4 ms·
On the subject of Apple's hole-machining process, I recently noticed how tiny the light-grill holes are on the older wireless Apple keyboards: https://i.imgur.c
by alanbernstein 7y ago
On the subject of Apple's hole-machining process, I recently noticed how tiny the light-grill holes are on the older wireless Apple keyboards: https://i.imgur.com/l9n9Cp2.jpg https://i.imgur.com/l9n9Cp2.jpg. Look at the ruler, marked in mm - the holes are less than .1mm in diameter. I was wondering how they did this, I guess a laser or plasma cutter is the only way?
- anbop 7y agoThey mill it from the back until it's quite thin and then blast some holes through with a laser.
- kss238 7y agoI would guess Electric Discharge Machining.
- solarkraft 7y agoIt's an either super thinly machined or super finely laser perforated area (or both). They used to do this on MacBook Pros as well, I'm not sure whether they still do it.
- evv 7y agoLasers. I think their technique is top-secret, because I don't see lights-through-metal on many other products. https://venturebeat.com/2011/11/04/apple-laser-manufacturing/ https://venturebeat.com/2011/11/04/apple-laser-manufacturing...
- alanbernstein 7y agoCool, I figured someone must have reported on it, but couldn't find that.
- amelius 7y agoAren't lasers a standard method for cutting 2d work? Perhaps they are using the same technique, but in a 3d setup. Edit: found an interesting link: https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/faq-what-are-the-problems-with-laser-cutting-of-aluminium-and-how-do-i-overcome-them https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/faq-what... > The 'aluminium cutting system' which most modern equipment uses is actually a way of protecting the laser rather than an innovative technique for cutting.
- joshvm 7y agoThey found a company that built machines that could laser mill 20um holes and bought them out. It's unclear if they bought the capacity (i.e. all their stock) or if they actually acquired them. The reports vary. https://blog.bolt.io/no-you-cant-manufacture-that-like-apple-does-93bea02a3bbf https://blog.bolt.io/no-you-cant-manufacture-that-like-apple...
- bredren 7y agoThey’ve done both right? Gorilla glass was a capacity pickup?
- pwodhouse 7y agoThat photo is so dark and blurry that I can't see the holes.
- alanbernstein 7y agoSorry, it was served as full resolution and quality on desktop for me, but significantly worse on mobile. Should have uploaded a closer crop I guess. Try "request desktop version" if your browser can do that. It's as bright as it can be while still picking up the LED light.
- christoph 7y agoYes, they use lasers. The old MacBooks used to have the webcam light in screen bezel use this tech. It seems to be slowly disappearing (has disappeared?) from their products though. https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2011/02/apple-wins-patents-for-light-sensitive-transitive-displays.html https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2011/02/apple-w...
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- jpalomaki 7y ago"What happened when Apple wanted to CNC machine a million MacBook bodies a year? They bought 10k CNC machines to do it. How about when they wanted to laser drill holes in MacBook Pros for the sleep light but only one company made a machine that could drill those 20 µm holes in aluminum? It bought the company that made the machines and took all the inventory" [1] (2014) [1] https://blog.bolt.io/no-you-cant-manufacture-that-like-apple-does-93bea02a3bbf https://blog.bolt.io/no-you-cant-manufacture-that-like-apple...