Hey all! Just wanted to say Hi! I have been studying up on DYI PJ's and I've studied alot of your projects. Real neat stuff and so I bit the bullet and ordered up all the parts I need to build one of my own. While I wait for the parts I decided to build a virtual PJ in 3d to get in front of any pitfalls that lie in wait. I made the 3d version and then last night I started building my box which half way into I discovered would be radically redesigned and I will try and post some renders of the new style. I would appreciate any comments on my design especially the flow of air represented by the green arrows. Thanks!!

I added some designs of what the actual PJ is going to look like. Still debating on the lower PC portion of it though.

edit: added more images.

spoiled with sweet 3D tools! :angry: I have to draw everything on paint.

Those are fantastic! What are you drawing them on?

Thanks Mikau! I used 3D studio max for the renders and AutoCAD for the design.

anyone know if 3D studio max can recognise Catia v4 & v5 models?
I haven't used Autodesk Mechanical Desktop since college.

Yes MDF can be used in light engine as you show, but I would cover it with flashing, to distribute the heat from it.

skate bearings would work for the keystone and would make it smoother action.

Joe - Thanks for the info dude, good to know and it will make it cheaper in terms of materials and labor.

fore - I don't know if it will for sure. What is the file extension of a Catia file? Or see if you can export to a 3ds file then import that into 3D studio. 3D Studio will also import .dwg files directly.

Why the red? I don't understand why some brightly colored box which stands out like a sore thumb is better than the sleek wood finish that you would have if you don't paint it....Everyone paints their boxes this crazy colors and I can't see how anyone's wife would take that over the wood.....

But anyway, nice design, and good luck.

Thanks Frost, the red is just to spice it up in the pics. I do believe the real one will be similar to the natural wood in the pictures. I am using my X-wifes old entertainment center to built it so its decent wood. muhahaha!

oh god, that's great... reminds me of a ford explorer that i just missed out on a few years back. some lady got it in a divorce settlement (it was her husband's pride and joy) and sold it for $1500 out of spite (he was caught cheating on her in part due to his $1500 cell phone bill). it was only a year old, at that. it was worse becaues i had to listen to her explain all of this over the phone even after she said it was sold. i figured she needed someone to vent to, so i listened. =)

new images added

Experience for most people has proven the most compact you can make it, the more desireable. That looks like it will be a tank!

Yeah I know Agent but the thing of it is - is that it is far too big to be considered small even with the original design so why not make it look like part of the furiture...at least from a size perspective. O - I also have a TON of space in my apartment so big isn't so bad for me. Makes me think I need some kind of wheels on it though.

Where you may find the problem ti lie with the size is that it's almot certainly going to be between you and the screen, and it gets in the way.

For me the size itself isn't so much a problem, either. Mine is also huge. It's the fact that I don't have much in the way of option for where to put it. I end up sitting beside it, which is honestly too close to the screen.