3 ms·

I don't know if magnesium is a common choice for computer enclosures, but one of the few examples of magnesium that I immediately recall (besides Surface) is a

by kccqzy 3y ago

I don't know if magnesium is a common choice for computer enclosures, but one of the few examples of magnesium that I immediately recall (besides Surface) is a NeXT computer that went up in flames: https://simson.net/ref/1993/cubefire.html https://simson.net/ref/1993/cubefire.html

buildbot 3y ago
Pretty common! Many cameras use a cast magnesium frame too. It’s surprisingly hard to ignite! As your link explains it took them a bit haha.
loughnane 3y ago
The ms surface books were magnesium I think.
SeanLuke 3y ago
It's important to note that Simson Garfinkel had to go through extraordinary measures to get the NeXT cube to catch fire. Magnesium is pretty safe.
kcb 3y ago
Magnesium is pretty common in higher end Windows laptops.
lhl 3y ago
One additional note is that it's possible to make Magnesium alloys much more resistant to burning (adding Calcium and Yttrium for example): https://www.ait.ac.at/en/research-topics/casting-technologies/projects/flame-resistant-magnesium-alloys https://www.ait.ac.at/en/research-topics/casting-technologie... Related: * Testing of WE43/Elektron 21 vs AZ91, ZE41: https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2010Conference/files/Magnesium_Use_In_Aircraft/LyonMagnesium/LyonWhymagnesiumalloysburnPres.pdf https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2010Conference/files/Magnesium_U... * Final FAA evaluation of flammability of various magnesium alloys (for aircraft use): https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/pdf/ar11-13.pdf https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/pdf/ar11-13.pdf * The Wikipedia is a pretty good overview of a bunch of the material properties: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_alloy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_alloy For context btw, ignition temp (in furnace) for magnesium alloys is around 600C, which a house fire can reach: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010938X11004811 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00109...
GuB-42 3y ago
It is rather common. My midrange MSI laptop is made of magnesium alloy for instance. It has similar properties to aluminum but it can be cast, making it a material of choice as a more premium alternative to plastic.
- rfrey 3y ago
  Aluminum can certainly also be cast.
generalizations 3y ago
The Thinkpad x230 also has a magnesium case. I know, because I was curious why a 4' drop onto concrete did nothing but scratch its paint.
accrual 3y ago
Lenovo, and previously IBM, manufactured magnesium alloy chassis and roll cages for the Thinkpad line of laptops. I personally have a couple. It's an interesting material, it's very stiff and light, usually with a dark gray color and a sort of chalkboard-like texture.
bri3d 3y ago
It's very popular for laptops. The reason Magnesium is popular is a combination of favorable physical properties like light weight, but especially, the specific injection molding process mentioned in the article, Thixomolding. https://www.designnews.com/materials-assembly/thixomolding-whats https://www.designnews.com/materials-assembly/thixomolding-w... does a decent job explaining the process and how it's unique from most metal injection molding.
nrp 3y ago
Magnesium alloy is reasonably common in notebooks and other consumer electronics. Sometimes it's an internal structural element with a different cosmetic outer part, and sometimes as in the Framework Laptop 16 along with some of the higher end ThinkPads, it's directly the outer shell. As noted in the linked story, it's actually really difficult to burn the kinds of magnesium alloy that are used for structural purposes, and the author had to jump through hoops to get it to work.

by kccqzy 3y ago

buildbot 3y ago

Pretty common! Many cameras use a cast magnesium frame too. It’s surprisingly hard to ignite! As your link explains it took them a bit haha.

loughnane 3y ago

The ms surface books were magnesium I think.

SeanLuke 3y ago

It's important to note that Simson Garfinkel had to go through extraordinary measures to get the NeXT cube to catch fire. Magnesium is pretty safe.

kcb 3y ago

Magnesium is pretty common in higher end Windows laptops.

lhl 3y ago

One additional note is that it's possible to make Magnesium alloys much more resistant to burning (adding Calcium and Yttrium for example): https://www.ait.ac.at/en/research-topics/casting-technologies/projects/flame-resistant-magnesium-alloys https://www.ait.ac.at/en/research-topics/casting-technologie... Related: * Testing of WE43/Elektron 21 vs AZ91, ZE41: https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2010Conference/files/Magnesium_Use_In_Aircraft/LyonMagnesium/LyonWhymagnesiumalloysburnPres.pdf https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2010Conference/files/Magnesium_U... * Final FAA evaluation of flammability of various magnesium alloys (for aircraft use): https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/pdf/ar11-13.pdf https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/pdf/ar11-13.pdf * The Wikipedia is a pretty good overview of a bunch of the material properties: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_alloy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_alloy For context btw, ignition temp (in furnace) for magnesium alloys is around 600C, which a house fire can reach: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010938X11004811 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00109...

GuB-42 3y ago

It is rather common. My midrange MSI laptop is made of magnesium alloy for instance. It has similar properties to aluminum but it can be cast, making it a material of choice as a more premium alternative to plastic.

rfrey 3y ago
Aluminum can certainly also be cast.

generalizations 3y ago

The Thinkpad x230 also has a magnesium case. I know, because I was curious why a 4' drop onto concrete did nothing but scratch its paint.

accrual 3y ago

Lenovo, and previously IBM, manufactured magnesium alloy chassis and roll cages for the Thinkpad line of laptops. I personally have a couple. It's an interesting material, it's very stiff and light, usually with a dark gray color and a sort of chalkboard-like texture.

bri3d 3y ago

It's very popular for laptops. The reason Magnesium is popular is a combination of favorable physical properties like light weight, but especially, the specific injection molding process mentioned in the article, Thixomolding. https://www.designnews.com/materials-assembly/thixomolding-whats https://www.designnews.com/materials-assembly/thixomolding-w... does a decent job explaining the process and how it's unique from most metal injection molding.

nrp 3y ago

Magnesium alloy is reasonably common in notebooks and other consumer electronics. Sometimes it's an internal structural element with a different cosmetic outer part, and sometimes as in the Framework Laptop 16 along with some of the higher end ThinkPads, it's directly the outer shell. As noted in the linked story, it's actually really difficult to burn the kinds of magnesium alloy that are used for structural purposes, and the author had to jump through hoops to get it to work.