Out of curiosity How are you guys affixing the acrylics to the case?
I have a couple of pairs so I'm looking for a semi permanent solution. (Going to try sanding a pair to get that diffused look)
Well, you are in luck since I decided to make a simple guide using my Orion.
Ingredients: - Chef's hat
- A flat surface
- A thin clear double sided tape (I used
Scotch 3M photo & document tape)
- 400
(or lower) Grit sandpaper (I prefer the waterproof version for less dust and a smoother finish. The coarser the grit, or the lower the grit number, the more diffused the look.)
- Painters tape (to hold everything in place
- Water & paper towel (for cleaning in between sanding and/or to put on the sandpaper)
#1Attach everything to the surface you will be working on.
The piece in the middle is the sandpaper.
#2Prepare your acrylic pieces
Clean them first and remove the protective tape on the sides.
#3Start sanding
Sand using a light pressure and preferably using a circular motion. You will notice that the larger area will take the most time because it takes a while to completely flatten it.
If you are using a lower/rougher grit (let's say all you can get is grit 100) end by making a side by side movement to align the scratches in the material. You won't notice them when they are mounted but we want some quality on these high end keyboards don't we?
Keep going
Sides as well
Things are getting messy with the water but it actually aids in achieving a smooth finish
#4Clean up.Just make sure you wash your sanded pieces under some running water to get rid of all the dust you will have created. Maybe use a bit of dish soap to get rid of any grease so it attaches properly
#5Stick it in
Clean the underside and remove those greasy fingerprints
Cut the double sided tape to size and stick it on (This is actually the most annoying part)
Remove the protective sheet
Stick on the acrylic pieces. Angle them outwards to line them up then fold inwards
Voilá
End results
No inserts
Like an alien spacecraft, all you can see is the two lights
Clear inserts
Not bad. The edges of the acrylic have a nice glow but except for that they might as well not be here
Frosted inserts
There we go! As you can see it really helps in the diffusion of light
Other thoughtsA creative person might be able to customize this further by leaving one side clear and
etching their name or logo on the other side of the inserts. Just sand the top and sides as you would in any other case. This could probably give some pretty cool effects.
Oh, and want to know what kind of complicated setup I used for making these pictures?
More
All you need is some good light, a camera that has the possibility to manually focus and a small table tripod. I am using a
Trektech T'Pod because I once bought it for cheap and it is sturdy and stable enough to easily adjust or disassemble for a completely different angle. Some creative angling with a $3 tripod from e-Bay can work as well.
Most of these pictures were taken at exposure times of 1.6 to 5 seconds so a tripod is necessary. Just put it on 2-second self-timer mode and click away.
