Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

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Chapter 2, How to Build an Aquarium Inside a Macintosh

Cut the edges from the piece of filter material you have left over. You will

be using these two pieces to replace the sides to the filter you cut for your

tank.

Take some of the acrylic solvent and attach the side edges to your filter. Use

masking tape to hold the pieces in place while gluing.

The finished plate should fit in the bottom of the tank with about half an

inch to spare on each side. See Figure 2-64.

7. Add accessories

The tank and case probably look pretty good at this point, but adding back

the programmer’s switch and the contrast (or brightness) knob will make

it look even better.

Add back the brightness knob

Put some glue (thickened acrylic cement works very well) on the shaft of the

knob and put it in the hole (see Figure 2-65).

After the glue sets, use the cut-off wheel to cut away most of the knob. The

extra plastic inside the case may interfere with the fit of the tank (see Figure

2-66).

Add back the programmer’s switch

The reset switch, or programmer’s switch, can be modified so that it can be

reattached to the outside of the case. Remove the plastic “finger” behind the

switch with the cut-off wheel (see Figure 2-67).

Glue the modified reset switch back to the outside of the case. When com-

plete, it should look like Figure 2-68.

Figure 2-64:

Check filter fit

Figure 2-65:

Replace brightness knob

Figure 2-66:

Cut ...