Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: ToddH on July 14, 2013, 04:43:28 PM
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With 3D printing the new big thing, I'm surprised nobody has 3D printed a replacement A500 or A1200 case yet. I know companies like Sculpteo will let you send in a 3D file and print out your object. Anybody considered it?
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With 3D printing the new big thing, I'm surprised nobody has 3D printed a replacement A500 or A1200 case yet. I know companies like Sculpteo will let you send in a 3D file and print out your object. Anybody considered it?
We can do it now. All that is needed is one of the following to happen:
a) An individual with the talent and time to measure and hand-input the plastic case measurements (and all the nooks and crannies), verify that it can be printed by at least two services, then sell the finish product from the service's online store. (Unlikely)
b) Same as a), but the individual has access to laser-scanning equipment, and knows how to properly clean up the rough laser scanning. (More likely)
c) An individual makes a 'rough case' (basic size and shape, right screw placements and port openings), and open sources the design. (See Creative Commons design licences). A group of people then gradually refines the design over time, and by the end of a year or so, the case gets to be about a 99% match of the original. (Most likely).
If you want to make this happen, I would recommend that you pick a 3D printing service with a free modelling tool, and work on the c) project. Take any cases you have/can find and measure their rough outlines, and start building the model. Verify that the tool says it can be printable, and make one.
Refine your design when you get the printed case, and once your are happy that all the components fit, release the case design to the world.
Get a group of like-minded people to refine the design, and you can split the prototype cost. (Ie, if you have 5 people, at every major design iteration, the next person in the group buys one 3D printed case from the vendor, and tests it out. From their results, you work on the next design iteration, and the next person buys the next case.)
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Nope the cost of printing is so expensive to print at the correct size requires the most expensive printers out there. You can get the right size but the resolution will be horrible as you will have to use FDM type printers. You can clean the print with acetone and cleaning tools used on high end production printers...
The cost will be very high.
If you have a model similar in mass and shape to the a1200 case send it to redeye on demand and get a printing quote at the highest resolution and you will see the outrageous expense of this.
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and thus this is why I use emulators instead of trying to relive the past with exacting detail, I admire the effort though.
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I'm working on some A1200 case elements... which requires a very accurate 1200 case model, this can then be customised or completely redesigned. A full case will be a very expensive print however due to the size and the material might not have quite the same feel as the injection molded cases. If you have your own printer (with a bed big enough) then its not such an issue, but 3d printers are obviously still a rare thing in the home.
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What happened to the original injection die moulds for the Amiga`s anyone know?
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Not too much point when people are selling replacement new or next to new cases
on ebay for cheap.
retrobrite works very well too. unless your case is physically damaged!
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I think it will happen and be a good thing too :)
I'd personally love to see a replica of the A1200 case with the floppy drive bay reworked to accommodate a slim line DVD or maybe an HXC floppy emulator and some USB ports.
Or how about a different colored A1200 with matching keys or how about a 'modernized' slimline A500/1200 or how about an A600 with a numerical keypad, the options are endless.
I reckon that as long as the cases are not sold as Amiga cases and are not engraved with the word/symbol Amiga they should be free to sell them online (nobody knows who owns the copyright but it would be better to play it safe).
:)
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I just finished making and printing with a friend a DVI cutout cover for the 1200 that fits the back right opening that the 1200 has. Makes the Indi Mk2 DVI cable MUCH nicer.
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We can do it now. All that is needed is one of the following to happen:
a) An individual with the talent and time to measure and hand-input the plastic case measurements (and all the nooks and crannies), verify that it can be printed by at least two services, then sell the finish product from the service's online store. (Unlikely)
Yeah I did all that, but when I sent it off to the printers they misinterpreted my measurements and it came back 47mm wide by 24mm deep and 7.6 mm high. Cute but useless....
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I just finished making and printing with a friend a DVI cutout cover for the 1200 that fits the back right opening that the 1200 has. Makes the Indi Mk2 DVI cable MUCH nicer.
Make extras and sell them? ;)
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Yeah I did all that, but when I sent it off to the printers they misinterpreted my measurements and it came back 47mm wide by 24mm deep and 7.6 mm high. Cute but useless....
Ha! Pics?? ;)
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I'm waiting for when we can print not just objects, but also lay out circuitry within those objects while printing.
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Make extras and sell them? ;)
Sure why not. Ill take some picture and start a new thread this weekend.