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NEW Injection Molded - iMac G3 Inner Bezels
- Thread starter maceffects
- Start date
- Status
Yup
Let's find out. they can release the STL and then I'll print one.
Or YOU create an STL and release it
Like, are we seriously in a situation with retro computing where people portray themselves as paragons of preservation, but in fact actively prevent preservation?
Release the STL so owners of these disintegrating iMacs can print their bezels and fix them.
Why keep it to yourself?
Include the STL as a kickstarter reward. I'll back it this second if so. If not I have no reason to support this whatsoever since the intent is clearly to prevent preservation and instead profit off of rotting hardware.
Release the STL so owners of these disintegrating iMacs can print their bezels and fix them.
Why keep it to yourself?
Include the STL as a kickstarter reward. I'll back it this second if so. If not I have no reason to support this whatsoever since the intent is clearly to prevent preservation and instead profit off of rotting hardware.
I second this. These bezels are getting more expensive, harder to find, and even then you're still dealing with the brittle plastics. I had to completely part out one iMac because it was in terrible shape, and the inner bezel on that was completely SHOT. I did need the parts to fix another unit, but that other unit is also at risk of falling apart.
Retro computing as a hobby is also something that involves lots of preservation. If we remove that from the equation... there isn't much of a point. These slot load iMac G3s are hard to find because a lot of them have fallen to the clutches of bad PAV boards, brittle plastics, and a lack of resources for fixing them. I think it is important we make these resources accessible to as many people as possible.
Release the STL files for projects like these. Not everyone wants to dump over $100 into a 21-25 year old computer for a front bezel. Or at least have the files available for purchase at a reasonable price so you could still get something off of your work if need be. I don't like to be harsh, but this is the kind of thing that really bugs me about retro computing as a hobby.
Retro computing as a hobby is also something that involves lots of preservation. If we remove that from the equation... there isn't much of a point. These slot load iMac G3s are hard to find because a lot of them have fallen to the clutches of bad PAV boards, brittle plastics, and a lack of resources for fixing them. I think it is important we make these resources accessible to as many people as possible.
Release the STL files for projects like these. Not everyone wants to dump over $100 into a 21-25 year old computer for a front bezel. Or at least have the files available for purchase at a reasonable price so you could still get something off of your work if need be. I don't like to be harsh, but this is the kind of thing that really bugs me about retro computing as a hobby.
To be fair, this isn't just a "take measurements and create an STL file" thing. Maceffects puts serious time, effort, and his own money into the actual tooling to make these things. It can cost thousands to make the tooling, and he has to recoup these costs somehow. Otherwise, they would not be made in any form.
Look, I get it. I wish the whole world was open source, too. But regardless of what you may think, this is someone's work, something into which they put considerable time and effort, and how and even if they decide to make it available is their decision and no one else's. Making the case for releasing the STL files is one thing, but making demands, à la the following...
...makes you come off sounding like entitled brats. For goodness's sake, neither one of you so much as said "please". Think about that.
...makes you come off sounding like entitled brats. For goodness's sake, neither one of you so much as said "please". Think about that.
I didn't even think about that. I sincerely apologize, things haven't been going so well for me as of late and I should have thought twice before posting something like that. Honestly I would rather not be involved in this drama any longer (provided it goes on), since I see where they are coming from now.
In fact I kinda regretted writing that soon after I posted that message. I remember now they've done quite a lot for the community and I think I should have thought of that before vehemently writing that. Honestly I would be interested in the project, but I shall respect what they'll do with it.
I am deeply sorry for anything I said that has hurt anyone here. Please ignore that message from now on...
In fact I kinda regretted writing that soon after I posted that message. I remember now they've done quite a lot for the community and I think I should have thought of that before vehemently writing that. Honestly I would be interested in the project, but I shall respect what they'll do with it.
I am deeply sorry for anything I said that has hurt anyone here. Please ignore that message from now on...
Hey, we all have a bad day, we get it. I hope everything goes better.
Thank you. I'm usually a very nice and understanding woman.
I never said I'm entitled to anything. I'm saying if Maceffects intent is genuinely restoration and keeping alive computing history (as they state) they should release the 3d files. I never said it has to be for free. I'm saying hoarding the files and only selling injection molded items demonstrates the intent is taking advantage and only profit based on desperation of the owners of these disintegrating items.
I'd happily pay for the STLs because obviously work was put into the design.
Where is the STL? I'll pay for it right now.
I'd happily pay for the STLs because obviously work was put into the design.
Where is the STL? I'll pay for it right now.
I never said open source and I never said I'm entitled to anything. Where are the STLs for me to purchase? I'll happily pay for them.
Are they being released for a price commensurate with the work that was put into them? or are they being hoarded to take advantage of historical items falling apart with age?
I'm sure MacEffects is making a lot of profit on low volume injection molding. Y'know, the kind of injection molding that costs tens of thousands. Truly the kind of money to take a private cruise to the Bahamas with.
/s, obviously.
The nice thing is, releasing an STL doesn't require tooling at all. It can be purchased and compensation for the time spent can be directly recouped that way. No tooling needed at all.
Where's the STL for me to buy, as with so many other designers selling STLs on cults3d etc?
Releasing paid STLs doesn't requiring tooling costs at all.
I'm into retrocomputing partially to save retro computers, just like maceffects claims to want to do.
Where's the STL to help us save these iMacs?
I think you still are not seeing this. If Maceffects is going out of his way to make high-quality reproductions (as he has many times before), at the cost of thousands of his and others own money, how do you expect him to make back this money selling STL files at something like $50 a pop (if even that much)? How does he stop someone from buying the file, copying it, and then distributing it? He can’t be guaranteed a return on his investment without having a monopoly on it at the start - the entire purpose of copyrights and patents that we have had for the last few hundred years. Why would he even bother putting all the time and money in if people would then just take it for little or nothing?
Secondly, he doesn’t “owe” anyone anything. If you want to spend a few thousand and then give something away for free or just a few hundred bucks, you are welcome to. He didn’t have to make any of these things or even start the project at all. In fact, he could have done the project, made fifty copies for himself, and then gave everyone else the finger (except that he did it through Kickstarter). It’s his creation, he can do whatever he likes with it. He could charge $2,000 for one bezel if he likes…though I’m sure he wouldn’t sell any.
The point is the bezels, as well as the design he made to engineer the replacement, are his. The only people he technically owes anything to are those who helped fund the project. Outside of that, he has no obligation, no matter how you “feel” about it.
I, for one, am happy he had made it and has it for a reasonable price.
Secondly, he doesn’t “owe” anyone anything. If you want to spend a few thousand and then give something away for free or just a few hundred bucks, you are welcome to. He didn’t have to make any of these things or even start the project at all. In fact, he could have done the project, made fifty copies for himself, and then gave everyone else the finger (except that he did it through Kickstarter). It’s his creation, he can do whatever he likes with it. He could charge $2,000 for one bezel if he likes…though I’m sure he wouldn’t sell any.
The point is the bezels, as well as the design he made to engineer the replacement, are his. The only people he technically owes anything to are those who helped fund the project. Outside of that, he has no obligation, no matter how you “feel” about it.
I, for one, am happy he had made it and has it for a reasonable price.
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