Modelling the CM-2 Connection Machine Using Maya 6.5 on an SGI Tezro

[Irinikus]

Again, I'm going to try to model this machine as accurately as possible with the information available on the internet.

This is the info that I've acquired so far:

I really had to scour the internet to get a picture of the CM-2 processor board, which is the basic building block of one of these little animals, this was the only complete picture I could find anywhere!

So I'll start off by modelling it!

Here's a picture of the chassis from the inside: (Take note that this is not a complete system, but it successfully shows how the cabinet fits together)

It's enough information for me to build one!

This image shows some of the systems vents:

This picture gives some idea as to how the processor boards were arranged and how the front panels could slide sideways, allowing access to them:

These images give some insight as to the backplane arrangement:

 

[Irinikus]

Here's all the information I have on the Data Vault at this point:

Here's a low resolution picture of an actual unit next to a CM-5

Heres the patent information on the device:

Here are some more pictures: (Including the cabinet's designer Tamiko Thiel!)

 

[Irinikus]

I've just made a start on this model by building up one of the first assets, being a 28-pin dual in-line "logic chip": (Rendered in Maya 6.5 on my Tezro)

The way I'm going to attack this, is to build up all of the assets for this module in Maya 6.5 on my Tezro, and then move all of them into Blender on my Mac Pro for assembly and final rendering.

 

[Irinikus]

Some of the 28-pin dual in-line chips on the module are socketed, so I made up this dual in-line socket for this purpose:

 

[Irinikus]

Here's a nice video covering some of the design aspects of the Connection Machine:

 

[flexion]

that "thinking machine" is a beauty!!

 

[Irinikus]

That it certainly is!