PowerMac G3 Mini for M4 Mac mini
Print Profile(1)
Bill of Materials
Description
1/5/24 UPDATE:
Test print complete; revisions made to print profile. No longer “Beta”!
- Adjusted tolerances on dovetails based on test print.
- Added PowerMac G4 “Graphite”, “Quicksilver”, and “Mirror Drive Door” variants of the front plate.
- Replaced magnets on side panels with M5x6 or 8mm socket-head cap screws. Use M5x6 heat-set inserts for the matching holes in the core.
PowerMac G3 Mini for M4 Mac mini
Continuing the adorable series of “Mac mini Pro” enclosures to include the late-90's “Aqua” vibe.
Following my “Mac mini Pro” enclosures in the style of the 2019 Mac Pro, the 2019 rack-mount Mac Pro, the 2013 “trash can” Mac Pro, the PowerMac G5, and a lot more below, naturally my next project would have to be the PowerMac G3 and G4's translucent designs from the early days of MacOS X.
Honestly, I'd been holding off on this one as it's a pretty tricky shape to model, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it easy to print and look great. I think I've cracked it: a modular assembly around a generic prismatic core uses dovetails and magnets to secure the non-planar elements around the exterior. With this approach, all parts are able to print securely with a flat face on the print bed.
Printing guidance
In most of the images and renders here, you will see a design in the style of the original “blue-and-white” PowerMac G3. Also provided in the print profile are alternate front plates for the PowerMac G4 “Graphite”, “QuickSilver”, and “Mirror Drive Doors" generations. Just choose your colors accordingly.
This design fairly heavily utilizes the AMS for multicolor printing. For now, I recommend Bambu's PETG Translucent in Teal and Clear as the primary colors for the G3 design. The photographs here instead use Polymaker Panchroma PLA in Transparent Cyan and Transparent Natural – this also works well.
You can use PETG HF or Basic for the rare use of gray or black as accent detail, or simply recolor those details to use one of the two main colors. Note: due to the nature of the multicolor parts as-designed, Plates 4 in particular is a pretty long print.
When printing the main core, note that a “mirrored” version is provided. The only practical difference is which side of the assembled unit will have the open circle cutout for the Mac mini's ventilation.
I provide basic slicer settings with supports in critical areas only. I recommend a 0.12 mm layer height for detail in the slightly contoured areas. Future versions of the print profile may make use of adaptive layer heights to speed things up where this is not necessary.
Assembly guidance
Each of the build plates calls out which magnets to use – 6Dx3H – for parts on that plate. All should fit snugly, but a tiny dab of CA glue may be desired.
Once all magnets are installed and the Mac mini is placed in the core, the top, base, front, and rear can be slid onto the (snug) dovetails and snap into place with the magnets.
The solid side and vented side attach to the core using M5 fasteners and M5 heat-set threaded inserts per links above.
Optionally, an “M4 Spacer Plate” can fill the gap between the Mac mini and the solid side. Hopefully, you should be able to make out a faint “M4” through the clear PETG or translucent PLA as for the PowerMac G3.
Read more about the Blue-and-White PowerMac G3 from Six Colors:
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Related models for M4 Mac Mini:
- "Mac mini Pro" enclosure, (à la 2019+ Mac Pro)
- “Mac mini Pro Rack" modular system
- “Mac mini Trash Can” enclosure, (à la 2013-2019 Mac Pro)
- “Mac mini G5” enclosure, (à la 2003-2006 PowerMac G5 or 2006-2013 Mac Pro)
- "M4 Cube" enclosure, (à la PowerMac G4 Cube, modernized)
- “Mac mini Pro Max” MagSafe and Apple Watch charging base
- Apple Icon Garden Bouquet for M4 Mac mini
- Nintendo NES enclosure
- Protective bumper case in TPU
- Mac App Icon and Logo “Hats”
- "Gridfinity Hats”
- 6-Color Rainbow Stage MagSafe Charger
- Santa Hat
- Gift Wrap: Ribbon and Bow
Related models for Mac Studio and M1-M2 Mac mini:
- “Mac Studio Pro” enclosure, (à la 2019+ Mac Pro)
- Gridfinity Hats"
Related models, other:
- “iPhone XDR” - for MagSafe and StandBy mode
- Mac Pro Desk Model - standalone 3D printable display model
License
You shall not share, sub-license, sell, rent, host, transfer, or distribute in any way the digital or 3D printed versions of this object, nor any other derivative work of this object in its digital or physical format (including - but not limited to - remixes of this object, and hosting on other digital platforms). The objects may not be used without permission in any way whatsoever in which you charge money, or collect fees.
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