Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Thank you, all clear that internal antennas will all fully work after this :)
I believe I have not, I will try it, I am still on kp42-wl (the injection one) so I will hopefully update to something reasonably new this summer when I have time to restore it if it bricks :)

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

UPDATE: the damm 3000mAh 18650 battery's i got are FAKE.... i finally had the time to test them to begin the test for Estel's XXL cover idea using 2x 18650 for cheap and 6000mAh+ battery.

The battery's i got i tested to only 1000mAh....

So now i have to source some other 18650 battery's.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Sorry for dragging this slighty of topic.
I am probably wrong, but I was under the impression kernel-power had the modified fmtx with it (since power42 IIRC). Also the reason for FM-boost to be obsolete with KP installed.
Is this correct?

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

AFAIK no - kernel-power have power boosted to 120 (max), but no unlocked fmtx (that work in full FM range).

But I may be wrong on that.

/Estel

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

As promised, I've took few photos and videos of CNC machine :)

It's nothing nothing spectacular as per "eye candy", as it is only "planning" some wood... The main interesting thing about it, is that it shows progress in milling precision. Basically, after every major upgrade, I do "planning" of single wood plate, and later, measure - via micrometer - how precise it is, compared to theoretical precision possible using this driver and LinuxCNC software.

As seen on video, theoretical precision is 0.0001 millimeter. Precision in practice, hoever, was more like 0.05 mm. It wasn't very good, for purpose of our project.

Fortunately, thanks to absolutely awesome support of Maemo users, I was able to modify machine with better parts and upgrade design. Especially, I've just got enormous fund injection from Mentalist Traceur - we've made some nice agreement, that concluded in him basically financing purchase of premium quality, linux compatible CNC driver board (made by one awesome CNC DIY engineer) and all parts required to benefit from it's first class specification.

Thanks to this, + awesome people that either pre-ordered or donated (many times amounts, that I would never expect, making me want to work on this even much harder, to properly "exploit" this support ASAP, for project's benefit), I was able to boost actual precision to 0.005 mm now. After arrival and integration of other parts that I've ordered, I expect as good results as 0.001 mm.

This final number is absolutely sufficient precision, for milling thing like body replacement, without risk of defective units - it also allow to properly fight (mentioned earlier) aluminum volume changes due to temperature (via "finishing" passes, that need to be very precise).

Finally, why only wood is milled on those photos? First, it allows to cut costs on material used for tuning tests, second - due to negligible thermal volume change, is one of best materials for measuring and confirming precision (via micrometer). After arrival of other parts and final assembly (+ confirming, on wood, that everything is OK), I'll go back to testing on metal, and finally, to milling prototypes :)

http://lorienart.pl/linuxcnc1.jpg
http://lorienart.pl/linuxcnc2.jpg
http://lorienart.pl/linuxcnc3.jpg

Videos:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xs6...xcnc-diy-cnc-1
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xs6...xcnc-diy-cnc-2

Huge thanks again, for every pre-order and any donation!

/Estel

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Just found this (can't believe it's escaped my attention until now) and I'm definitely interested and excited for how it all turns out!

Best of luck!

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

I'd like to see the videos, but I'm getting this message:

You need to upgrade your Adobe Flash Player to watch this video.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

This is a guess but are you trying to watch on your N900?

You can't watch Flash with N900 browser try to search dailymotion on cutetube

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

I wanted to upload in on Youtube, to allow watching on N900 (well, all photos and videos were took and uploaded via N900, too), but apparently, Youtube doesn't like me or my videos:

http://lorienart.pl/fckyoutube.png

Apparently, they know better than me, if my videos are copyrighted, so I had to choose other service.

/Estel

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

are you gonna sell wood cases too for people who want a lighter n900, just curious.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

OT fix for playing flash on N900:-

Hack flashplayer version with hex editor.
If anyone is interested I changed offset 0x005b61fc in libflashplayer.so to 31 31 2E 32 20 72 32 30 32
(11.2 r 232).

was 31 30 2E 31 20 72 36 31 (00)

Adobe sites still reports 10.1 r61 but works on facebook/youtube at least!

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

I presume you announcing this means the money wire came through succesfully?

Semi-technical question I'm curious about: Does the CNC hardware operate the same way on metal, vs wood? That is, have you ever noticed a precision difference between the same operation on wood vs. metal (not counting the temperature change caused size change in metal)? If it's the same, then perhaps going off of Changegames' idea of wooden cases, you could refine the actual prototype models on wood as well (doing a metal one occasionally to make sure everything still worked, but not for each and every prototype adjustment), for cost efficiency. Though you may have thought of that already.

I would imagine, if there was enough serious demand for it, and it actually made sense (i.e. it didn't completely muffle antenna signal, weight more than aluminum and/or plastic, or trap heat worse than plastic, and wasn't prone to breaking), that he would.

Given that this is written communication, I cannot determine if your statement was serious or mocking, however I figured might as well answer seriously.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

It would be cool to be able to get a case made of a semi-exotic wood, like Hawaiian Koa. Though I would prefer aluminum, I'd order both aluminum and Koa (or any other kind of semi-exotic wood) if both were available.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Let me guess... Ultrafire? ;) Most of them you find online are fake, old recycled laptop cells wrapped in counterfeit Ultrafire label. There are "real" ultrafires but it's almost impossible to know. I think there are counterfeit Trustfire as well. Basically all *fire brands are questionable.

It is believed they are all recycled cells and the "real" ones are better tested than the "fake" ones, but using them in pairs can be dangerous because you don't even know if the 2 "identical" batteries you buy have the same chemistry or capacity. Buying the *fire brand is basically random luck, some people get a really good battery others are total crap.

I think current "Best" brands of 3100mAh protected 18650 are mostly assembled by Keeppower as OEM, using Panasonic cells and Sanyo protection circuit. There is an eBay seller with Keeppower originals which I personally have purchased:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270965512744

Other brands who seem to be good, brand new cells, are XTAR, Senybor, AW, Orbtronic. Often they have the same look and I guess they're actually all made by Keeppower. I'm not aware of counterfeits of these so chances should be better that you get a real original battery.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

yes wood would be wonderful, but, imho, wood would needed to be assembled onto aluminum or something like that.
wood would also be much more fragile too
maybe wooden logo "N900" or something?
what about engraving on cover or printing? that would be nice too :)

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

I'm absolutely sure, that I've sent You PM with thanks and details (and photos and videos), few hours before posting here. Haven't You received it? In such case, I'm really sorry, as I never meant to have You informed about successful transfer via 3th person mention, here.

As for Wood, in bigger scale, it reacts similarly - of course, considering swapping mill's razor to appropriate one, adjusting RPM, etc.

Of course on smaller details, it acts differently, due to wood being made of strains. But, it's possible to test first prototypes on wood, and that's my plan :)

Changegames, Ken-Young - I've though about some fancy wooden cases :) It wouldn't be as practical as alu ones, but who knows? As Mentalist said, with demand, I don't mind trying it. N900 in case made of some exotic wood, would look kinda "luxury", yep?

wook_sf, as declared earlier in this thread, custom engraving (text, logo, or whatever buyer feel fancy) is a special "thank You" for people pre-ordering. In some special cases - like Ken-Young, who donated almost as much as replacement body pre-order, without actually pre ordering - custom engraving will be proposed too :)

/Estel

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

after i tested the battery's i found an article about the randomess og finding the original good ultrafire....

but i found some others and will get them when there is some spare money, i do have a set that should total 4000+ from a HP laptop, i get a lot of working/non-working laptops now and then, i used the other 3x2 cells for my 1015PN wich now has a battery that has the normal 3x2 2200mAh cells + 3x2 2200mAh cells and it works nicely, have doubled life time on battery power.
Will be adding to my battery thread under misc....

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Ah, yes, the last PM I have from you was on the 10th. Possibly a typo in my username, or you hit 'reply' on a message in your sentbox from you to me - in which case, the forum software would just use your own username as the recipient (I know I've accidentally done that a few times, expecting the intelligent GMail behavior instead of the more automatically use person in sender field behavior of most forums).

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

really really nice, and i am looking forward to see more upcoming.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Are you going to make normal "original" back covers, too?

I'll keep checking back, when it gets closer I would get a replacement body and an "original" and larger back cover, but I'm too poor right now.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Estel,

After reading most of this thread, I feel I need to give something back to this community. I'm interested in ordering a back cover with two 3000mAh 18650 (If that's possible). I want to send you a PM, regarding pre-orders, but I cannot find this option. Do I need more than a specified amount of posts, in order to send Private messages?

Jaag

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Kind of top right, a link should say "Private Messages (0)". Click it and on the list on the left you should find "Send New Private message" or something along those lines. Hope it helps :)

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

^^ he won't be able to send/receive PMs as he has less than 10posts...

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Correct, you need 10 posts or more to be able to PM. If Estel have an e-mail address listed on his account info somewhere you could use that?

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Thanks for the reply guys. I'll just get to the 10 count and settle for PM.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

@azkay
Yes, I'll make "regular" size backcovers (with better kickstand) too.

Jaag
Thanks a lot for Your will to support this project :) You can mail me at twilight312 at gmail.com (remove spaces, and replace "at" with @ - anti- spammer's harvesters protection).

Hoever, keep in mind, that it is not possible to put dual 18650 into backcover only (keeping sane thickness) - it require custom body, which is to come 2nd.

Also, possibility if using two 18650 haven't been 100% confirmed yet - it have to be placed "somewhere" inside body (via re-build battery socket), but, it can't interfere with audio jack and so goes on, which parts have to be in fixed position re motherboard. It require quite equilibristic planning, during projecting stage. Not to mention additional length increase (of batteries, not body/backcover) due to adaptor for BL5) connector (scavenged from cheap bl5j's, I suppose) needed, as battery port is also fixed in motherboard.


Still, donations and pre-orders help *much* to make it happen.

/Estel

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Hi Estel,

Count me in on

- the big one (mugen dual batt, tripod, ext. Antenna)
- small one

Having more than one belobed n900

Regards

Peb

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

I would preorder/donate if I hadn't already given $750 to an american friend so he wouldn't be homeless. Now I'm in -$48, lol.

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

@jaybeeare
I've received Your PM re CNC machine, but when I try to reply, forum respond with "this user decided to not receive PM's or can't receive one" (or similar nonsense). Could You, please, drop me Your mail address (via PM, for example, as apparently, I can receive one from You)?

/Estel

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Godda*mit i just can't get any battery's that actually work, got some from a seller that has a good rep and they also get around 1000mAh, test is still pending...

got these 3200mAh battery's from this seller, recieved 3800mAh... not we all know that Li-ion 18650 are not there yet, not even close.

anybody got somewhere i can actually get 2900+mAh 18650cells, i have alot of GOOD cells laying around but none really with much more then 2200mAh

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

This would be the perfect case for me. If only it could actually have an N800 sized screen too :rolleyes:

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

This is going to be an exciting project.
I'm not sure which one I would prefer yet, but I might be leaning toward larger case with all of its extra attachments.

I am currently using the Boxwave AluArmor case, but I'm pretty tired of flipping it open in order to get to the keyboard. The one thing I would really miss is the belt clip this case comes with.

Would it be possible to put a screw hole on your new case to use a swivel belt clip? http://www.boxwave.com/swivel-belt-c...el-d/bwpd/fmz/

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

IIRC, Phillips or Panasonic did 3000 mAh and 3800 mAh 18650's. I doubt that they would cheat about capacity *so* much. They're little more expensive, but definitely less risk of faking like with ultrafire. I'll search for some near my location, and forward You info about how much they cost, ok? Or just contact You with reputable sellers.

Nice to hear! I'm glad You like it.

I promise I'll check possibilities. considering FOSS nature of this project, (even though it's hardware ;) ) it shouldn't be a problem to include such easy thing as screw hole as a custom option, just for interested ones. I'm more afraid about actual do-ability here - backcover will be too thin for screw holes (batteries beneath), unless You choose mugen ones, and sacrifice second battery space for solid block of aluminum (which would also increase cost a little). Maybe other types of belt connectors are better option? Or just a regular leather case with belt connector, instead of forwarding this part to alu body?

/Estel

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

hello, keep me a $ 150 version for me
* I love my N900.
just that you would have to emviar me to Mexico along with assembly instructions. or a pdf file that explains it

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

I prefer a case leather horizontal with velcro and loop belt. It is more secure and elegant. Maybe you must consider this suggestion. I like this project :)

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

I would like to preorder 2x fullbody ($150) for my children :-)

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Just stumbled upon this idea...

I would love to see at least conceptual pictures about what you plan to create. Then more people at least would be willing to pledge on your mod.

Any visual idea would suffice. Even better if you made like 1 for your own and then took pictures of it for others to see.

I'm sure MANY (including myself) don't mind to purchase your idea hardware mod if we can see what we're paying for

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

Would definitely be in for a full body, sounds like an awesome project. :)

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

I'd be interested in a flat cover.

Sorry, if this has been mentioned (I don't have time to read the whole thread), but what are your plans for the camera lens cover?

Re: [Pre-Pre-Pre Announce]Black Aluminium replacement body & backcover for N900
 

camera lens covert is, of course, a must - in fact, it was mentioned in first post ;)

Status update: ~60% (my abstract estimation) of work needed to be done is completed. Thanks to absolutely awesome investors/pre-ordering ones/donors, I was able to aim for the best quality equipment upgrade for CNC milling machine (with adding my whole, humble personal savings, to the pool). Last parts arrived from Asia couple of days ago, and I'm still working on integrating them.

From the "not so great" side of news - personal affairs got me quite occupied lately, so I'm not moving forward as fast, as I would like to. But, I'm still doing whatever I can, and dedication is burning totally, inside me - thanks to fantastic people and their feedback, here.
---

Little news on organizational side - wooden variants - mentioned some pages ago, as a possibility - will make it as option, for sure. You wouldn't believe, how pleasant certain types of wood are, for such projects (I'm doing all tests, except final ones, on wood, to save on wasted material costs).

In fact, if You ask me, some exotic's wood cases result in more pleasant (to the touch, and as per stylish look) results, that alu - while still allowing for all goodies, and metal parts for heat dissipation (via contact with.pads for ground plane - N900's heat dissipation is done entirely via ground plane, anyway). +, Believe it or not, good quality wood is super-resistant for "generic" scratches - i.e. ones that appear on everyday use (not during sandpaper/screwdriver/knife tests), and fingertip marks. Which can't be said about alu, even anodized (facture effects help, but still, wood have this special "something).

Of course, it's just personal opinion, and alu remain main focus for this project, but I wouldn't be surprised, if I would choose wooden variant as "main" body for my own device, at the end. Also, it remain viable alternative, in case of signal strength problem being unfixable (highly unlikely, but still - after all, as said, any decrease of signal, in any N900's radio, is totally unacceptable, for scope of this project).