CF Tech
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The CFA-631 is a great solution for internal 3.5" floppy bay mounting of an LCD . . . but it sometimes might be handy to have an external mounting option.
Since there are now lots of low cost USB/Firewire external cases available, we thought we would take a look at what would be involved to install a CFA-631 into one of these cases. We specifically chose a case that was silver to complement the silver face on our CFA-631, but you could also use a black case with a black face CFA-631. Some of the cases do not have a front opening . . . you would not want one of those!
Here is what we will use out of the external case:
There is also a USB cable, power brick and power cable that will be discarded.
First up is positioning the CFA-631 into the case with the included brackets and screws:
Now we need to strip the unused components out of the case. Removing the shield at the back of the case exposes the interface board:
Remove the interface board, then the fan and power switch board are visible:
After removing the fan, interface board and power switch board, you have basically an empty case with the CFA-631 mounted in the front.
Next up you will need a couple of nylon ties (for cable strain relief) and the WRUSBY03 cable:
Run the WRUSBY03 through one of the holes in the back of the enclosure, and plug it into the USB connector on the back of the CFA-631:
Make sure it is seated properly
:
Then use a couple of nylon ties to make sure that the connector will not be ripped off the back of the CFA-631 if the case is dropped or picked up by the cable:
If you wanted to be a bit AR about it, you could tape up the holes in the back of the case, and maybe find a grommet that would protect the cable where it exits.
Next, you basically slap the top of the case on and secure it with the trim strips:
Then you are ready to plug it into a USB port and load up the software:
Since there are now lots of low cost USB/Firewire external cases available, we thought we would take a look at what would be involved to install a CFA-631 into one of these cases. We specifically chose a case that was silver to complement the silver face on our CFA-631, but you could also use a black case with a black face CFA-631. Some of the cases do not have a front opening . . . you would not want one of those!
Here is what we will use out of the external case:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07501.jpg)
There is also a USB cable, power brick and power cable that will be discarded.
First up is positioning the CFA-631 into the case with the included brackets and screws:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07504.jpg)
Now we need to strip the unused components out of the case. Removing the shield at the back of the case exposes the interface board:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07505.jpg)
Remove the interface board, then the fan and power switch board are visible:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07506.jpg)
After removing the fan, interface board and power switch board, you have basically an empty case with the CFA-631 mounted in the front.
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07507.jpg)
Next up you will need a couple of nylon ties (for cable strain relief) and the WRUSBY03 cable:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07508.jpg)
Run the WRUSBY03 through one of the holes in the back of the enclosure, and plug it into the USB connector on the back of the CFA-631:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07509.jpg)
Make sure it is seated properly
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07510.jpg)
Then use a couple of nylon ties to make sure that the connector will not be ripped off the back of the CFA-631 if the case is dropped or picked up by the cable:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07511.jpg)
If you wanted to be a bit AR about it, you could tape up the holes in the back of the case, and maybe find a grommet that would protect the cable where it exits.
Next, you basically slap the top of the case on and secure it with the trim strips:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07512.jpg)
Then you are ready to plug it into a USB port and load up the software:
![](http://www.crystalfontz.com/backlight/631/ext_case/DSC07515.jpg)
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