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51 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
51 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
# Model-A Homemade Computer Project
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Here are the files used to build the case for my homemade
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computer. You can see a lot about it in [this article](http://ralsina.me/weblog/posts/so-i-built-a-laptop.html) (or at least about it as it was in early march 2023)
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The main gist is to use [CadQuery](https://cadquery.readthedocs.io/en/latest/)
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and Python to build flexible, deeply parametric cases for computers based on
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Single Board Computers (think Raspberry Pi and similar things).
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## How flexible?
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Suppose you buy a mechanic keyboard and use it as the base to build something like a classic C64-style wedge using a cheap 3d printer:
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Yes, you can do this using pretty much any mechanical keyboard you are willing to butcher.
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And then you remove a few screws, replace a few components and turn it into a
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Tandy Model-100 style laptop:
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Or into a "normal" notebook:
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And what's inside?
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* A SBC
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* Maybe batteries
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* Maybe a USB hub
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* Perhaps a soundcard?
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* Storage?
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How would I know, you are going to be the one that builds it!
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## How is it going
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The basic concepts work, as proven by me building the damned things. But still:
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* The software needs a lot of work
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* It has to be made much more user friendly
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* All the "lids" are pretty custom one-offs (they need to be made more parametric)
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* The component library is very limited (just the things I am using in my build)
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None of those things is an insurmountable problem, and I am working on them,
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and I have plans to fix it all. Eventually. Some day. I only do this on
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lunch breaks and weekends folks.
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In the meantime, if you want to use any of this and need a hand, just contact me at roberto.alsina@gmail.com and I'll try to help.
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