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Black Box Case Mod Scoffs at Server Crashes
Posted by Mark Wilson at 11:45 PM on June 12, 2008
While most of us wonder why planes aren't built of the crash-proof "black box" flight recorder material, one modder has requisitioned a black box of his own to use as a PC case. While the package itself is quite large (and disappointingly red), the interior is so cramped that only a Mini-ITX motherboard could fit inside, running Slackware Linux on a 800MHz Via C3. But have you ever seen the inside of a black box before?
That padding? It's not fluffy down. From the modder:
To clear out the storage half, I used a large auger bit and a drill. I also occasionally soaked the asbestos to help keep it from finding its way into my lungs. I started to question whether this mod was worth lung cancer, then decided it was.
(Ed note: we'd make a joke about death here, but were the modder to actually die of lung cancer, we'd feel like douches for the rest of our lives. So pardon our restraint.) [brettsprojects via technabob]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
strider_mt2k
Posted 12:22 AM 13/6/08
That is very cool.
Yeah don't make yourself sick modding stuff.
That sucks.
strider_mt2k
Munch
Posted 12:04 AM 13/6/08
You can make a death joke - the rocket scientist did mention the possibility of lung cancer himself. Idiot!
Munch
AJ_Syrinx
Posted 11:56 PM 12/6/08
Nice.
AJ_Syrinx
Jesus_Jones
Posted 11:54 PM 12/6/08
Airplane blonde, blonde hair....RED box!!
Jesus_Jones
Behaving_Well
Posted 1:01 AM 13/6/08
Even if it was asbestos it would take prolonged exposure and not just one day of breathing it to get sick. We're talking ship builders covered in asbestos soot or that type of thing.
Behaving_Well
DisposableInterloper
Posted 1:00 AM 13/6/08
Oh pish-posh. Asbestos isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, if the crystalline structure is just right, and the airborne particles inhaled are just the right size, it's potentially carcinogenic, but that's not all too common. If he gets cancer, I'll wager it's because of soot and smoke, not asbestos.
DisposableInterloper
jeepingeek
Posted 12:48 AM 13/6/08
that insulation is there just as much for impact resistance as it is for heat dissipation. Having worked on them a number of times I can honestly say I've never heard it is asbestos inside, but then again it wouldn't surpise me. It is pretty awsome that he got one intact, especially with the UAB attached (thats the little round thing on the front, it emitts high frequency pings when it gets wet.)
Oh and I've never seen a black box that was actually black, in the military ours are orange, and i'm pretty sure made of plastic not metal.
jeepingeek
MagnoliaBoy
Posted 12:40 AM 13/6/08
Nope, can't say as I've ever seen the inside of a Black Box until now. Kind of anti-climatic for some reason. I'm guessing the fireproofing is really dense, to bad, there's still lots of room in there without it.
MagnoliaBoy
Barry99705
Posted 12:37 AM 13/6/08
Pretty sure that's not asbestos.
Barry99705
SigmundTheSeaMonster
Posted 12:36 AM 13/6/08
@Jesus_Jones: Blonde computing is an oxymoron!
SigmundTheSeaMonster
Step666
Posted 1:10 AM 13/6/08
@jeepingeek: 'that insulation is there just as much for impact resistance...'
I thought that's what the rest of the plane was for, like one giant crumple zone...
Step666
StarChaser Tyger
Posted 1:56 AM 13/6/08
The reason planes aren't made out of the same stuff that the box is is that the highways aren't wide enough.
StarChaser Tyger
HumanBomb
Posted 1:55 AM 13/6/08
@SigmundTheSeaMonster: I dON't think that's quite what he means. 0.o Though I'm not quite sure if he's talking about the carpets not matching the drapes, or just the color of her "linux based file server".
HumanBomb
borgseawolf
Posted 2:25 AM 13/6/08
If they'd put you inside a black box-material plane and drop from 10 km, I bet it'd still hurt...
borgseawolf
Worf
Posted 3:24 AM 13/6/08
Mini ITX?
Just use Pico ITX... there'll be plenty of space, and you can stick the power supply in there!
(There's a Via kit called the Artigo that has a Pico-ITX board and the case, which will fit inside a regular 5 1/4" drive bay halfway.
Worf
Ryanraven
Posted 3:04 AM 13/6/08
I wouldn't have bothered with modding, i'd just shove a mac mini in that little cavern there! no need t remove the padding yea?
Ryanraven
DeadWriter
Posted 3:02 AM 13/6/08
The crash dampening and fireproofing insulation in a black box works by absorbing heat through a state change. Basically, the primary insulation is wax.
Very cool. It would go well with an ejection seat and a wing desk.
DeadWriter
Evan394
Posted 4:31 AM 13/6/08
But have you ever seen the inside of a black box...
on weeeeeeeed?
Evan394
Toshie
Posted 4:27 AM 13/6/08
@DisposableInterloper: Damn straight! Back in the old days asbestos was actually good for you. In fact, my dear old mother used to sprinkle it on our cereal for some extra crunch.
Toshie
Barry99705
Posted 4:22 AM 13/6/08
@jeepingeek: Last one I messed with was metal.
Barry99705
JaymzThePooh
Posted 5:52 AM 13/6/08
@Evan394:
Now go get me some of that stuff we used to get back in the day!
JaymzThePooh
DisposableInterloper
Posted 7:22 AM 13/6/08
@Toshie:
No need for sarcasm. I never said it was good for you. Just that it's not especially dangerous. Asbestosis is a real disease, as is the associated increased risk for mesothelioma and lung cancer - it's just that the media has blown it out of proportion. Other common materials can also have dangerous effects, like fiberglass or ceramic glaze mixes, but you don't hear much about them.
DisposableInterloper
Chuang543
Posted 4:56 AM 13/6/08
That's it?? That's all?! All for a taperecording?!
Chuang543
smartboydan
Posted 12:16 AM 13/6/08
I don't know why they don't make the planes out of the black box material.
I'd love to fly in a plane made of asbestos.
Also, it's red so that it can be more easily found after a crash, but I'm sure you already knew that.
smartboydan
gadgetplay
Posted 12:18 PM 13/6/08
@jeepingeek: "Oh and I've never seen a black box that was actually black"
Much as "green cards" aren't green.
@Behaving_Well:"Even if it was asbestos it would take prolonged exposure and not just one day of breathing it to get sick."
Trial lawyers have caused far more damage than asbestos.
gadgetplay
Toshie
Posted 2:18 PM 13/6/08
@DisposableInterloper: I really wasn't trying to be sarcastic, just funny. Obviously that worked out really great. (see, that last bit was sarcasm)
Toshie