I’m looking into 3D printing the case for my mystery box FW16 mainboard. I’ve looked at (and also tried printing) the design available on the Github repo, but it doesn’t have all the complexity and details of the actual bottom cover kit, such as all the screw holes (and/or captive screws). Is there any chance that a more detailed version of that model could be released? The cover isn’t really usable as-is, it’s just a flat surface without any way to mount the rest of the hardware? I realize that the complex features like the locking mechanism for the expansion cards might not be practical to 3D print and expect to use without modifications, but at least a precise description of the screw holes layout would be very valuable in enabling customized designs.
I think that scanning the bottom cover kit with a HIFI scanner would produce a usable framework for a case design
You could technically do it with a HIFI scanner, but the problem I’ve ran into while trying to do that is finding a scanner both accurate enough and large enough to do it. Plus, you end up needing an unused part of whatever you’re trying to re make. I’ve been trying to make an accurate model for the top cover, but it looks like ill need to resort to just hand modeling it. the problem is that this is currently my only computer and to model that part I would need to disassemble the PC. Also using a scan alone, you cannot do any milling on CNCs so a proper file would need to be a CAD file. A framework official file would be best but if anyone reads this and has a top cover or bottom cover I could use, I would gladly model it and send it back.
Not necessarily a route you’d want to take, but I do know that the computer does work fine outside of its case (so far I’ve been using a half-assembled one with its only frame being a bent piece of cardboard it sits on), so technically you could still measure it while the computer is usable. It’s definitely understandable that you might not want to do that though.
I don’t have any of the official case parts either, unfortunately. If I did I’d be happy to try to get some measurements with calipers, try to CAD something up. I have experimented a bit with overlaying the images from framework’s shop page with the official model, but it’s tricky to get any precise measurements from that.
If I do ultimately decide to order one (which I’d been hoping to avoid by 3D printing one) and if you happen to be vaguely near me @Mathieu_Trautman (I’m in California) so shipping isn’t too expensive, I’d be happy to order one to be shipped to you, for you to forward to me after you got the measurements you needed. I’d much prefer to have official measurements or models from Framework themselves (or maybe they could volunteer to send a laptop or the relevant components to support open source development, as they’ve talked about doing for various other developers?)
I really wish framework would just give us proper files, but I assume that they didn’t for a reason seeing as we got much more with the 13. and while i would love to just take measurements with my own laptop, I’m currently in college and cant really afford to have it out of commission for more than 2-3 hours at a time. I’m in Tennessee and if you did decide to ship a top cover to me for me to measure, I’d gladly pay for the shipping back to you. But yeah, the lack of real top cover and bottom cover cad is definitely stunting the 16’s growth even more than it just naturally is.
I don’t know, but I imagine one reason they haven’t just provided files for the original shell is that, it wouldn’t be usable as-is for anyone. As the bottom shell is cast magnesium afaik. So the files would be for the negative masters to create molds. Certainly it could be used as a starting point for creating a something usable. But then there would also be significant changes needed for the weaker materials used for 3d printing. Or it was just a different issue entirely, like it being created with a partner whom they found was not agreeable to making the files open source.
Whatever is it, it sure been an annoyance that there hasn’t been official case CADs. Wish they said why.
surely the positives exist as a file. designing the fit and tolerance and heat dissipation and everything else would be done on the positive. the negative model would probably be made with the positive (after reviewing design for thixomolding constraints, and pulling any features that are milled or pressed in post production)?
There is almost definitely a positive somewhere, I’d agree that a partner probably doesn’t want to make it open source. In any case, that probably means Framework cannot support the project even if they want to, but even just the location of screw holes would make life easier.
I just did a first scan, with no anti-reflective spray. The file should be at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13HVEHraj5cN2fJ_4rzzLpm6IduBFWc3O/view?usp=sharing
but follow up on it and tell me if there’s issues. I’m going to see what I can do but I’m not sure I’ll get too much from this first run.
Not sure if it will be in the slightest bit useful to you, but I designed an alternative chassis for the FW16 including expansion bay slots and screw holes a while ago. I’ve never tested it, and it may not be quite what you’re looking for, but feel free to borrow/use/experiment with as much of it as you like, (and let me know if you find any issues🙃)
Thanks, this definitely is a good scan.