So you are tired of your laptop over heating? Nervous everytime you boot up because you know the processor is cooking the internals, shortening the life of your expensive machine? Well, break out the shopping list, power tools and lets get started.
DISCLAIMER: For Legal reasons I must say that you should not attempt to try this "how to" if you are an idiot and don't know what you are doing. Power tools, Fire, and Electricity are dangerous and should always be treated with respect and caution. I assume no responsiblity for loss of life, limb, or personal pride if something should go wrong. I have written this to the best of my ability and make no claim to it's truth or to any inaccurances written. If you do something stupid then you must suffer the consequences, I merely provide a starting point for your imagination, it is up to you to make the proper steps in educating yourself to do things correctly. I do encourage you to do your own research either via the web, public library, bookstores, mentors (Grandparents rock! (note: retired engineers love to talk shop with the younger generation)), Vocational Class, etc. NEVER STOP LEARNING! That is why the DIYer's continue to dream what they dream and create what they create. Why do we do it? Because we can.................. goodluck.
Total cost to me: 29.37 + Tax and Gas
First off we start by measuring our laptop to get the dimentions, mine is about 12"x14" so that is what I went with, obviously yours will differ. The initial design calls for a 12"x14" base with 1" piece folded under, a 3" riser section, and another 1" folded under section for the back. This is constructed out of a single piece of Plexiglass that is melted into shape with either a Heat Gun or Blow Torch. I cut the Plexiglass down to 12x18 as per the measurement we just took, 12" for the base + 3" riser + 1" for the front underfold + 1" for the back underfold = 18"?? Well, close enough, it saves me from making 2 cuts and that means one less opportunity to break the plexiglass. (I've cracked a lot in the past.) (Note: leave the protecting sheets on the plexi until the heating gun part to keep from scratching it up)
So measure in 12" from one edge and place your straight edge upon the line. Now either hold tightly or clap the straightedge down to secure it in place, run the utility knife down the edge, creating a deep scoreline. (note: if you are married, DO NOT cut on the kitchen table. The wife takes this as a negitive action and will ask you politely to go outside.)
Next flip the sheet over, resting the straightedge on the back of the line and pull up on the plexiglass. If your score is deep enough it SHOULD snap perfectly on the line. Make sure the straightedge is on the line and doesn't shift while you pull up. Another technic is to place the scoreline on the top side, placing the line on the edge of a counter or table and pressing down, this works well if the table or counter edge is sharp and not rounded.
Okay, now that you have your uncracked, perfectly snapped piece of plexi we can do the layout. I measured in 1" for the fold underpiece section, then 3" for the riser, then 12" for the base, and what ever is left will just be folded under the front base (~2").
Take your laptop and flip it upside down, carefully!, this is an expensive Email sender and porn surfing machine! Next lay your sheet of plexi on top of the laptop lining it up in between the 2" mark and the 12" base mark. The riser will be at the back of the laptop.
My lappy has two intake fans on the bottom, This is where I want my fans to go. So lay you case fans over the laptop intake or exhaust ports and roughly mark the location of the corners, use a rule to measure if you are an obsessive perfectionist. Next measure your switch, mine is a rocker type from a commerical laminator that I dissassmbled at some point, cool switches are the first to get stripped from broken equipment. So I decided that I want the switch on the right hand side and measured out its placement as seen. The power cord with go in the center and that is that.
This completes the general layout, let us bust out the power tools and make a mess!