So, as many of you know, I have quite a few graphing calculators. Right now, they're all just sitting in a cardboard box, collecting dust. There's a few problems with that. For one, it makes it hard to find any particular calculator, since all the rest are usually on top of the one I want, and they all look really similar. More importantly, it prevents me from showing my collection off.
I've wanted to make some way of displaying my calculators for a while now, and I think that the best way of doing that is probably some sort of modular wall panel. It would be made up of a bunch of tiles that you could snap a calculator into and then snap together. I don't really have a whole lot of experience making physical things, though, so I figured I'd ask here for advice first.
Here's what I'd want it to be able to do:
I might also want to add some way to link with the calculators while they're mounted, but that sounds both complicated and expensive.
My current plan is to make some wooden panels with a multiple of a fixed size (e.g. a single unit might be large enough for a TI-Nspire, while a TI-92 could get a double-wide panel). Panels would have some sort of connector on the side to allow you to attach more panels modularly. I would then 3D print a plastic piece (with a different design for each model of calculator) that slots into the calculator's battery holder, with clips that you could snap the rest of the calculator into. You could then attach the plastic piece to the wooden panel somehow. I could also have a slot at the bottom of the panel that could hold a card with information like the calculator name, datecode, and serial number.
I figure that I could also have some panels with things that are not calculators but calculator-related, like a dispenser for AAA batteries, a screwdriver holder, or a decorative chart (maybe of a timeline of calculator history, a Z80 opcode table, or a reference for commonly used BCALLs).
There's still a few things I need to work out:
Like I said, I have very little experience with building physical stuff, so I expect that I'll be asking a lot more questions in this thread in the future. If you have any feedback, please let me know.
I've wanted to make some way of displaying my calculators for a while now, and I think that the best way of doing that is probably some sort of modular wall panel. It would be made up of a bunch of tiles that you could snap a calculator into and then snap together. I don't really have a whole lot of experience making physical things, though, so I figured I'd ask here for advice first.
Here's what I'd want it to be able to do:
- Stay attached to my wall. We don't want the entire thing falling off and crushing me in my sleep or something.
Hold calculators securely. Just as obvious; we don't want calculators falling down and breaking.
Be modular and expandable. The collection must grow; the display panel must as well.
Make it easy to remove calculators. You only have a limited time to get PCB pictures before womp breaks in and steals your kneecaps. You don't want to be wasting time fiddling around with a display panel when every second counts.
Provide power to the calculators. Storing calculators with batteries in them sounds like a great way to (A) spend a bajillion dollars on AAA batteries and (B) have something explode and deal corrosion damage to the calculator.
Allow you to use the calculators while they're plugged in. Occasionally you want to test something on different calculators or OS versions and you don't want to have to remove them from the wall and put batteries in them in order to do so. I figure that you could also run some graphical program on the calculators continuously for a neat effect.
Keep the various pieces of a calculator together. I don't want to lose faceplates or battery panels or get them mixed up between different calculators.
Look nice. It's not much of a display if you're ashamed to display it.
Be relatively cheap. I'm a broke college student; every dollar not spent on a display panel is another dollar I could spend on moar calculators instead.
I might also want to add some way to link with the calculators while they're mounted, but that sounds both complicated and expensive.
My current plan is to make some wooden panels with a multiple of a fixed size (e.g. a single unit might be large enough for a TI-Nspire, while a TI-92 could get a double-wide panel). Panels would have some sort of connector on the side to allow you to attach more panels modularly. I would then 3D print a plastic piece (with a different design for each model of calculator) that slots into the calculator's battery holder, with clips that you could snap the rest of the calculator into. You could then attach the plastic piece to the wooden panel somehow. I could also have a slot at the bottom of the panel that could hold a card with information like the calculator name, datecode, and serial number.
I figure that I could also have some panels with things that are not calculators but calculator-related, like a dispenser for AAA batteries, a screwdriver holder, or a decorative chart (maybe of a timeline of calculator history, a Z80 opcode table, or a reference for commonly used BCALLs).
There's still a few things I need to work out:
- How do I attach it to my wall? I'm living in a dorm room this year where I don't think I can screw stuff into the wall, so I'd need to find another way to attach it.
How should I store battery covers? Ideally, I wouldn't want them to be super visible. I suppose I could put them behind the calculator, but that would require the wood panels to be thicker and therefore heavier.
What software should I use for designing the plastic parts? I have very little experience with CAD. I'd prefer something that works on Linux, but it wouldn't be the end of the world to use my Windows dual-boot for it.
How should I handle the electrical connections? I'd prefer to be able to add or remove panels from the setup without having to reconnect wires, but that leaves the issue of making reliable connections between panels.
Are there 3D models of any calculators already? That would make it a lot easier to design parts that they can snap into without having to measure stuff myself.
Like I said, I have very little experience with building physical stuff, so I expect that I'll be asking a lot more questions in this thread in the future. If you have any feedback, please let me know.
