Update Pics

As i mentioned in my previous post, i have already done some work on the Keg to install the Power Switch and the Power/HDD LED, some pics below of what i have done:




This show the Keg, like i said before, i want to keep the Keg looking as original as possible, no switches or LED sticking out of the top or side, as hidden and discreet as possible.


















Here you can see the power switch, some careful removal of the old bits that were there and then some more careful milling and grinding away to make the switch fit. Once the spout is in place the round part can be flicked back over and once pushed will press the spout down and activate the switch. Again making it look like nothing has been changed from the original way it was meant to work.


The Cables going into the spout are for the Power/HDD LED. Again some careful but ruthless milling to creat the hole for the cables. The LED is a Tri-Colour but only 2 will be used.




Here you can see the LED itself, some careful reshaping of the LED so it would fit into the spout and a spot of superglue to hold it in place













Quite simply, working LED.

This is all i have been able to do at the moment, hopefully i will be able to get some aluminium so i can do the internal metalwork frame.

Debrief

So a little while ago i managed to get hold of a Heineken Keg:




So i thought, "What can i do with this?", i was going through a stage of wanting to do another PC Case Mod. After looking at the Keg from a design point of view, i thought, yes its possible.

I would need a Pico ITX motherboard and relevant PSU and RAM, 2.5" HD. I have managed to find the parts, listed below, so all i need to do is save the money to buy them. There are online shops who sell system builder kits that have the MB and power already installed in a case, so i just need to rip it all out and put inside the Keg.




The motherboard i need to use is know as PICO in terms of size, this means it is 10cm x 7.2cm.
















I am actually thinking about buying a system builder kit, although it already comes in a case i can take everything out and install it into the Keg:

Http://www.techbuy.com.au/product.asp?prodid=14307&catid=SYSTEMS&parentid=SYSTEMS_THIN_CLIENT

Purchasing a system builder kit will ensure i get the correct power for the motherboard.

I have already started work on the Keg itself, I've cut the bottom out and installed the power switch and LED's. I decided from the beginning that i would try to keep the Keg intact as much as possible, so the power switch is integrated into the button that would have originally released the beer from the Keg. The Power and HD LED's have been installed into the end of the spout, thus keep the integrity of the Keg's shell intact.

My reason for wanting the keep the Keg's shell as intact as possible is so that when you look at the Keg it just looks like it still has beer in it, until you turn it on.

Hopefully i will be able to work it so that the back plate of the motherboard is the only thing i will have to cut into the Keg's shell for, i think that once the motherboard is inside the Keg there wont be much room left to make and install my own cable extensions, but I'll investigate it anyway. My plan is to try and get another Keg so that i can use one as a prototype and then use the second as a final version. Hopefully i will be able to learn form the first and perfect things.

Anyway, that's enough jabbering for now, pics to follow of what i have done so far.