Hi friends
I'm wondering: On these older laptops of apple, the led (standby-indicator...) glows out of the chassis, although when it's off (the led not shining) there's no visible hole.
How's that done? and can this be reproduced by some non-NASA/skunkworks-workshop?
🙂
david
I'm wondering: On these older laptops of apple, the led (standby-indicator...) glows out of the chassis, although when it's off (the led not shining) there's no visible hole.
How's that done? and can this be reproduced by some non-NASA/skunkworks-workshop?
🙂
david
They machine the ally to within a inch of it's life from the inside
(Obviously not with a twist drill, but with an end mill cutter)
Until it's <monty python voice> waffer thin
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As well as making it waffer thin, they cut tiny tiny holes in the metal with a laser 😉🙂
I have an 2010 MBP and you can actually make them out under a loupe.
I’ll try and get a macro shot of it tomorrow maybe
The casing is machined very thin in other areas too, you have to tap it with your fingernails to spot the thinness…. I dented the back side of mine within a week of buying it way back then
Ok, the metal at the LED is cut very thin, and then an array of micro holes are cut
with a laser to let the LED light through. They really are invisible holes.
with a laser to let the LED light through. They really are invisible holes.
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The chassis certainly is cutting edge, and the holes add little incremental cost.
In fact they may reduce the cost compared to other methods.
In fact they may reduce the cost compared to other methods.
I doubt it’s about cost , more about sleekness of design
After all drilling a 2mm hole and pushing a flush flat faced led into it produces the same effect more or less 😉
The laser cut holes are a tad more polished in aesthetics terms
After all drilling a 2mm hole and pushing a flush flat faced led into it produces the same effect more or less 😉
The laser cut holes are a tad more polished in aesthetics terms
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Back then (when the unibody was breathtakingly new) there was a video of the process… unforgettable. All that cooling milk
MacBook Pro unibody manufacturing process - YouTube
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Hi friends
there's no visible hole.
🙂
david
I have two MBP one from 2010 and the second one from 2012. On both these holes are visible without LED shining.. Also Both Unibody..
Greeting guys,,
Enjoy weekend
Chris
I've just took some handheld macros of my 2010 MBP13 (with my Nikon Z7ii and 105mmMC lens)
The 8 battery charge level holes on the side are perfectly visible with the naked eye , lit or not.
The standby light holes on the front edge are much smaller, and I (personally) can only see them when lit - a clear double row of tiny tiny holes. They are beyond my resolution unlit.
See pic
The 8 battery charge level holes on the side are perfectly visible with the naked eye , lit or not.
The standby light holes on the front edge are much smaller, and I (personally) can only see them when lit - a clear double row of tiny tiny holes. They are beyond my resolution unlit.
See pic
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Good morning chris and all
I actually was attracted by the frontal stand-by light, as shown in great detail by Mike.
These microholes seem to be like 0.05mm or even smaller?
Of course even the battery-stat-illumination is minuscule already…
My brother in law works in the hightech-sector, who are specialized in micro-drilling as he told me. Gotta drill him for answers 😀
I actually was attracted by the frontal stand-by light, as shown in great detail by Mike.
These microholes seem to be like 0.05mm or even smaller?
Of course even the battery-stat-illumination is minuscule already…
My brother in law works in the hightech-sector, who are specialized in micro-drilling as he told me. Gotta drill him for answers 😀
That techniques are very hard to copy DIY. One can try and come close with a lot of patience and effort.
Sad truth is that metal companies here don't take orders from private persons and certainly not when it is about just 1 device. Last time I wanted metal cut the 3 large companies that I visited did not even have manual operated plate cutting stuff anymore.
Positive is that the powder coater takes single private orders 🙂
Anyway, when drilling with those drills like dentists use and cutting oil one can drill 2 mm holes and use 2 mm LEDs and glue those to the back. With some experience and some sanding the surface of the LED can be flush with the aluminium. One can have the casing with the glued LED sandblasted with glass pearls. It is close to the Apple look but it's expensive. I pay 20 Euro for treatment of a small 200 mm casing.
Sad truth is that metal companies here don't take orders from private persons and certainly not when it is about just 1 device. Last time I wanted metal cut the 3 large companies that I visited did not even have manual operated plate cutting stuff anymore.
Positive is that the powder coater takes single private orders 🙂
Anyway, when drilling with those drills like dentists use and cutting oil one can drill 2 mm holes and use 2 mm LEDs and glue those to the back. With some experience and some sanding the surface of the LED can be flush with the aluminium. One can have the casing with the glued LED sandblasted with glass pearls. It is close to the Apple look but it's expensive. I pay 20 Euro for treatment of a small 200 mm casing.
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My bro is in laser cutting, I remember decades ago he gave me a key ring (3mm steel plate), with a graphic cut into it, right through, and there is a curved portion from one area to the next where you can barely slot a piece of paper into it, I still have it at work.
I've also got a work neighbour currently who has a small laser cutter, where he cuts mostly (2mm ish) acrylic, I doubt his machine will cut aluminium but I'll ask him when he's next in what's the smallest hole his machine can burn through.