custom dvd drive faceplates

[Dizzious]

So my sunbeam uv-reactive acrylic case is in peices (smashed). I'm getting an antec p160 soon and i plan on modding the hell out of it. Before it comes in though I'd like to make some custom faceplates for my optical drives out of the acrylic from my old case, and I've got some questions-

-what's the best way to make precise cuts on small peices of acrylic? I need to cut out the slot for the drive tray to slide though, and also I'd like to put a peice of acrylic on the end of the tray as well.

-anyone have any suggestions on how to mount the new faceplates on the drives after I make them? I'm thinking I might just take the plastic tabs off of the original faceplates and glue them onto the acrylic ones or something.

[Qbical]

for that acrylic, u should get a high speed drill bit, it would be good if u had a dremmel tool that has those high RPMs and steady hand. a bur set of bits with file teeth should work good.
hope that helps

[Dizzious]

hmm. sounds good. i'll have to remember to pick up some new dremel bits next time i'm in town.
well i was antsy to start tonight so i ended up just using a coping saw. it's working well enough.

i'll post some pics when i finish.

[Dizzious]

Alrighty. Got 'em finished; they're nowhere near perfect but they're damn pretty IMHO.

Probably gonna mount them tomorrow.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/djduece/DSC00868.jpg">

yeah crappy pic. i'm sure i'll end up posting a good one eventually.

[Qbical]

looks pretty good man. as long as u like it, who gives a f^(&!!
i had a great case mod till i got antsy and did a little too much pre cutting so im tryin to figure that out still

[Dizzious]

i think i'm gonna replace the activity leds in the drives with UV ones instead of just slapping a few uvs inside the drives. yeahh; yeah that'll be a lot cooler.

[yahooadam]

that would be pretty awesome IMO :D :D

[Dizzious]

Ok, so i got a pack of 100 3mm 2000mcd ultraviolet leds off ebay and they came in today. they were pretty cheap and when ran at the correct (3.5) voltage, they're plenty bright.

problem though. i've now got my cdrws ripped apart down in my basement; and the activity led on them is only putting out about 2 volts. i'm assuming it's around 2 volts because it'll light up a 2.1 volt red led i have to seamingly normal brightness; but the 3.5volt uv leds glow only enough where you can just barely see them with the lights out.

so should i use an opamp or a small signal transistor to up the power?
my leds draw 20ma each and i want to have 2 of them, one on each side. hooked up to the same circuit of course. the idea being that the entire front plate of the drive flashes when it's active.

i painted red flourescent paint around the edges of the faceplates too. now they're blue with a glowing red outline when they flash. hopefully i can get the leds hooked up so they work right...

[yahooadam]

transitor might be easier

either would work though, i think

they could both supply the voltage, and both need an oppropriate voltage rail to get the appropriate output