Aug 25 2015
Wow! I thought there was only one picture of this device from the Apple Design book. However, there was a photo of it in MacUser January 1994 issue. It was supposed to visualize what a 2004 Mac would look like. This has an all-important picture of the back side of the device. Here is the original link. Going to try to find a larger picture or possibly an original copy of the magazine.
Feb 1 2015
The main structural piece of the prototype is the “S” shaped bent wood. Steam bending of wood is beyond the space limits of my workshop, so I’ve reached out to Autumn House in NC to see if they can bend 1/4 birch plywood to my specs. I may need to apply a veneer to the wood to make it look like the original.
Feb 1 2015
Measurements for the bezel which can hide the 30 pin charger.
The bezel for the screen in the prototype is fortunately wide enough to accommodate a number of things I need to hide. Specifically, the iPad charger. I found a old 30 pin charger with a right angle connector.
The bezel will also need to have a hole for the iPad home button. I still need to work out volume controls.
Ideally the bezel would have the profile shown below. I was planning on use a wood picture frame, but I’m having a hard time finding one that is 36mm on the top/bottom, but only 30mm on the sides.
I may attempt to repurpose a iPad picture frame or an iPad enclosure or here.
Feb 1 2015
Some preliminary designs have started coming together for the curved wood prototype. I’ve been back and forth on using a iPad 2 vs a raspberry pi B. I need to prove that I can run either in portrait mode. Here is the design and measurements with the iPad 2 as the screen.
Design measurement for Pomona prototype
Feb 1 2015
This design comes from the amazing Apple Design book by Paul Kunkel.
Apple prototype from the Oct and December 1992. Part of the Pomona design series.
I’ve always wished Apple had produced this particular design, but it appears to have never made it past the mock up phase. In fact, this is the only picture that I’ve ever seen of the design. It was part of the Pomona design series done in October and December of 1992. I love the curves and the contrast of the black and birch. The portrait monitor is also very attractive. I’ve often had a vertical monitor setup since the early Radius Pivot monitors.
One of the things I’ll do on this site is document my attempts to recreate a working version of this prototype. I’m looking to use 3D printing for the metal supports and possibly a Raspberry Pi to emulate vMac and System 7. Stay tuned.
Sep 2 2015
CNC Prototyping
I haven’t done any 3D work in years. Not since Strata Studio 3D . I’ve found a CNC machining and prototyping firm locally called Xometry. Just upload the geometry file, pick the material and finish and they print it.
I’m looking through the CAD programs trying to find one with a short learning curve. AutoDesk still seems to have good products.
Xometry takes files in the following formats .stl, .step, .stp, .iges, .igs, .x_t, .x_b, .sldprt
By jeffsrule • CAD, Prototype • 0