Workshop computer filter - rude, crude and effective

[Harley]

Concerned about dust getting into my workshop laptop while building cabs, I decided to build a housing that would house my laptop, use a small fan to provide cooling air under positive pressure within the case, and filter the cooling air as well to provide a dust free environment.

I set myself the task with these parameters,

1) Apart from fan and transformer - all out of scrap
2) Build within 4 hours

Luckily I work in air filtration and our company also makes expanded metal.


Here's the w/s laptop set inside its case. The EBM Papst centrifugal fan is mounted on the lid inside the filter surround taking air from the cavity underneath the filter media support ( via the metex ). The cable slots are not covered up - they allow the pressurised air to escape outwards, preventing dust getting in.



Here's the fan whirring away



I close the lid after computer start-up and place the screen over the filter inlet, sitting on two ply rails. The filter media is the type they use in automotive spray boths ( grade M5 or MERV 14 ) that prevent any dust vibrating down through the media. There is metex on the top of the media and underneath ( which you cannot see ) leaving about a 38mm cavity underneath. The lid has a 32mm hole for the fan inlet


Wosrkshop shot.

[LelandCrooks]

Nice.

Where's the 5 harley award hanging on the wall?

[Scott Brochu]

Nice.

Where's the 5 harley award hanging on the wall?

STOP! right there. What about those boxes and trash under the bench, in the corner.





Really, nice set up and computer housing.

[Harley]

STOP! right there. What about those boxes and trash under the bench, in the corner. .

That's not trash - it's my cleaning rag pile!

[AntonZ]

That's not trash - it's my cleaning rag pile!

Saved that for reference. Might come in handy for future debates on awards and such

[Chris Betancourt]

Used to us my old laptop so now I'm using a used ipad that I got dirt cheap and stick it in a large zip lock bag.

[Harley]

...Might come in handy for future debates on awards and such

I would not qualify for that award until I cleaned that mess up

Meanwhile:

[sine143]

my old roommate did something similar with that exact style lenovo about 5 years ago.. cept his was inside a pizza box, haha.

[miked]

Great idea and execution! Question: What is "Metex?" I have an old laptop in the garage as well. Except on mine, the left hinge is completely broken away from the screen/lid. You can't close the laptop and the screen is a little crooked, but it still works. I keep it open, with just a towel thrown over it when it's not in use, which it usually isn't. I use it from streaming mp3s from my media server, and for looking up "How the heck do I do THIS?" on the internet whilst building things.

[sine143]

ever consider buying a cheap lcd screen and disconnecting the existing laptop screen altogether?

[AntonZ]

Meanwhile:

Don't get me going Harley. You are aware that these tricks work the other way around just as well, aren't you? Just hitting an image search with "trash" and "sawdust". Have you ever given thought to the concept of a "-5 Harley award"?

[miked]

ever consider buying a cheap lcd screen and disconnecting the existing laptop screen altogether?

Yup. And I already have a wall mount for the 19" LCD sitting in my closet. The reason I'm not going that is b/c if I go with a separate screen and the laptop is closed, I also have to go w/a separate mouse and keyboard. Two more things to get dusty and damaged and that I don't have room for anyway. Harley's got the right idea by putting the KB in a bag. I don't have room for it. Laptop it is for now.

[Harley]

Question: What is "Metex?" :

Expanded metal - METEX is our company's brand name

http://www.windsor.co.nz/mesh.shtml?expanddiv=metex

[biggerrigger]

What's up with the gigantic calculator?

[Scott Brochu]

What's up with the gigantic calculator?

These habits are typical of bass players.