I now actually have Pin-Dog mostly done, so figured I would start a build thread for those instant gratification users like myself that can't wait while a project is being worked on.
Initial concept was a very slim budget build with a used computer from work and monitors from craigslist. Well feature creep set in and I added to the build smart power strip, nudging, 3rd monitor, SSD and the work computer wasn't available so built a new one. Still ended up at around $600 total.
Specs:
Computer:
Corsair modular 430w power supply
4GB Crucial memory I had on hand
Radeon R7250E video card to drive all three monitors.
Monitors:
Playfield LG 21.5" for $50 off Craigslist
Backglass, Dell 17" I had on hand
DMD 7" 800x480 from Adafruit $70
Others:
I-Pac VE
buttons from GGG
old Boston Acoustics computer speakers with sub
case fan
Belkin smart power strip
misc cables connectors etc
Cabinet materials were all wood, metal, and plexi scraps I had on hand except for the aluminum side rails.
The design:
The design had to be changed a little from this as I built it, but this is the main dimensions and design.
The design was done in sketchup around the dimensions of the monitors I had, and one of the changes came a little into the process when i decided to decase the back glass monitor after switching monitors for one that had a DVI input, which was prompted by adding the little HDMI monitor for the DMD.
As I am fairly comfortable with wood working I started there, but I'm not so good with pictures so a lot of steps will be missed.
First test fitting of the buttons in the base cabinet held together by the one clamp. Note, the nice plywood it is sitting on is actually for some cabinets I'm building for our laundry room, Pin-Dog is made from mostly 3/4" ACX that I had leftover from other projects.
And the first trial fit of the LG monitor. This monitor had really small bezels and was 1/2" to 5/8" thick so I did not decase, but put a dado 3/8" into the sides to slide it into from the back.
So, just a little history on the name of my cabinet, Pin-Dog.
My username here, and pretty much everywhere else is BorgDog. I originally took that name in the 90's as a mashup of "the Borg" of Star Trek TNG fame and Dogbert of Dilbert fame. Since then most of my computers have been named with a dog theme. My current Thinkpad Yoga is named DownDog, my home theater PC is named RinTinTin, so not having much imagination I could only come up with Dog-Ball or Pin-Dog for the name, and Pin-Dog won out.
I'm playing around in Photoshop to make my own dmd animation for the cab as well. I'm not very good with photoshop but here is what I've come up with so far.