HAL 9000 Plasma Globe

thingiverse

Plasma globes, as they go, are pretty cool. The HAL 9000 computer from '2001 a Space Odyssey' was pretty cool too, unless you were Dave. For whatever reason, HAL just did't like Dave. Anyhow, I figured what would be cooler than a plasma globe stuffed inside a HAL 9000 shell to sit on my desk where I can bask in it's plasmary goodness! Instructions There are 4 files for this! Download them all. Really - if you don't, it will just end in tears, and you don't want that now. Cut the BLACK lines and engrave the BLUE (There's one part in the BOX file and one part in the NAME file that will need to be engraved) The BOX file contains all the black parts - cut this from 3mm acrylic. Make sure you leave the protective paper on the '9000' part. The GRILL file has the grill for the front. I cut this from 3mm semi-opaque acrylic because that's what I had handy. You might want to use a different colour - that's your choice. The SURROUND file has the two white parts that go around the edge of the box and around the aperture for the globe. I cut this from 5mm white because, again, that's what I had. You could happily use 3mm. It doesn't really matter. The NAME file simply has a small rectangle that says "HAL" - cut this from blue & keep the protective paper on. Once all parts are cut, set them aside except for the HAL and the 9000 parts. Mask off the sides around the HAL and 9000, take outside and give them a spray with white paint. I used a plastic compatible paint I picked up from the hobby store. Once these parts are dry, you can go ahead and peel off all the protective paper. Assemble the front and sides of the box and glue with acrylic glue. Once this is dry, you can go ahead and glue on the white front and grill. The white circle that surrounds the globe will slightly over-hang the back aperture. Glue on the HAL and 9000 pieces up near the top. Now it's time to test-fit your globe. I needed to chamfer the inside of the aperture and slightly sand the base of the globe to get everything to fit perfectly. Pass the cord from your USB globe through the hole in the back cover then place the plasma globe into place. I used a strip of tape around each edge of the back - why? Well, I've had these globes before; they're cheap and, well, you get what you pay for and eventually they just stop working. So I've taped the back on so it's easy to remove. Plug in. Sit back & think of Dave.