Hello ! I am currently rounding up information on the NextCube ! I would like to build a computer case for a PC. It would be fun to make it look like a NextCube but I cannot seem to find exact exterior case details. I think this is the correct forum to use - your hardware modding forum seems to focus exclusively on modding a NextCube to work more like a modern PC, not the other way round !
What I have gathered so far (please correct me if I am wrong) :
1) The exterior dimensions are 305mm cubed
2) There is one large exhaust fan in the back and center of the case
3) The back of the case is hinged like a door and opens easily
4) There are no status lights of any kind on the actual Cubes
5) There is no floppy disk drive either
6) The case was made out of magnesium, which was filled, primed, and painted
I am trying to find out more information about the interior of the case. Also, I could not help but notice the cool semi-translucent Cube on the front page of the website - are there CAD/CAM drawings of the Cube that I can use ? That would be so cool.... exactly what I would need, since Cubes are so hard to come by, and I do not have one nearby for reference.
Currently, the plan is to have a PC look like a NextCube - I am aware of NextStep/OpenStep for Intel, however, and am reviewing forum posts on that subject as well.... I may start a new/sepearate thread in regards to that.
In summary, I am currently looking for :
1) CAD/CAM drawings of the Cube, if available
2) High resolution photos of each side of the Cube, if available
3) Dimensions and characteristics of certain exterior trim (fan grille, the front grille, the side grilles - are they also magnesium or plastic ?)
4) Fonts used on the exterior case markings (I may have to compromise here)
5) Any other information about the physical Cube itself that would be useful to know about, in the case of an attempt at making a replica.
Naturally, I will more than likely work with acrylic or aluminum instead of magnesium ! The plan is to make the case look very much like a Cube, and to perhaps make a matching keyboard and mouse mod as well. The Frog monitor stand.... well, that would be cool, but I do use a KVM switch. I think Next monitors with the Frog are actually more common than the Cubes !
Basically, I am trying to get as close as feasible to the look of a Cube. Any help or advice you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !
For the "other way around" to work, you'd have to run a REAL O.S. :)
Ok, just poking fun, you're probably running OpenStep or NeXTSTEP Intel, Linux or BeOS already or simply have a Mac with OS X on it :)
Some comments on the gathered info:
1) I'd measure it for you, but it's kinda hard at the moment
2) Yes, I'd say upper half of the back, and centered horizontally
3) The back is not hinged, not on my 040 Cube anyways, but is held in place by 4 screws, one at each corner
4) Correct
5) Not by default, but it might be possible to have one. I think someone else that knows better will have to clarify. It's usually common to have an Optical Drive on an 040 non-turbo Cube
6) Made of megnesium yes, not sure what you mean by "filled".
Look here for logos:
http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Images/NeXT_logos/More sites with info:
1)
http://www.channelu.com/NeXT/index.html and more specifically:
http://www.channelu.com/NeXT/Black/index.html2)
http://rixstep.com/2/0/
There are patent drawings of the Cube in this document from NeXTComputers.org:
http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Patents/US_Patent_D310,661.pdf.
Wow - thanks for the info guys ! I check out all the links provided, and the patent drawing, in particular, was very helpful. I take it that there is not a commonly available drawing/publication that would have exact measurements, but between the resources provided, and the Cube rendering on the homepage of this site, I think I can get very close.
The challenges appear to be recreating the grille work, as well as the wraparound ridges in the centre of the Cube - those appear to go around all four sides in the middle. I should probably use acrylic for the external shell of the case, as the metalwork required for aluminum would be $$$ for this design.
Also, I learned that Frog is the name of the Swiss design firm that designed the NeXT line of computers and peripherals. Alas, no info on their site....
Quick question : the translucent Cube on the homepage seems to suggest that the wraparound ridges in the middle stick out slightly - that is to say, they are not flush with the rest of the case. Is that true ?
Quote from: "damakun"Also, I learned that Frog is the name of the Swiss design firm that designed the NeXT line of computers and peripherals. Alas, no info on their site....
Actually it's Germany-based frogdesign (Hartmut Esslinger's company) which also designed many 80's-era Apple products (e.g., Apple //c, Mac SE and many more) and the late 80's/early 90's SPARC systems for Sun.
For quite some time, they featured a selection of their designs on their web site. Their SF office even had two cubes on exhibit in the lobby when I visited them (in 2001, I think)...
We have a 3D solid model of a NeXTcube but it's not complete. The front faceplate isn't complete (no cutouts for the optical drive or floppy drive). Also, the cube rear panel hasn't been modeled yet. The translucent logo was made from the 3D model. We don't have any detailed dimensional drawings, but I managed to take some screenshots of the model from different angles.
http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Images/NeXTcube_3D/The main NeXTcube shell is made up of three pieces and is held together with small diameter steel rods. Here's a picture of a cube shell disassembled:
http://www.planetcasemod.com/NeXT/decubed.JPGThere are additional cube photos on the Planetcasemod site but the photos were taken during a case mod project so some of the parts are modified.
http://www.planetcasemod.com/NeXT/
Wow - to look at the decubed.jpg, is a bit surreal... who would have thought the case was a magnesium kabob ? lol....
Thanks so much for all the info guys ! This really helps out a great deal. It will be quite an interesting challenge, but I will be sure to keep you guys posted as it progresses along. I am still in the research and tooling-up phase, but should get going within the next month or so - will use a cardboard mockup first to make sure I get the details right.
Oh ! Is Blackhole still in business ? I wondered if certain of the software (Nebula) was still available ? And if Openstep 4.2 contains the 3.3 dev tools ? Kinda confused by the web site....
Thanks again for everything !
I think they are "in business", but they're kinda weird. Either the guy can't spell to save his life, or something else is going on... plus looking at all the negative comments on their eBay profile always made me not want to consider their business. YMMV. Amule?
Anyways, once you make this case, perhaps you can consider taking orders for some more? :)
Is the NeXT Cube mesh file that comes in SolidThinking extras or data set accurate enough/of any use ?
Tenzin
Quote from: "damakun"if Openstep 4.2 contains the 3.3 dev tools ?
I would be surprised if it did, NeXTStep 3.3 developer tools would be more or less useless in Openstep 4.2 I think in the same way Rhapsody developer tools are pretty useless in Mac OS X 10.2 :)
Tenzin
Quotehttp://www.planetcasemod.com/NeXT/
**shudders** intel.....
I thought there would be more to the cube. The walls are far thinner than I ever thought.
