In early May, we shared a tutorial for installing a mini arcade inside a Nintendo NES gamepad, but I must admit that collecting these miniatures as they are is also worthwhile. Now, if you still want a good dose of DIY, you can follow Michael Pick on YouTube, who surprised us with his mini PC Gamer based on a Raspberry Pi, and now doubles down with a reduced version of an iMac.
Some hobbies present a certain difficulty when it comes to being combined, but that's not the case with computing and miniatures. For example, one of the fastest and cheapest ways to explore that mix is through papercraft, with excellent models of vintage computers that only ask for a couple of prints, several cuts, glue, and a bit of patience.
However, DIY takes us much further. With the help of 3D printing, emulation, and systems like the Raspberry Pi, we can make mini versions of (almost) anything. This path brings us back to Michael Pick's channel, who decided to repeat his previous formula by creating nothing less than a miniature of the desktop iMac.
Building the Mini iMac
The first step is, logically, to create the complete model for 3D printing. His Creality printer did a pretty good job, while imperfections were corrected with putty and sandpaper. Needless to say, an iMac needs to be thin even if it's a miniature, and one of the keys to achieving that goal is the screen, with two mounting points for the Raspberry Pi and the Raspberry Pi Zero on the same controller PCB on the back.
But the most controversial part of the project is the modification of the ports. Between the USB and Ethernet connectors, the Raspberry Pi is still too tall. Michael decided to save time and cut them using a Dremel. Although he technically got away with it, personally I would have tried to desolder the ports, or at least use tape to protect the Raspberry Pi's PCB and reduce the chance of a short due to metal particles. The USB power and data ports were redirected to the bottom of the case, with a good amount of glue.
If we set aside the Dremel and the screws he used to close the case (they give it a certain 'industrial touch', but the comments have not been encouraging), the final result is certainly positive. And in short, that's the best part of DIY: each one can apply their own modifications, and there is always room for improvement.
