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3D-Printed Objects

CC_333

Well-known member
Wow!

How is the texturing compared to the "real" plastics?

I might just order one of these!

c

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Fabulous! I finally ran across a caddy (though I've got over a dozen somewhere!) and the AppleCD 300 is in tip-top shape. Do you still need the drive from it to model a caddy bezel? Is it more safe to ship it with caddy inside or outside the mechanism? I'm guessing outside as the head would be parked? That'd be the opposite of an 800K FDD mechanism and its yellow dummy floppy disk for shipping? Dunno, thought I'd ask here to see if anyone knows.

 

Swolfington

Well-known member
@360alaska that's looking great! I'd love to see what it looks like installed. 

I tried my hand painting the 9500 jaz drive bezel I cooked up a while ago, but I wasn't able to find exactly the same "smokey beige" Rustoleum, and sadly, it wasn't the right color. I was only able to source the "painters touch" variety, rather than the "american accents" you recommended.. for whatever reason, the painters touch version has a slight (but definitely visible) pinkish hue to it. Just in case anyone out there is trying going down this path, make sure you get the right one.

I was able to find another Rustoleum color, Painter's Touch Premium Ultra Matte, which is much much closer to (though not exactly matching) the OG Macintosh beige.

here's my results:9500_jaz_bezel_painted01.jpg

matches pretty closely with the AEKII keycaps, which haven't yellowed like the rest of the plastic.

9500_jaz_bezel_painted04.jpg

here it is against the painted metal case of my 8100. The lighting sucks (and my camera phone's white balance isn't great), but you can see that it's almost the same, but isn't quite 100% matching. You can also see here how improved it looks compared to the unpainted white plastic cd rom bezel installed on the 8100.

9500_jaz_bezel_painted02.jpg

Against the bezel plastic of the rest of the case, though, it still sticks out thanks to the yellowing of the original plastic. I'm not really sure how I feel about that since even if I had a factory original pristine part, it would have the same problem.

9500_jaz_bezel_painted03.jpg

and here's the paint I ended up using, in case it's helpful for anyone.

 

CC_333

Well-known member
It looks really nice! Almost like a stock part (I say almost, because I've never heard of a Jaz bezel ever having been made before now, which of course doesn't mean they never existed).

As for color, well, I guess you could retrobright the front panel? then it would look closer.

But, as you pointed out, you'd have this problem even if you had a pristine OEM bezel, so....

At least it fits well, and won't break!

Or, even if it does break, one could simply print a new one!!

c

 

jonpurdy

Well-known member
Thanks @Swolfington for the 9500 bezel parts! I had 815-1690.stl and 815-1690_eject.stl printed on ABS to see how well it would fit first. I may sand this one down and paint it, or just get it reprinted with resin for a smoother finish (which I'm sure I'd have to sand anyway). I didn't install the eject button yet but will do so once I've sanded and painted.

I actually bought a WGS 8550 (the server cousin of the PM 8500) just for the CD bezel (since my 9500 has lacked one since I got it in 2012), but it's really awesome that the community can fabricate parts for itself now! Such a great way to keep these machines alive for years to come.

Photo 2018-12-12, 17 28 21-small.jpg

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Dang!  @360alaska just remembered I need to send you the drive from my CD/300 caddy loader, still need?

What sent me back here was maceffects' desire for a clear case and his Clear/30 project. This has long been the inspiration for a dream for my IIfx case lid:

IIfx-ClearLidHack-02.jpg

Now that platen sizes are increasing, I'm wondering about clear ABS filament material property characteristics. Acrylic takes very well to "flame polishing" even bandsawn edges. How does an ABS print take to the tender ministrations of a butane torch? I'm only worried about texture removal and lightly polishing the sub-surface Snow White lines and visible lip-joint indent. So deformation from a light application of heat ought not to be a problem? Maybe flame could be a first step on the FDD groove polishing process? That one will be widened to Zip compatibility and a slot on the side provided for the internal CD. Now that I think of it, I might downgrade that drive to the aforementioned caddy mechanism, but that would depend upon CD/R/RW compatibility. HRMMM?

The FDD line might be done with manual polishing techniques as they're applied to the outer surfaces inside and out. How does filament printed ABS compare to MacABS in terms of finer and finer sanding/wet sanding/polishing compound treatments?. @Carboy7 and his minions did a fabulous job of re-polishing the 17" StudioDisplay I gave him. It would be nice if a printed case top would respond as well to resurfacing and polishing?

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
I've seen the acetone method, it looks more "globular" than flame polishing results in acrylic. The latter is easily controlled for variable application to different surfaces. Solvent polishing would be a one shot deal and I'd worry a lot more about the prospect of droop from loss of structural integrity when using that method. Gravity is unrelenting. I've got some bandsawn and Ryoba eaten case plastic scraps I can torch, but I'm curious about how printed ABS filament objects might react in comparison.

 

SE30_Neal

Well-known member
Well, I can print the feet since I have the rubber filament (For anyone wondering, i think it was $40 for half a KG).

I dont know about designing. I am pretty good it, but I just need dimensions.

It would probably be about $1-$3 a foot depending on shape and size. I have to print them solid or else they are too flexy.

I also have an 8 inch x 8 inch print area, so the bezels I can do. But since I dont have white filament, they would have to be painted if I were to make them. Besides, that ways you can paint it a beige color to match the mac.

I dont know about Alaska though. Just telling my printer.
Jonny, 

new rubber feet for compact macs as your 3d prints out of rubber

 

SE30_Neal

Well-known member
Thanks @Swolfington for the 9500 bezel parts! I had 815-1690.stl and 815-1690_eject.stl printed on ABS to see how well it would fit first. I may sand this one down and paint it, or just get it reprinted with resin for a smoother finish (which I'm sure I'd have to sand anyway). I didn't install the eject button yet but will do so once I've sanded and painted.

I actually bought a WGS 8550 (the server cousin of the PM 8500) just for the CD bezel (since my 9500 has lacked one since I got it in 2012), but it's really awesome that the community can fabricate parts for itself now! Such a great way to keep these machines alive for years to come.

View attachment 25676
Thats epic, great job guys :)

 
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