Macro Black

The VFD

The VFD display is a VK204 - 25V from Matrix orbital.


To obtain maximum contrast from the display, a blue filter was fitted. Other colours are available but blue maximises the VFD's contrast due to it's native blue/green light.

The display was to be mounted in a dual drive bay blanking plate. The ClearPC comes with a triple drive bay cover as standard, the double and single ones are optional extras and are made from the same clear plastic as the case.



Following the same procedure for painting the case, an area for the display was masked off and the inside surfaces of the drive bay cover was sprayed with the black paint. Once the paint had dried the masking tape was removed to reveal the clear window for the display.

The black window tint film was then applied to the inside face following the same previously used technique as for the rest of the case. Again, before applying the tint, the painted window edges were "feathered" using "Brasso" to ensure a perfectly flush surface for the tint film to adhere to, giving the finished unit a perfectly "stealthed" display.



Mounting brackets for the display were fabricated from a "spare" single drive bay cover. The cover became "spare" due to a previous "slight drilling accident". After some cutting, shaping and drilling the new brackets were attached to the display by using the displays own two lower bolts that hold the display and controller boards together.



The display was held in place whilst two holes were drilled through each of the sides of the drive bay cover and mounting brackets to accommodate 3 mm mounting bolts. This arrangement gives some movement for adjustment of the display before finally tightening the mounting bolts. The mounting bolts used were countersunk flush to prevent the heads from snagging on the case when fitting or removing the complete display unit.



The finished display unit being tested before fitting into the case.