Stealthing a card reader - anyone tried it?

[Sankari]

I like your idea, and I have seen photos of something similar on other sites - though it sounds like you've taken the process further than most people.

But I don't trust my tool-handling skills, and I really want a "total stealth" look for my Li Li, with all drives completely covered by bezels. So, back to the drawing board for me.

At the moment, it seems that my best chance is to fabricate a flip-down drive bay cover from the supplied Lian Li bezels. But the devil is in the details!

 

[Sankari]

OK, I've had an idea.

The picture below shows the stealth bay door which covers the combined floppy/card reader of my SN21G5:

At the outside edge of the bay you can see a spring-loaded press-release catch, partly recessed so that the bay door remains flush when closed:

If I can find a place which sells that mechanism (or something like it) I should be able to fabricate a customised press-release stealth bezel for the card reader in my new Lian Li.

The process would be something like this:

• Install card reader to 5.25 bay (using 5.25-3.5 bay converter) and ensure that it is partly recessed
  
  
• Attach the "female" half of the spring-catch to outside edge of bay converter
  
  
• Attach "male" half of the spring-catch to inside panel of Lian Li stealth CDROM bezel
  
  
• Install Lian Li stealth CDROM bezel

With any luck, this should result in a push-button stealth bezel.




*Edit* A magnetic push-release catch would be even better!

 

[misterPK]

Ok, time to be an annoying picky illegitimate son.

Firstly, have you checked that the bezel has enough space when open to allow you access to the reader?
Secondly, a normal magnet doesnt get turned off when you push it, and the aluminium the bezel is made of won't stick to a magnet anyway.

Other than that sounds like a great idea...

PK!

 

[Sankari]

Ok, time to be an annoying picky illegitimate son.

Firstly, have you checked that the bezel has enough space when open to allow you access to the reader?

No, but I'm confident that it will. If it space enough space to operate a CDROM, it'll provide enough space for a card reader.

Secondly, a normal magnet doesnt get turned off when you push it

True. That's why I'd use a spring-loaded magnetic pressure latch:

Well, a low-profile one, anyway.

Alternatively, I could use an electromagnetic pressure latch and mount the button elsewhere on the case:

Or I could be really boring and just use a non-magnetic pressure latch:

and the aluminium the bezel is made of won't stick to a magnet anyway.

Of course not. But... glue for the win!

A magnetic touch-latch comes in two parts. I'd put one on the back of the bezel, and one on the bay itself.

Other than that sounds like a great idea...

PK!

Thanks. Now I just have to get the kit and try it out.