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PowerBook 1400 Hinge Fix Shim

AEChadwick

Well-known member
this is my pass at a shim to reinforce the 1400’s Display Housing / Hinge.

I am not an engineer, just a hobbyist; please feel free to remix & re-share.

the complex lower profile is to fit around existing structure, using those pieces as a guide to pop into the exact right place. there’s even tiny slots underneath that sleeve over the tiny ribs in the lid--purely to line things up. (I filled every slot with glue.) the complex upper shape is to slip into the lid with as little interruption but as much support as possible (especially above the hinge-attachment point). The 1400’s screen-to-lid space is a tighter fit than the 500 or the 180.

I used a lot of Weld-On 16, and filled some tiny gaps with CA + baking soda. The tiny gaps were in the round part directly under the clutch; it defied my ability to model it cleanly (see prior, not an engineer, just an artist with ambition).

this is made to print flat, with support on the build plate (it's mostly flat, it's just that lower part that needs a little support)

at first, i tried to work around the damage--like, just reinforce the lid while providing new purchase for the clutch. eventually, i realized the best course was a monolithic replacement. i removed everything that held the clutch bracket. I re-placed the threaded inserts by heating-and-pushing.

extra: in the process of removing the screen bezel (back and forth, several times, to test fit), i snapped some of the large-but-thin screen clips. I made tiny tabs to replace them. these are super minimal and required annoyingly careful placement, but ultimately worked great. again, feel free to remix.

i will upload to the rest of the internet later, but this was made while reading the 68KMLA, and belongs here first!
Powerbook_1400_hinge_fix.png
 

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Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
In my ME brother's terms that'd be called an elegant bit of engineering. It's a very creative approach to the problem by filling in available cubic that probably should have been done in the original design process, though all hindsight is 20-20.

The artist in me sees beauty. Love it, great job.
 

MacUp72

Well-known member
just finished this mod on my 1400c, definitely works.. hinge is much stronger and stable now, no problems with breaking brittle plastics.
but you need some skills, it is all very tight in there and I had to do a lot of fumbling/scraping/ adjusting/glueing etc.
thanks for this.
 

greystash

Well-known member
Hey @AEChadwick thanks so much for this! Where do you usually print things like this? I tried JLCPCB but they can't do it since they require a certain thickness which is greater than some parts in your file
 

3lectr1cPPC

Well-known member
pretty sure that he has a printer himself. I go to a local place in town to get mine done. Check if there are any print shops around where you live
 

nickpunt

Well-known member
Saw a sheet metal laser cutting service called SendCutSend posted over in tinkerdifferent. Wondering if sheet metal piece would be stronger / last longer than a 3d printed plastic part, or if this part would even be possible to make using such a method.
 

AEChadwick

Well-known member
Saw a sheet metal laser cutting service called SendCutSend posted over in tinkerdifferent. Wondering if sheet metal piece would be stronger / last longer than a 3d printed plastic part, or if this part would even be possible to make using such a method.
that's an interesting idea; the piece right now is not a simple profile, but feel free to adapt it--maybe several thin layers of metal put together could fill the space...
 

LaPorta

Well-known member
Yes: something like that, and also running up behind the LCD to relieve stress from opening the lid at the top, has been my goal as well.
 

3lectr1cPPC

Well-known member
Well, that's the way to do it really. Aluminum is more durable, feels nicer, and lasts far longer than plastic does. Any plastic laptop is just going to fall apart eventually, given enough time. I'm just taking the time to enjoy these 90s laptops while we still can.
 

nickpunt

Well-known member
Personally I love the dark grey plastics and 1400 style lid + bookcover, its got a ton of personality and very of the era design. Just want to make sure that's preserved!
 

MacUp72

Well-known member
I love the 1400, too, because it actually was the consumer model, the middle-of-the-road-model, not the fancier, more expensive 2400 or the prone 3400, a good real bridge model..still around in many cellars/basements/closets..It also marked an interesting time for Apple.
After fixing the lid problem even more..
I still have to lay my hands on a 500series..
 

LaPorta

Well-known member
@AEChadwick, looking to make my own, custom fix as well...but I am wondering if the screw bosses actually contact the flat back of the case inside the standoffs...or if they are "raised up" a bit...can you say?
 

LaPorta

Well-known member
Yes. I need to know if they can be pushed in flat with the surface of the case cover, or if they need to be "floating" inside them, flush with the top.
 
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