Solving the Powerbook G3 hinge issues: aftermarket hinges

[macman0512]

Hi guys,

I've had enough. After ages looking around for good "for parts" machines to replace my PDQ and Lombard hinges, I have given up. There just aren't any left where I live for a reasonable price. Naturally, the only reasonable thing to do is to manufacture my own replacements. I'll create my own CAD files and update this thread as I go along (because I'm quite busy with other things). I do have two questions though: 1. What material was used for the original clutches? I obviously want to use something with a higher tensile strength. 2. So far it seems like PCBWay might be able to manufacture what I need, but if anyone knows of better/cheaper options, I'd gladly hear about them.

Thanks and wish me luck!

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

I *think* (keyword think) the PDQ hinges were aluminum, which is why they wear so easily.

 

[Joe Smith]

My 500 mHz Pismo has developed floppy hinges. Is there any known kluge fix for this short of replacing the hinges/screen side? I had wondered if, for instance, narrow brass metal shims inserted into the pin shaft would add some resistance and friction?

I've torn these guys down but it's been some time, and I no longer have a perfect screen side housing to swap in, short of cannibalizing a 400...

 

[mari3311]

My 500 mHz Pismo has developed floppy hinges. Is there any known kluge fix for this short of replacing the hinges/screen side? I had wondered if, for instance, narrow brass metal shims inserted into the pin shaft would add some resistance and friction?

I've torn these guys down but it's been some time, and I no longer have a perfect screen side housing to swap in, short of cannibalizing a 400...

I think the jagged part of the Pismo hinge looks like this and can be pulled out.

How about using a metal adhesive like JB Weld?

 

[mari3311]

Hi guys,

I've had enough. After ages looking around for good "for parts" machines to replace my PDQ and Lombard hinges, I have given up. There just aren't any left where I live for a reasonable price. Naturally, the only reasonable thing to do is to manufacture my own replacements. I'll create my own CAD files and update this thread as I go along (because I'm quite busy with other things). I do have two questions though: 1. What material was used for the original clutches? I obviously want to use something with a higher tensile strength. 2. So far it seems like PCBWay might be able to manufacture what I need, but if anyone knows of better/cheaper options, I'd gladly hear about them.

Thanks and wish me luck!

What about stainless steel repair parts like these?
https://buyee.jp/item/search/query/No.6420 Powerbook G3?translationType=98

 

[Joe Smith]

I think the jagged part of the Pismo hinge looks like this and can be pulled out.
View attachment 77884
How about using a metal adhesive like JB Weld?

But it still needs to be able to rotate - I was thinking maybe a very thin brass shim inserted in with the pin might provide extra friction while still allowing it to rotate...?

 

[mari3311]

But it still needs to be able to rotate - I was thinking maybe a very thin brass shim inserted in with the pin might provide extra friction while still allowing it to rotate...?

I think your idea is correct.

My proposal is to fill the gap in the yellow square part that is causing the loosening with JB Weld, and the only difference from your proposal of "a very thin brass shim" is the material.




The second photo is a Wallstreet hinge, and as you can see, the aluminum walls on both sides of Wallstreet and PDQ were very thin and prone to damage.

For that reason, in Pismo, the hinge structure of Wallstreet is swapped left and right, and the friction part is completely wrapped in aluminum as in the first photo, and the green rotating axis is fixed to the main body fixing bracket side, and since the fixed part is jagged, I think the cross section of the blue line part of Pismo has the same structure as Wallstreet.

The hinge function itself is within the red square frame of both, so I think that if the inside of only the yellow part of Pismo is fixed, the hinge will not stop rotating.

 

[Joe Smith]

Interesting! Well, I may experiment with this when back from travels in a couple of weeks. If I have any success with my modest kluge fix, I will report back... Of course, it's my only Pismo with a 500 mHz chip that developed this issue...so I either want to fix it, or do a processor swap out.

 

[Jeremiah B]

Hi guys,

I've had enough. After ages looking around for good "for parts" machines to replace my PDQ and Lombard hinges, I have given up. There just aren't any left where I live for a reasonable price. Naturally, the only reasonable thing to do is to manufacture my own replacements. I'll create my own CAD files and update this thread as I go along (because I'm quite busy with other things). I do have two questions though: 1. What material was used for the original clutches? I obviously want to use something with a higher tensile strength. 2. So far it seems like PCBWay might be able to manufacture what I need, but if anyone knows of better/cheaper options, I'd gladly hear about them.

Thanks and wish me luck!

Hello, has any progress been made on this project? I've got both a Wallstreet and Lombard G3 PowerBook and both have failed hinges as well. I tried JB Weld with no luck in the Lombard unfortunately.

 

[macman0512]

Hello, has any progress been made on this project? I've got both a Wallstreet and Lombard G3 PowerBook and both have failed hinges as well. I tried JB Weld with no luck in the Lombard unfortunately.

I'm afraid not. I haven't been able to find a way to manufacture them.

 

[Jeremiah B]

I'm afraid not. I haven't been able to find a way to manufacture them.

That is quite unfortunate, well thank you for the reply anyways! Hoping someone can find a way in the near future, there are so many of us with these problems, and have been for over 20 years!

 

[macman0512]

That is quite unfortunate, well thank you for the reply anyways! Hoping someone can find a way in the near future, there are so many of us with these problems, and have been for over 20 years!

So am I. The thing is, modelling the parts is easy. It's difficult to find something financially feasible that's able to machine parts with a complex shape, yet also high tensile strength.

 

[Jeremiah B]

So am I. The thing is, modelling the parts is easy. It's difficult to find something financially feasible that's able to machine parts with a complex shape, yet also high tensile strength.

That makes sense! I wonder if you contacted the folks over at MacEffects, if they'd have any ideas. They are the people who have been making new molded clear cases for various Macintosh and Apple II series machines. Perhaps they have some experience with that area of manufacturing. I don't have the modeling skills myself, but if someone could create models for various G3 PowerBook machine hinges, it would be really nice to have some modern replacement parts manufactured somewhere (made out of different material than the originals). But, as you said, that can be quite expensive.

 

[macman0512]

That makes sense! I wonder if you contacted the folks over at MacEffects, if they'd have any ideas. They are the people who have been making new molded clear cases for various Macintosh and Apple II series machines. Perhaps they have some experience with that area of manufacturing. I don't have the modeling skills myself, but if someone could create models for various G3 PowerBook machine hinges, it would be really nice to have some modern replacement parts manufactured somewhere (made out of different material than the originals). But, as you said, that can be quite expensive.

Good suggestion! I won't keep my hopes up however, manufacturing plastics is a lot less involved than manufacturing metal components, especially the kind that is supposed to withstand high stress levels like hinges. I guess I could try and contact PCBWay as well, since I think they also manufacture other components besides PCBs.

 

[maceffects]

Good suggestion! I won't keep my hopes up however, manufacturing plastics is a lot less involved than manufacturing metal components, especially the kind that is supposed to withstand high stress levels like hinges. I guess I could try and contact PCBWay as well, since I think they also manufacture other components besides PCBs.

@Jeremiah B was kind enough to reach out. We actually already were working on hinge assemblies for the Lombard and Pismo, respectively. We already have experience in die cast/stamped steel/alloy parts so it's just a matter of tweaking them to be improved from OE design. I will, however, say that injection molding is a lot more involved than I think you were lead to believe, that's why it takes $80k to make an SE mold! Certain metals must be used, various treatments, high tolerance assemblies, DFM/Mold flow analysis, etc. On the contrary, the hinges would be a simpler process.

If anyone has any extra Lombard/Pismo units with really bad hinges they'd consider selling for design validation purposes, we'd sure appreciate it!

 

[3lectr1cPPC]

This is great news! My Pismo has one snapped hinge and the other is very weak, so if you do end up bringing replacement hinges to market, I would definitely be a buyer!

 

[CC_333]

I have several sets of hinges that are floppy. They work, insomuch as they more or less hold the screen where it's supposed to be, but, well, they flop, which makes using them a bit annoying.

And the hinges on my one good Pismo are a also bit floppy, but less than the others and adequately usable. Of course, it would be nice to have new hinges that are good and tight like modern ones, with no floppiness at all.

c

 

[MacUp72]

I didnt have floppy hinges on my Pismo but the ones in my Titanium are quite stiff..they get better when I work on the machine for a while, which means when the metal heats up a bit. I applied lighter fluid from the outside and sprayed a little silicone spray but didnt help much.
did anyone notice a difference after disassembling and thoroughly cleaning the hinge parts ?