Powerbook 100 rubber parts?

[BadGoldEagle]

Hey

I obtained a Powerbook 100. Don't know if it boots yet (probably will have to repair the hard drive), but I noticed the feet were all gooey. They are sticky as well. Since most of them were already gone, so I removed them entirely (don't need them anyway), but then I saw that the two long rubber parts on the lid on the inside were too turning into goo.  

These aren't as damaged as the feet, so I'd rather keep them. Is there a trick to stop rubber getting all gooey? Nail polish perhaps?

Maybe someone can 3D print new parts?

 

[BadGoldEagle]

Bump

 

[bibilit]

Mine has the same exact problem, don't think a solution can be found, the 100 has not parts in common with the rest of the line (except for the floppy drive)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

DuoBits are getting just as bad.

 

[BadGoldEagle]

That's a shame. Man, someone should definitely 3D print those things. Clearly, the demand is there.

 

[techknight]

1XX is starting to fall victim to the same thing, the big rubber bar at the top of the LCD latch. 

 

[Bolle]

All my Powerbooks have been doing this. This includes several 500 series and a 190cs. The 500 powerbricks also have gooey little feets as well.

I removed the feet on all of them after nearly runining my couch.

This stuff is hard to get off from PowerBooks themselves but it is even more fun to get the gooey remains out of the textil surface of a couch after a Powerbook was resting there for a few hours.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

It's probably more likely to print molds for casting them in tool dip, SFX latex or some such. Is there any rapid prototyping setup for rubbery parts?

 

[360alaska]

One could probably 3D print a mold and pour in silicone.

 

[Bunsen]

If they're flat, it would be easier to get a piece of new neoprene (or whatever) rubber and cut them out.  By hand for individual replacement, or on a CNC laser / waterjet cutter for short run production.

The fad for 3D printing all the things has obscured the fact that cutting is not only still around and still viable, but often times far cheaper.

 

[Bunsen]

You can buy packs of replacement rubber feet in various sizes, colours, shapes and materials from hardware and dollar stores.

 

[galgot]

If you want to have a replacement that looks like the original,then maybe,

3d printing one -> have to find a matching grey material that looks like the rubber, or must paint it in a matching grey afterward...

or molding one in resin , same for the colors...

But would be not be rubber of course. Don't know how to replicate parts in rubber like material. Maybe silicone, But I think it has a low lifespan unless you use very high quality ones (expensive), anyway that's what I remenber reading...

 

[galgot]

Edit : Found this

http://www.stratasys.com/materials/polyjet/rubber-like

Looks nice

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

MOST excellent, galgot!

However, I still think the method of printing the various molds as I suggested and using tool dip for the material might be the best way to go. Tool dip has the right properties and lasts for years under abusive use and storage under less than ideal conditions in the real world. Tool dip comes in a variety of colors, so finding a formula to match PowerBook gray might be possible.

At any rate, this would almost have to be the easiest and most economical "high" volume production process. Overfill (dome) the mold and then use a razor blade or X-Acto knife to trim the bottom surface flat while parts are still in the mold and you're good to go. Roughing up the surface a bit on sandpaper after released would help greatly for adhesion.

 

[galgot]

Yes that Tool Dip seems to be a good stuff for that.

One have to find an original PB100 rubber part in good shape and not turning goo (removable from the lid) to make the mold tho...

I wouldn't dare touch the one on mine. Still has the correct shape, but it keeps the print of any thing pushing too much into it, ifI try remove it, it'll turn into modeling paste... :-/