Full anodised aluminium front bezel for A4000 - Interest poll

Status
Not open for further replies.

PRS

Active member
AmiBayer
Blogger
Rating - 100%
93   0   0
Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Posts
932
Country
Dutchieland (Netherlands)
Region
Utrecht
Dear all,

I want to have a small batch of a CNC milled full anodised aluminium A4000D front bezels produced. If the batch size is around 10 pieces, the price will be approx. € 170,- per bezel excluding shipping from the Netherlands to you.

I want to use the publicly available 3D steps file, originally drawn by Stuart Rogers (aka Stoobs). https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2886182


I’ve found a CNC miller that claims to be able to produce the front panels, however, I cannot guarantee.
You will be taking the same risk as me as a single prototype would cost approx. € 500,-

So, I’m trying to find some dare devils that are willing to take a leap in the dark with me...


If you dare, please show your interest by reply in this thread and a PM to me.
The more people join, the cheaper it gets, but after 10 pieces the price doesn’t drop a lot anymore.

For indication:
Price in Euro per item if ordered per certain amount.
Prices are rounded up to prevent any disappointments as the price fluctuates a bit, current prices are approx. € 10,- less, I cannot guarantee.

First run pioneers:
- Me of coarse -- Payment received ;-)
- Amiga.cafe user (1x) -- Payment received — Personal delivery
- Shanshe -- Payment received — Send
- Acill -- Payment received — Send
- 0001agima -- Payment received — Send
- Madowax686
- Nowee -- Payment received — Send
- Magic -- Payment received — Send
- Yulquen74 (2x) -- Payment received — Send
- Bonefish — Payment received — Send

The price for the first run is set to € 201.22 per set, without shipping to your home address. This includes the front panel and a power button.

Front.jpg PwrButton.jpg
(Label and keylock are not included, more pictures can be found in the thread, page 5 and 7)

Due to the large number of requests for the drive bay covers, I investigated this option. With the blessing of SkyDivinGirl, we're allowed to use her designs:
A) 3½” cover large (bottom slot on A4000, to be used when a regular sized floppy drive is used)
B) 3½” cover small (bottom slot on A4000, to be used when the Chinon FB-357a floppy drive is used)
C) 5¼” cover (when no CD-rom or alike is attached)
That could leave us with a gap when there are no floppy drives mounted. So I drew that part (based on the drivebay cover from SkyDivinGirl):
D) 3½” cover large solid (middle slot on A4000, to be used when no floppy drives are attached). Please bare in mind that you'll need option A too in this case!

The following prices are an indication for the third run:
Front bezel: € 175.39 (White RAL 9002 € 196.44) + € 5.44 (shipping costs from manufacturer to me, divided over 10 people)
Power knob: € 20.39 (White RAL 9002 € 22.85)

The following are an indication based on at least 10 pieces per item (otherwise it will be more expensive):
Option A - 3½” cover large: € 39.56 (White RAL 9002 € 44.30)
Option B - 3½” cover small: € 37.31 (White RAL 9002 € 41.79)
Option C - 5¼” cover: € 47.01 (White RAL 9002 € 52.65)
Option D - 3½” cover large solid: € 38.60 (White RAL 9002 € 43.23)

These prices are for the standard colors: Clear anodization, White RAL 9003 (powder coated) and BLACK. The manufacturer does not advise anodization for light colors, but instead advises powder coating. For white RAL 9002 (Closest to the original white of the Amiga) an additional charge is calculated due to a “custom” color and is therefore 12% more expensive.

And of coarse this is excluding shipping from my home to your home.


Second run interested people:
- RetroPanic — Front Bezel + Power knob +T&T - Payment received
- 4000pete — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + C + D + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- Niezgodka — Withdrawn
- Quantumcat — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + D + T&T + insurance- Payment received
- Tohe — No response, regarded as withdrawn
- Ordyne — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- Bradpadgett — Front Bezel + Power knob + B + C + D + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- Baderman — Withdrawn
- eteP — Withdrawn
- Hal — Withdrawn
- Pbjr — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- Trixter — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- Ollis — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + C + D + D + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- tbtorro — Front Bezel + Power knob + C + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- Teps71 — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- SantidarkG — Withdrawn
- Milo — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + T&T - Payment received
- JohnnySlick — Front Bezel + Power knob + B + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- A4Kuse — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + C + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- K0x — Withdrawn
- PorkLip — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D + T&T + Insurance - Payment received
- Mray — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D + T&T - Payment received
- Slaapliedje — Front Bezel + Power knob, + T&T - Payment received
- Yulquen74 — A+ A + D + D + T&T - Payment received
- 0001agima — Power knob + A + B + C + D + Bubble envelope - Payment received
-
Magic — Power knob + A + B + C + D - Bubble envelope - Payment received
- Ori1a — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D + T&T + insurance - Payment received
- Philip930 — Front Bezel + Power knob + B + T&T - Payment received
- Timtheloon — Front Bezel + Power knob + T&T - Payment received
-
8bit — Front Bezel + Power knob + A + C + T&T - Payment received

= CLOSED =
I'm open for a third (and final?) round. During the course of time the following people have stated interest in a third round, I've contacted everyone via PM to confirm if they are still interested and which color (aluminium, black or white).

I’m planning to place the order on July 10th.

- ElectroBlaster
- No response, regarded as withdrawn
- Styrbjorn -
No response, regarded as withdrawn
- digitalMedic
- No response, regarded as withdrawn
- Bubbob42 -
WHITE (9002 and 9003) & BLACK - 3x Front Bezel + 3x Power knob + 3x A + 3x C - Payment received
- Morphine - No response, regarded as withdrawn
- Tekk
- Withdrawn
- Kielek - BLACK - Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D
- Payment received
- Alainneke - Witdrawn
- Puppetmaster - ALU - Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D
- Payment received
- Finntuitive -
No response, regarded as withdrawn
- Daloway
- WHITE 9002 - Front Bezel + Power Knob + A + B + C + D - Payment received
- Timmie - WHITE 9002 - Front Bezel + Power knob + A + D - Payment received
- eteP - BLACK - Front Bezel + Power knob + A + B + C + D
- Payment received
- Bax - WHITE 9003 -
Front Bezel + Power knob + C - Payment received
- Trixster - ALU - part “C” - Payment received
- Rakeim132 - WHITE 9003 - Front Bezel + Power Knob + A + B + C - Payment received
- AndreasNE - No response, regarded as withdrawn
- Porklip - WHITE 9003 - Front Bezel + Power Knob + A + B + C + D
- Payment received
- Northway - ALU - Front Bezel + Power Knob + B -
Payment received
- Indigoprime - WHITE 9002 - Front Bezel + Power Knob + A + B + C + D
- Payment received
- Bandaren - WHITE 9003 - Front Bezel + Power Knob + A + B + C + D
- Payment received
- GeorgeJ - WHITE 9003 - Front Bezel + Power Knob + A + B + C + D -
Payment received
- GMilner - WHITE 9002 & ALU -
Front Bezel + Power Knob + A + B + C + D - Payment received
- Gabo - WHITE 9003 - Front Bezel + Power Knob + A
- Payment received
- daJimbo - White 9003 & ALU - Front Bezel + Power Know + A + B + C +
D - Payment received
- Scooby - White 9003 - Front Bezel + Power Know + A + B + C + D - Payment received
- 4000pete - White 9003 - Front Bezel + Power Know + A + C + D - Payment received

I have to postpone ordering (to July 10th) as the delivery times are affected by the current COVID-19 situation. Delivery would be too close to my summer holiday and therefore I would have too little time to prepare all packages. Additionally, if there would be some delay in delivery it could end up in the first days of my holiday. If they can't be delivered, I'm risking that it returns to the sender which we all don't want.
 
Last edited:
Sounds interesting, I guess it is for the desktop version? Any photos of how it will be?
 
Last edited:
Ah, yes... For a Desktop A4000. I will adapt the post.

I love to have a picture, but unfortunately I haven’t found anyone who tried this in the past. I’m afraid you’ll have to use your imagination.
 
Last edited:
This is still a bit vague. Is it a copy of the original or something that just fits the A4000 metal casing?
I think it will be a copy of the original, made by a CNC and anodized aluminum, cut following the stl file you can find on thingyverse for printing a new front bezel in plastic with a 3d printer. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Mmmm it could be very nice, I might be interested.
It would be great if you can choose the color of the anodized aluminum, are you going to make the power button in aluminum too?
Why don't you use an indiegogo or a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project?
 
Last edited:
I think it will be a copy of the original, made by a CNC and anodized aluminum, cut following the stl file you can find on thingyverse for printing a new front bezel in plastic with a 3d printer. Correct me if I'm wrong.

100% correct

Mmmm it could be very nice, I might be interested.
It would be great if you can choose the color of the anodized aluminum, are you going to make the power button in aluminum too?
Why don't you use an indiegogo or a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project?

That’s also a possibility, but I’m a bit impatient and this would cost only three weeks after payment to the CNC manufacturer. The power button is also a good idea, together with the lower 3 1/2” cover... I will investigate the additional cost associated with that.

If this doesn’t fly, I will take that in consideration.
 
Last edited:
Link to thingiverse for the front : https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2886182

Id imagine that fitting and removing would be a royal PAIN if made in aluminium, I had a problem with the original plastic one...

Given the right width of the aluminum clips I don't think so, alluminum can be quite flexible, I would be less worried than with the original plastic clips that can be easily broken when you apply a bit too much pressure. You can also easily convert the clips to screw holes in the new bezel , the holes for the clips in the metal chassis can easily accept m3 screws+washer like the ones used for the motherboard with no modification to the original metal case, you can modify the stl design with threaded M3 turrets instead of the clips and it will fit nicely and secure.
 
Last edited:
The original clips are a right bloody pita! the designers of this never really saw past fit-once and leave it! Amiga owners are unable to leave things alone lol.

The prospect of a metal front is becoming more attractive the more I think of it! I have not bothered to get the 3D one printed as the quality is nevr going to be great, until the printers get better. Unless there is a company that does perfect copies in plastic?

Liking the idea of having the mounting posts/towers tapped to M3 screws! it will still be fiddly to fit but way more secure :)
 
Last edited:
I was thinking myself of cutting these clips partially away and glue some neodymium magnets in place, so the will grap the metal case of the A4000...

Easy to remove and place back again... No fiddling with screws or clips.
 
Last edited:
I had 3d-printed that model (well the 2 parts for glueing) and I have to say that is perfect in dimensions. Obviously, it has surface imperfections that are "3d prusa inherit". Also in two or three attempts of removing the front, all the clips are gone. So I also thought in magnets, but... the disk drive is so close... better get those magnets away from disks.
I would like to put those towers with m3 screws you are saying!!!
PRS, if you go forward with this, please count with me!
 
Thanks for your interest.

With regard to the magnets... You might have a point there, but as long as the size isn’t too big, the magnetic field is small and should not interfere with the floppy(drive)s.
 
Last edited:
Sounds interesting, I guess it is for the desktop version? Any photos of how it will be?

This is still a bit vague. Is it a copy of the original or something that just fits the A4000 metal casing?

Mmmm it could be very nice, I might be interested.
It would be great if you can choose the color of the anodized aluminum, are you going to make the power button in aluminum too?
Why don't you use an indiegogo or a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project?

Id imagine that fitting and removing would be a royal PAIN if made in aluminium, I had a problem with the original plastic one...

Liking the idea of having the mounting posts/towers tapped to M3 screws! it will still be fiddly to fit but way more secure :)

I've added prices if ordered less than 10 and also for a slightly more expensive alternative in nice and shiny polished version. Are you interested enough to take the leap with me?

I'm willing to also look in the possibility to change the design from clips to solid rods, so we can tap some M3 screwthread in there...
 
Last edited:
Please add me too to the interest list, probably my earlier post was not clear enough, sorry.
 
Dear amigans,

I'm still searching for 4 additional persons that are willing to join me in my quest of having a full aluminium front for the Amiga A4000...

Any interested parties???
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom