Still you are doing good important work, and the part that does exist is pretty neat.
Good work, keep it up.
Unlikely to get you something you can actually use to model off but can help getting measurements for a reconstruction.
Though if you want to go entirely different like I think you do you could use the standalone case as a starting point since in the case of a t440 none of the dimensions match even remotely anyway.
I mentionted T440 only in terms of materials and look and feel. The dimensions and overall reconstruction will be only to enlarge slightly the existing FW case.
Whatâs the point of a 3d scanner if it canât reproduce it fully to the original 3d model?
That is a good question, for organic stuff you can just use it mostly but for mechanical stuff it is mostly just helpful as a guide to create an actual model from.
Novena did this in 2014 with their Heirloom Laptop, though their implementation was absurdly thick and absurdly expensive.
Using a ThinkPad laptop keyboard (spare part) instead of the standalone ThinkPad USB/Bluetooth keyboards would considerably reduce the finished productâs thickness.
Here are step-by-step instructions for adding a USB interface to a laptop keyboard (including one with a pointing stick). I think this would be a good starting point.
âNot exactly, but I think it would make it a lot more detailed model a lot faster than I ever could. I havenât delved into photogrammetry yet, but Iâd like to. Iâd like to 3D scan my chassis and then model around that scan. Right now, Iâm just using some cheap Amazon calipers, so my measurements will at best only be ±0.5mm. Hopefully thatâs good enough, but there might be tight spots where it becomes a problem.
âReason being is that photogrammetry will give you a mesh model. Itâs just the triangles that make up the shape, and probably an associated texture file. Thatâs fine for quite a lot of things, but if youâre building a model for the express purpose of making modifications, then having a model thatâs built of smaller shapes with their own parameters is often going to be much more helpful.
DIY 3D scanners can give some impressive results. These are mostly raw scans using a raspberry pi. Open source with build instructions and kits.
The keyboard mod will be on the userâs behalf but I will do it on my own prototype and keep the dimensions to accommodate it in the final proof of concept. I will take apart the external keyboard so height is not a problem. In fact I donât want the laptop to go below 20mm height and will aim for 25mm as I find my X230âs height just perfect for cooling, aesthetics and mobility.
Yeah they are great for organic stuff and pretty impressive but for modifying mechanical things not so great, hell working with cad generated meshes is already a pain, a noisy scanned ones is probably not making it easier.
Would you say working with CNC aluminum is a far easier and more precise process generally compared to 3d printing?
Thatâs not a simple question to answer.
CNC is definitely more precise, donât really see how that relates though
I am just trying to understand why a simple 3-piece chassis is so hard to manufacture with a 3d printer given that the technology is praised for being able to produce far more complex products. For example dental prosthesis which are super detailed and completely unique for each person.
The manufacturing is probably not going to be a huge issue (appart from the size being bigger than most consumer printers) once we got the cad. Itâs not going to be as accurate as milled aluminum but a lot more flexible in design.
Donât expect thinkpad levels of plastic metal sandwich space magic from a 3d print though.
Why not? The internal reinforcement frame is long gone. They are all pretty similar to Framework now with Top, Bottom and Input covers made of GFRP/CFRP with a single sheet of magnesium alloy between the keyboard and the mainboard.
I though you wanted something oldschool thinkpad material wise. Anyway, 3d prints will also not be quite as strong in the z axis as an injection molded part but that can be designed around.
3d printing is awesome but you may be overestimating (affordable) 3d printing a bit. It enables you to do a lot you could not (or not afordably) before but it isnât quite magic.
I am considering industrial 3d printing not home made one so as best as it can get.
Cheap industrial printing is basically homemade but worse and expensive and fancy industrial printing is really freaking expensive. Plus for prototyping the homemade stuff is a better idea, no way thisâll work on the first try.
Example look and feel I am after:
How do you like the look of MNT Pocket Reform?