Macintosh 12" RGB CRT to LCD conversion

[zackl]

I am 90% sure that this is a dangerous sign of my budding senility, so reader beware.

But I'm wondering how I could go about fitting an LCD panel into an 12" Apple RGB monitor (The LC's monitor "mate").

Like literally pull the CRT and guts out of a 12" RGB and stick in a comparable LCD that will run @ 640x480px (bonus points for an LCD that runs @ original res too of 512x384).

First of all why?

- Because I have a 12" RGB that would be a nice donor case.

- Because it's a weird engineering challenge.

- Because I am building a "Monster LC" and this fits the theme

Second of all, how?

Please join me in speculating how this might be accomplished

- The first challenge would be removing the current CRT guts which I've got enough experience to do without electrocuting myself.

- Then, say I've got my empty case. Now what LCD is going to work in there and be a relatively good fit?

I've found some cursory examples of 12" LCD panels (the original RGB has a viewable of 11.5"), though most seem attached to a touch screen component eg

http://www.chinavasion.com/china/wholesale/Home_Audio_Video/LCD_Monitors_TV/12_Inch_Touch_Screen_LCD

Not sure if these would work without the drivers for the touch-screen, although I would imagine that they would - or is there something that's a better fit?

- Then, finally, I'm going to need to figure out how to modify the front end of the 12" RGB (which has that nice, slight curvature) into the flat-fit of the LCD's front end, so it looks like a completed piece.

I was thinking here about seeing about mocking up something that could be 3D printed, then glued / sanded / painted in. But since I know nothing about 3d printing that may prove problematic

So - open for discussion - please help!

PS - Before you ask, yes, I also have a working 12" RGB and it's a beautiful monitor. Superior in every way to any LCD I'm going to be able to cram in there! Rational functionality is not the point here.

 

[snuci]

I was actually looking into this to replace an Apple Lisa screen at one point. You will find that there is a market for LCD CRT replacements with older expensive CNC equipment. Replacements are equally expensive. This Google search for "lcd crt replacement" shows you some examples (which you probably already found). If I recall, these were in the $600-$1200 range.

It was too expensive to do so I ended up finding a replacement CRT for $15 and replaced it. Maybe with a 12" color you can rig something up. 12' B/W screen was a whole other matter.

 

[MinerAl]

The main issue these days isn't finding 12 (or whatever) inch LCD monitors, but finding the correct 4:3 aspect ratio LCD monitors. 12" is right in the range of POS/cash register size screens that are coming out of service, so those might be some good keywords for your search.

As for taking the curve out of the bezel, you can probably accomplish a lot before you even have a screen. Flat is flat after all. Find or make a board the right size and fill in the spaces with putty/Bondo/epoxy and get to sanding. Then you will already be ready to mount your monitor when it arrives.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I'm doing a similar hack, the RGB's goodies are going behind my little bit of Lisa and a spare 1400c/G3 is going into the RGB's plastics. The LCD is pretty much spot-on for size and I'll be vacuum forming a clear Plexi bubble for the front over the existing CRT face instead of messing around with flattening the opening. Gotta build a real vacuum forming machine this time, I did some down and dirty 9" LCD Bubbles with mixed, but very encouraging results with a jury rigged setup a while back.

For another great approach: I don't remember the thread, but someone did an absolutely beautiful job of creating a black plastic surround for an LCD behind a Compact Mac's curved bezel opening. Maybe someone remembers the thread, dunno if it was in Compact Macs of Hacks, but it is really worth searching out!

 

[zackl]

Great info - thanks everybody who contributed and I love hearing that others are thinking along the same lines - if anybody can dig up that compact mac thread i'd love to learn more -

EDIT - I found several images of people working on compacts and getting LCDs in there and that is pretty !@%! cool!

http://www.cubeowner.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=9962

http://www.cubeowner.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1277/cat/500/ppuser/4773

http://www.cubeowner.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1276/cat/500/ppuser/4773

And another one

http://www.instructables.com/id/Upgrade-your-original-1984-Macintosh-to-run-OS-X-S/

And double wow - company that sells a LCD assembly kit for the SE's

http://www.nextro.com/nextro/english/i30.html

 

[zackl]

Ok, step one achieved - have the 12" Case and got the monitor guts out without electrocuting myself.

[attachment=0]Untitled.png[/attachment]

There is a roughly 11.5" diagonal on this screen in open space.

I think an 11" panel should do the trick to allow for some edging.

So who's got a line on a VGA compatible / 640x480 achievable LCD panel ?

 

[uniserver]

that is kinda sorta like something i did.

[attachment=0]PANA1277.JPG[/attachment]

[attachment=1]DSCF0248.JPG[/attachment]

[attachment=2]DSCF0228.JPG[/attachment]

[attachment=3]DSCF0227.JPG[/attachment]

[attachment=4]DSCF0205.JPG[/attachment]

 

[zackl]

So this is a candidate, but it's 16:9 instead of the needed 4:3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HDMI-DVI-VGA-lcd-Controller-board-11inch-1366-768-HSD110PHW1-Lcd-Panel-/170945522414

And here's a 4:3 with VGA that could work and is set @ 640x480

http://www.amazon.com/PLVW10IW-10-4-Inch-In-Wall-Mount-Monitor/dp/B00118EM1S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389310807&sr=8-1&keywords=lcd+tv+10+inch

Any tips on guestimating compatibility with standard LC video out + VGA converter?

 

[uniserver]

http://www.amazon.com/Shark-shk1040-Desktop-Monitor-Screen/dp/B000YA95RK/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1389312327&sr=8-14&keywords=pos+small+lcd ?

 

[uniserver]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5942-2100-9090-NCR-TFT-LCD-Monitor-Cm222-Iso-14000-Certified-/291041310445?pt=Computer_Monitors&hash=item43c369f6ed

 

[uniserver]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-Space-Saver-LCD-14-w-Bracket-Panasonic-Par-Micros-IBM-NCR-Radiant-CRS-POS-/200946890228?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec95e35f4

 

[zackl]

Nice finds uni! Thanks for looking w/me. Sitting here with an empty monitor case ready to pull hte trigger.

 

[mcdermd]

I thought you may ditch the rear bucket and build the LCD entirely into the front bezel.

One of these days I'll hack my dream Monolithic Compact Mac hack. One that looks "normal" from the front but is only an inch or two deep.

 

[zackl]

I thought you may ditch the rear bucket and build the LCD entirely into the front bezel.
One of these days I'll hack my dream Monolithic Compact Mac hack. One that looks "normal" from the front but is only an inch or two deep.

I'd love to see that come together

I've settled on this one for now:

http://www.amazon.com/PLVW10IW-10-4-Inch-In-Wall-Mount-Monitor/dp/B00118EM1S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389310807&sr=8-1&keywords=lcd+tv+10+inch

Because it's the right size, <$100 used on Amazon Prime w/free returns so I can test it to my heart's content.

They are labeling it 4:3 but it clearly is 16:9, so will be interesting to see the resolution.

If that fails or looks odd I am going to go with a China special that's already broken down and I think I could build a nice custom fit case against to plug right into the empty shell:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VGA-Lcd-controller-board-10-4inch-AA104VH01-640-480-LED-backlight-Lcd-Panel-/360804648815?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5401a2076f

Or potentially this guy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-4-inch-TFT-LCD-4-3-Screen-VGA-AV-Input-Monitor-with-Analog-TV-Remote-Control-/121115434640?pt=US_Car_Monitors_w_o_Player&hash=item1c330ade90

For my own notes (and anybody that stumbles on here)

Dimensions 11.41''W x 7.48''H x 0.98''D

The front facing of the monitor has a 11.5 cross section

The screen opening from the front measures 9.5 width x 7.5 height i

Internally the chassis cavity (once plastics are drilled out) is ~11.5w x 9.25h without getting into the steep curve slope

 

[MinerAl]

Take an inch out of the sides and back of the monitor case ( chop-top hot rod style) and make it 16:9

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Spring for the extra 40 bucks for this one. Unless you're going to be watching a lot of movies on a 10.4" 16:9 LCD. That thing from Amazon will look just awful without doing the chop top mod Al just mentioned. That ain't all that easy, I've got a box full of 5200 parts that I've cut up for such a mod and it's looking like it's too much bother for the final results.

800x600 is just about right for a 10" Monitor as far as I'm concerned and my ruler across the front bezel of the RGB agrees with the fit. Lay out a 10.4" diagonal 16:9 and it ain't gonna fit well side to side by my powers of guesstimation. [)] ]'>

I just looked at your second choice, 10.4" is a bit too big for the RGB to look right and that on is only 640x480. The one in the pic wins the contest handily from where I sit, RGB Bezel and yardstick in hand.

edit: I just checked your first choice again. I think they have the wrong picture up. The specs say 640x480 in two different places and the measurements for the product don't sound like 16:9. Lay it out on paper and see if the dimensions fit 4:3 or 16:9.

800x600 in a 10" Diagonal is probably worth the extra freight.

 

[zackl]

800x600 in a 10" Diagonal is probably worth the extra freight.

Thanks for the feedback - the amazon version just arrived today and so did the AC / DC adapter.

I had the same hesitation on the screen based on the Amazon pictures and listing.

But the screen measures very close (using a tape measure here folks) to 8.5w x 6.25h

Which is almost perfectly 4:3 and it is BEAUTIFUL check it out:

[attachment=0]Untitled.png[/attachment]

Took me about 5 mins to figure out how to get the auto-adjust settings working on the monitor but it looks crisp and beautiful @ 640x480 now

Floor is open for criticisms about working on this project on the rug of my floor.

PS - I had to buy this adapter since the monitor itself on Amazon doesn't plug into the wall

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OSCE7Y/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

PPS - As noted if you do buy this same screen for some reason make sure to check the "used" category on Amazon, they have them for <$100 and in basically brand new condition.

 

[uniserver]

i like it zack!

 

[zackl]

i like it zack!

Thanks Charles! I'm excited about this one.

Check this out - I am amazed at how perfectly this fits.

[attachment=1]Untitled22.png[/attachment]

[attachment=0]Untitled334.png[/attachment]

I expected to have to grind down the plastics inside but they literally fit like a glove.

In the front facing picture the left side of the bezel is about 1/4 inch further over which sets teh whole thing slightly off, wonder if this is tied to the LCD power indicator as the sides look more or less identical internally.

I think I'm going to tape the !@%! in there for now and see if that bugs me, then figure out how to permanently mount.