out to where I can get to them. But now they just seem too front and center to me.
Looking at the picture some I am thinking I might be able to put the box behind the keyboard? I literally just made the mock up and plunked it down over there. So I hadn’t fooled around with it any.
Let me go give that a try now. Mmm, if I shave a bit off the top this might be OK? http://i.imgur.com/tG2Un7O.jpg I might have to block the monitor up a little higher than it is too?
What about the two buttons side by side? Maybe the panel could be more of a skinny horizontal shape and a bit less tall? I see what you’re talking about though.
Can you hang the monitor a bit higher up on the wall there?
@marmil
Not really because that’s not a wall. It is a metal garage door. I can put some blocks under the monitor stand to raise it up though.
I am scrapping this whole slanted box deal and just going for a tighter fitting rectangular box. I will then put that on a stand that slopes it at a convenient angle.
This is why I model, and prototype designs. So I don’t get in too deep with less than decent solutions.
I’ll be honest and thought I was seeing a robot head on its side wearing 3d glasses.
@Kyle_Kerr
I can see that. The masking tape won’t be in the final version, so that bit of pareidolia will hopefully diminish as a result. The LEDs are coming closer together in version two though, so that might heighten it again?
@marmil
The two push buttons control a relay that switches the power supply’s output to the rest of the electronics. Green is on, and red is off. I could replace them with a simple toggle switch. But I kind of like push buttons for that function.
Yes the two separate and distinct buttons make it (hopefully!) rather clear what they’re going to do.
