+1
I also would like to hear about that. Maybe even some more general information how to do this right. If I would buy a (used) case like that today, it is usually already missing some 5.25 drive bay covers. Just fitting in a generic beige CD Drive is certainly not the solution. How do you get a coherent look ?

How do these work? I assume they only work with specific optical drive models? Is there a list of such compatible drives?

I saw a video on youtube where a Russian guy made a load of chemical waste.

Oh, and plated plastic with chrome as a side-thing.

The secret was to prep the plastic (scuff it up nicely, clean it well), prime and spray paint it with graphite-rich, electrically conductive spray paint. Then electro-plating with metal can be done. Perhaps that is a way to metal-up some plastic bits?

Errius wrote on 2024-05-28, 00:15:

How do these work? I assume they only work with specific optical drive models? Is there a list of such compatible drives?

Just look for "pioneer slot-in" cd/dvd drives. All of them have a slot at the same height of drive. Plextor has some slot-in drives too

progman.exe wrote on 2024-05-28, 00:55:

I saw a video on youtube where a Russian guy made a load of chemical waste.

Oh, and plated plastic with chrome as a side-thing.

The secret was to prep the plastic (scuff it up nicely, clean it well), prime and spray paint it with graphite-rich, electrically conductive spray paint. Then electro-plating with metal can be done. Perhaps that is a way to metal-up some plastic bits?

Wouldnt it just be easier to mirror wash (silver nitrate + Hydroxide + dextrose, swish swish swish) the plastic, then dip it in say, copper sulfate, passivate it, then plate it?

Silver alone would be very shiny, but fragile. You'd need to clearcoat or something if you stopped at the silver.

progman.exe wrote on 2024-05-28, 00:55:

I saw a video on youtube where a Russian guy made a load of chemical waste.

Oh, and plated plastic with chrome as a side-thing.

The secret was to prep the plastic (scuff it up nicely, clean it well), prime and spray paint it with graphite-rich, electrically conductive spray paint. Then electro-plating with metal can be done. Perhaps that is a way to metal-up some plastic bits?

Metal is metal. I`d rather cnc-mill piece of aluminium sheet and graver "pioneer" on it. Expensive (i think) but effect would be best possible 😜

Shouldnt be all that expensive to order one CNCd from jlcpcb