I can venture a guess as to how our Japanese friends are doing this.
I was an industrial designer in my former life. ;)
They're using a process know as RTV casting.
This is the same process they use to make multiples of all kinds of
special effects props (laser pistols, etc.)
Basically, a mold is made of the original parts using RTV (Room
Temperature Vulcanizing) silicon.
The original part is then removed and the mold is injected with polyester
resin (in this case, clear resin).
And there you go, clear parts of anything you want!
The process is actually more complicated than it sounds but you can
probably find a model making/prototyping shop that would do it for you
for a price (it ain't cheap). Making the silicon mold is the hard part.
You're simulating complex mechanical tooling with silicon and you have to
plan it out carefully or you'll destroy the mold when you try to remove
the original parts. Things like the speaker holes would have to be
drilled and you'd probably have to clean up the parts to make them look
as good as they do in those photos.
Still, The Newton would be pretty easy to mold from what I can see (I
can't see the inside).
You can buy all of the stuff yourself (at a plastic dealer) but you'll
need some basic mold making knowledge.
Not impossible, but it requires alot of time and patience.
Obviously, our Japanese friends have both.
-Andy
On 3/10/00 5:01 PM, Robert Benschop at robertbenschop@bigfoot.com wrote:
>
>Wow, I want one, is there anybody on the list that can enlighten us about
>the text on the page, I would love to know how they made this baby ;-)
>
>
>Robert Benschop
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