The biggest RISC OS portable ....

In memory of this thread… https://www.riscosopen.org/forum/forums/1/topics/9343

Or the fastes?

Since 2-3 weeks I have a working 3D-printer and have reactivated a old “fun project”.
Have made a DIY Wandboard (i.MX6 Quad) based Laptop. I had the parts I needed “on stock”.
Is a first try. Printed in a middle quality (layer thickness 0,25mm, 0,05-0,4mm are possible).
With Lid closed it is 300×274×45/35mm. Cardreader, SATA SSD and charging electronic are inside. Small speaker and a 1200×800 Display.
The Display is supported by the “build in” display driver of the i.MX6 port. The keyboard is a ThinPad USB one. TrackPoint and 3 mouse button is supported.
At this time it is working with RISC OS with a power supply. Have order a big battery from China. Should arrives me next few weeks.
Must sort any things. A “handfull” of changes in the drawings I must realize… Many small things to do. The devil in detail. Takes a lot of more time than this what I have at this time.

Sorry not the best pictures. Other are aviable from here but also not better ;-)

And now… I’m in holiday

This is truly impressive…! When you get back from holiday maybe you can say how long it took to ‘print’ the case?

I’m in holiday not out of the world. I can not work on this fun project but I can answer. ;-)

Printing the parts takes a long time. More than drawing it with FreeCAD.
All round about two days with the middle quality.
Base case: 20h
Display base: 12h
Display frame: 6h
Keyboard frame: 6h
Display clamp: 2h

Print with a better quality (0,1mm) takes round about three times longer.
Maybe 10% higher nozzle moving speed is possible with my printer.
I think about to use a Al-inlay to reduce the printing time.

Yeah… but…

You designed and printed your own case.

Damn! <whistles>

Rick said it for me.

I’ll add this – I’ve designed things like cases, for conventional mass production or for making a one off by conventional workshop techniques. The former would cost a lot more than Raik’s job for setting up, but thereafter almost certainly be cheaper per item if the quantity’s large enough; the latter pretty certainly more expensive. 2 days (or 6 days in high quality) sounds a lot, but a 3-D printer’s time is relatively cheap compared with a chap’s time in a workshop. (As long as you don’t have to have someone watching it!)

Very cool. Is it strong? Not really up on 3D printing, but it a lot of printed items I’ve seen look weak. Yours doesn’t though.

Cardreader, SATA SSD and charging electronic are inside. Small speaker and a 1200×800 Display. The Display is supported by the “build in” display driver of the i.MX6 port.

Congratulations Raik on creating such an impressive laptop. I also have an i.MX6 Quad and am very interested in some more details.

Is the display a 10" adafruit screen and is it connected to the HDMI interface or it there some other built in display driver? The card reader looks very neat, did you 3D print it or is it one designed to fit into a 3.5" desktop bay?

I am sure that many other people will be interested in more details of your building experiences.

Very cool. Is it strong? Not really up on 3D printing, but it a lot of printed items I’ve seen look weak.

3D printing can be very strong, depending on the material. I’ve done replacement locking mechanisms for my fold-up bike in nylon & stainless steel which are stronger than the originals. Not on a home printer though.

Sorry, I’m a bit slowly in holiday ;-)
An with SM-Art-phone is not easy for me. I lost the overview ;-)

Design and print was the plan since more then two years. I discuss with Andrew since a long time.

Self print takes a long time but if I order online it cost a lot more of money and time.

The case is strongly enough and more is possible if I use ABS not PLA and e.g. fill solid parts with more than 40% (I use at this time). Print via online printing service is stronger but takes more time and is very expensiv. The “Base case” should cost the same like my printer at sculpteo. Thats the reason why the project paused for a long time.

The display is a older model from Chalkboard Electronic for the Pi1 with a hdmi2lvc adapter. The first plan was to design a Pi Laptop but than I read from the Pi-Top project at kickstarter…
The cardreader is one for a 3,5" desktop bay. I have also a 4xUSB one without cardreader.

As I wrote. Is the first try. (M)any small things to do for a “usable” small batch solution and any more for a better looking one. ;-)

I can print it in grey, than I have a A4 “look a like” and must change nothing in design ;-)

The display is a older model from Chalkboard Electronic for the Pi1 with a hdmi2lvc adapter.

@Raik many thanks for the feed back, I had a look at Chalkboard site and I see they make a 14" touch screen as well. Not sure about the touch screen bit but I am thinking that a 14" screen would be a great basis for a RISC laptop along the lines of your project.

The display is one of the parts I will investigate. All other parts I use are aviable.
As I remember the with of the 14" display is round about 320mm. The bed of my printer 300mm. The 10" display should be ok. Same resolution 1366×768.

the with of the 14" display is round about 320mm. The bed of my printer 300mm.

Bah. And there was me wanting at least a 17" full HD display (or even better, 2560×1600).

You wouldn’t be the first to make something in two parts and glue them (or screw them) together…

8~)

Sadly, I don’t think I can afford to pay you a fair price for such a beast, or even the version you’ll actually be making, much as I would like to. 8~(

Is not easy to find a solution for all ;-)
I prefer a laptop size like my business ThinkPad. With battery round about 300×255mm. Display is also 1366×768.
I will think about all ideas.

As I remember the width of the 14" display is round about 320mm. The bed of my printer 300mm.

Yes I checked with my PiTop and with a 13" screen, it also comes in at 340mm width.
I look forward to the conclusions from your further research. In particular, solutions for choice of battery and method of charging and also how to create the hinges between the display and keyboard. Great idea to use the ThinkPad keyboard, it is a very nice one to use.

Last “days” I have spend any time to made the parts work, I will use in the WB-Top.
I2C is a bit problematic, because not all things are working at this time. Access to the BattManager via I2C-1 is not working. I2C-2 ist working but it gives curious results e.g. 3000% accu power etc. I2C-3 is working and the results from the BattManager access are correct but the mouse works not correct… I only change the connection “hard” and the bus-number “soft”. Maybe I’m the problem. I’m not a good programmer :-(
Have found a other display 1366×768 with a size smaller than 300mm.
And I think about (more than this, I’m sure I d so) to change the design of the case. I think I will made something like the ATARI Stacy. This will reduce the thickness.

Damn – it’s not that long ago since I dumped my old IBM ThinkPad(?) which I used to lug around on assignments. Nice project! :-) It brought back some good memories. ;-) I expect yours doesn’t weigh as much as my old brick of a laptop used to!

Is doesn’t weight as much as my business ThinkPad X230. At this time.
I will made the keyboard and the display frame in stainless steel with a grind surface. ;-)

@Raik I am waiting for my 14" touch screen to arrive from chalkboard. I am thinking of making the first prototype laptop from wood or acrylic before looking at 3D printing. Not sure if Risc provides for touch control but one step at a time.

I have two touch screen from chalkboard. This one I use for my Laptop and a other one I use for my old BeagleBook-project (1; 2; 3 ).
All are not working with RISC OS.
The DSI screen for my PiTab and any Galaxy-chipset-displays are working with Thomas TouchScreen-Driver. Any other are supported as a mouse, I think.
Keep my fingers crossed.

The latest is no longer the biggest. ;-)
The concept is ready and the prototyp is working.

The stainless frames (display, keyboard and back) are missing. Will make later if all things clear but before I must solve any small problems and make any improvements.

Last pictures near ready

But note, the latest “small things” need the most of time

But note, the latest “small things” need the most of time

Classic :)

It’s practically a Koan (and in English).

Whence Arundhati Roy’s novel, The God of Small Things…

Whence Arundhati Roy’s novel, The God of Small Things…

That set me thinking: Small Gods.
Pratchett was known for parodying life and literature so I thought perhaps he’d seen this and come up with a title and the title took on it’s own life. However it seems Arundhati started her manuscript in 1992, which was when Small Gods was published, and finished in 1996.