H320 Replacement Casing
January 7, 2010 11:27 AM Subscribe
Where can I cheaply replace custom plastic parts?
I've got an old iRiver H320. The exterior casing is composed of two removable plastic pieces, a front and a back piece, each one sized at about 62x103mm (2.5x4 in.) I'm hoping some MeFi'ers know of, or could help me find, a business where I can send in these two bits of plastic in order to receive some custom molded cheap, clear plastic replacements.
I've got an old iRiver H320. The exterior casing is composed of two removable plastic pieces, a front and a back piece, each one sized at about 62x103mm (2.5x4 in.) I'm hoping some MeFi'ers know of, or could help me find, a business where I can send in these two bits of plastic in order to receive some custom molded cheap, clear plastic replacements.
Best bet would be cannibalize old parts from eBay, probably.
posted by unixrat at 11:42 AM on January 7, 2010
posted by unixrat at 11:42 AM on January 7, 2010
Response by poster: This has been attempted a few times in the past by the Mistic River community, on a larger scale. See here.
Thanks for the feedback, jon1270. I guess the prior attempts failed for a reason.
posted by Jay Jech at 11:45 AM on January 7, 2010
Thanks for the feedback, jon1270. I guess the prior attempts failed for a reason.
posted by Jay Jech at 11:45 AM on January 7, 2010
ProtoMold does short run injection molding for a reasonable cost if you want to produce these for sale yourself.
Disclaimer: I've worked with most and are friends with many of the guys at Protomold. I have no other interest in the company.
posted by chazlarson at 2:31 PM on January 7, 2010
Disclaimer: I've worked with most and are friends with many of the guys at Protomold. I have no other interest in the company.
posted by chazlarson at 2:31 PM on January 7, 2010
Another option would be to cast them yourself. MAKE has run tutorials on copying plastic parts in the past.
posted by chazlarson at 2:32 PM on January 7, 2010
posted by chazlarson at 2:32 PM on January 7, 2010
I'm not sure what the state of 3-D printing is these days. There is probably something out there capable of clear and .05" resolution (which should be about enough) but if such a thing is readily available to the consumer is a different matter.
If you want to go all DIY on this, you could make a silicone mold and then try pouring your own, but if this is something you want now, not in a year or so after you get really good at your new hobby, that might not be the best plan either.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 3:41 PM on January 7, 2010
If you want to go all DIY on this, you could make a silicone mold and then try pouring your own, but if this is something you want now, not in a year or so after you get really good at your new hobby, that might not be the best plan either.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 3:41 PM on January 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jon1270 at 11:37 AM on January 7, 2010