✧✦Catherine✦✧3d ago

first impressions of the Lego smart brick, before I do any actual tearing down: wow, I forgot how good they are at working with plastic. the injecton molding remains impeccable, at least for this specific piece (I know about their recent QC issues elsewhere)

it's hard for me to look at the positively microscopic (I am literally using a microscope to look at it) "Li-Ion" lettering and think of anything but "showing off!"

(treehouse doesn't let me attach the full size images, you can grab them here: front, side)

Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧3d ago

on the side, there are microscopic openings for the speaker to move air through. I would have really liked to be a fly on the wall in a meeting with the mold engineer who had to make this happen

original

Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧3d ago
I'm not yet sure how I'll open it up. I don't have a hacksaw (somehow... I should fix that), so my options are somewhat limited: it's either cracking or melting plastic. from what others have done I know I there's plastic welding all around the joined region.
Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧3d ago

okay I've decided on an idea: I will heat up the plastic to make it pliable and then cut it with a knife

as a knfe girl, this is my professional obligation.

Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧3d ago
here's a video that shows in more detail the moldwork in the transparent plastic part
Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧3d ago
if you've never heard of anybody opening welded plastic this way, i can now tell you why: because it's a bad idea. until you heat ABS to the point where it flows (which you don't want here, as it'll make later teardown even worse), it acts rubbery. imagine cutting hot rubber. doesn't work
Show threadbob3d ago
@whitequark do you have a hot wire?
Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧3d ago
@bob i don't have any nichrome at hand and i'm pretty sure i'd give myself burns if i tried
Show threaddoomsey

@whitequark @bob

8-year-old me discovered copper works just fine when attached to a sufficiently large transformer.

much older me is banned from hot tools.

Apr 11 at 10:55pmWeb
Show threaddoomsey3d ago

@whitequark @bob

8 year olds should be allowed nowhere near these. https://dfarq.homeip.net/all-about-the-lionel-zw/

doubly so, two of them, with the knowledge you could run them back-to-back to do interesting things.

All about the Lionel ZW

The Lionel ZW transformer is one of Lionel's most iconic products. Lionel ZW instructions can be hard to find online. Here's what you need to know about it.

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