Printing cases compatible with Raspberry Pi is relatively simple. Printing a case to build a Mini ITX PC demands a bit more attention. So, what about printing our own laptop? The result can be something like the PinkPad, which uses parts from Lenovo, Toshiba, and Dell computers. It's a chaotic design, and the pink filament only confirms it…

Assembling and/or repairing a computer by combining parts from several machines is one of the oldest tricks in the world. Honestly, in many cases it's the only way to get the job done, since the manufacturer doesn't offer official spare parts, and we need a 'donor' to get out of trouble. In more extreme situations everything comes down to improvisation, and as someone who has used doorbell buttons to replace power buttons, I can swear by their effectiveness.

Now, this isn't seen as often in laptops. Installing a new SSD or more RAM doesn't present too many surprises, but when a failure arises in the screen, keyboard, trackpad, or cooling system, the laptop becomes hermetic, and we must obey its specifications. That's why the PinkPad draws so much attention. That, and the garish pink of its case.

PinkPad: 3D Printing, and Parts from Four PCs

PinkPad: Do You Want to Print Your Own Laptop?
I want more weird colors in computers, and I'm not talking about RGB

When I first entered its official page, I thought it was an April Fools' Day joke, but all the STL files are there. The user Crafty, also known as az4521, explains that the PinkPad combines:

  • The motherboard of a Dell Vostro 5481 (also compatible with the 5485 with Ryzen)
  • The cooler of a Toshiba Satellite C850 installed upside down
  • The keyboard of a Lenovo ThinkPad X61
  • The USB controller of a Lenovo ThinkPad T61
  • A Toshiba LTD104EDZS panel
  • M.2 extender, backlight driver, and an eDP to LVDS bridge (which is not that easy to use)
  • The battery of the Dell machine, modified to fit in the case
PinkPad: Do You Want to Print Your Own Laptop?
It doesn't look bad at all!
PinkPad: Do You Want to Print Your Own Laptop?
The rendered model

The cooler also needs a transistor, because Dell uses four-pin PWM control, and the Toshiba is three-pin. Obviously, the parts list doesn't have to be followed to the letter, since the PinkPad is presented as a very flexible project. Finally, would you be willing to print its case in pink? Personally, yes. That 'bootleg-iMac-china' essence from 2003 is no longer easy to come by…

Official site: Click here | Source: Hackaday