At 02:31 PM 8/26/98 PDT, you wrote:
>Curious. Same goes for people who aren't in a large company and
>invent various other things. How did he 'invent' a gun without
>owning the necessary tools (at least I doubt a magazine writer would
>own this stuff) to process metal? Also, how did Woz make a case for
>the Apple ][, etc? Are there companies that take single orders
>like this?
Well, reloading is a popular sport -- you take used cartridges, cast your
own bullets (heat metal, pour into molds), and combine them with as much
gunpowder as you like. Modifying the casing wouldn't be too hard, I
imagine for anyone with any basic metalworking skills, nor would altering
the bullet mold.
As for computer cases, early models were probably handmade; it's not that
hard. Take a run to your local Tap Plastics store. You can pick up all
kinds/sizes of plastics that can then be made into just about anything.
Also, model car/plane/boat shops probably have stuff to let you work with
plastics.
Even metal cases aren't that hard; I have a friend who built, as one of his
first projects, an amazing set of cabinets/shelves for his Land Rover out
of aluminum. Some simple tools are required, but nothing earth-shattering.
I was talking to someone recently (Rax?) about building a custom
wood-glass-and-brass case for a computer. Not that hard to build your
first one in a plywood case, then worry about the production cases once
you've got financing. (Of course, just make sure that cable going to the
vax behind the curtain doesn't show! 8^)
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Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger_at_sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
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Received on Wed Sep 02 1998 - 19:52:27 BST