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It’s basically finished: my gratuitously nostalgia-inducing display stand for the @trmnl TRMNL dashboard — in a retro-modern silhouette of the original, 128K Macintosh.
It is as yet unclear what the ‘Historical Commission’ has to say about its display in the family room. @caseyliss @atpfm
It’s been slow-going lately for unrelated reasons, but this project is coming together.
The back plate is on the printer — the first one will hold a @trmnl TRMNL dashboard. I’ll make alternate device-stand options for iPhone, iPad Mini etc., and maybe one with a full 9.7” 2048x1536 LCD panel.
My modern, full-scale homage to the 1984 Macintosh is ready for a test 3D print.
A fun addition: embossed signatures of the Mac team underneath, as on the interior of the actual case.
I intend to offer several versions of this basic design. This first version is a simple stand for the @trmnl e-paper dashboard. Other likely versions:
- An inert replica, for display only
- A MagSafe/StandBy phone charger/stand
- A working case for the M4 Mac mini, including a 9.7" iPad panel (like my eMac mini)
Refitted my modern Mac 128K design to house a @trmnl e-Paper dashboard.
I thought I'd try a simple tray mount for the standard TRMNL enclosure (as opposed to deconstructing it and mounting the bare panel/PCB/battery).
At least with the white case, I think, it'll look as if it's an OS window floating on the CRT. Kinda neat.
I hope to be ready for a test print this weekend.
A little more detail work on my M4 Macintosh 128K this morning – it's looking really amazing in the renders.
I'm getting optimistic that I'll be able to build this in a few separate pieces and nicely fit all the required components (LCD with its control board and HDMI driver board) inside.
Should be a fun complement to my M4 eMac mini project and other M4 enclosures:
Yep, I think I'll be able to make this work, and at 1:1 scale with the original 128K Mac.
Still lots of practical details to implement before my first test print.
I remember - about a decade ago - seeing a concept for a flat-panel Mac with the facade/silhouette of the original Mac 128K. (Curved/labs: https://youtu.be/x70FilFcMSM)
Today, I'm tinkering with my own version of the idea now, to be made functional with an iPad LCD panel and an M4 Mac Mini in the base.
I gave up on finding a suitable 3rd-party mini keyboard and mouse for my M4 eMac mini, and decided to just use a generation-old Magic Keyboard and Mouse. Not period-accurate or especially small, but the vibe works.
I still need to get this thing configured as my home server and decommission a couple of Raspberries Pi.
FYI, I now offer 3 membership tiers at MakerWorld:
https://makerworld.com/en/@Jerrodh
* Donation Tier: $5/month - a Tip Jar - simply support me in my work!
* Physical Sales of Mac/Apple Gear: $25/month - sell physical prints of my Apple-homage designs
* STEM Kit Commercial Use: $50/month - sell complete or partial STEM Kits (Modular Wind Tunnel, Schlieren Kit, and accessories) or use them in for-profit applications like trade shows, recruitment fairs, paid demos/classes, or science centers.
