Compact Mac's feet project

[Kay K.M.Mods]

Many compact Macs have lost their feet or have been hydrolyzed to dissolve. Also, many substitutes are completely different in shape.

So we are working on a new replacement foot. It takes a lot of manual work to make the same shape, and it takes time to make a beautiful shape. The target amount is about $ 10. Of course, making molds and mass-producing them will be cheaper, but I have no idea how many people want this...
However, if the manufacturing method is the same as it is, it will not be profitable, so it may not be sold. Please tell us your opinion.

 

[Ron's Computer Videos]

An item like this is for people looking to do a total restoration, and not folks just wanting to slap the cheapest solution on their machine.

This seems like a premium product… so I wouldn’t try to compete with 3M generic.

 

[Stephen]

Very nice!

A small bench-top injection mold machine might be sufficient in combination with a small custom mold (could be 3D printed):

I've done similar small batch production for Garmin mounts using RTV silicone molds.

 

[Eric's Edge]

I've been thinking about making replacement rubber feet for my PowerBook 520c using hand made silicone molds. I had some success creating polyurethane parts for a 116 to 120 film spool adapter for an antique camera. The cheap silicone caulk mixed with corn starch I used to make the mold was surprisingly durable. Could be a useful substitute for the rubber. It can be dyed black as well.

 

[Kay K.M.Mods]

@Ron's Computer Videos @Stephen @_SDGOL_
Thank you guys for lot of comments. Stephen gave me a DM link for cheap replacement parts, so I'll link to it here.
https://bindingsource.com/3m-bumpon-protective-products-sj5012-white-3000-case/
The parts linked here look very good to me. The moment I saw this link, the sky turned black and I felt like the project was over...lol
However, the linked Feet is 3000 pieces and costs 190 USD, but I'm not sure if the shape is accurate. One thing I can say is the notation of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm). Mac feet are actually 15mm when measuring flare of foot.

 

[ElBaroni]

Cheaper here. Might be worth a look.

 

[Kay K.M.Mods]

Cheaper here. Might be worth a look.

Oh yes, I've seen the foot of that link before. The shape is good. But it's not the right size. Mac feet are 14mm in diameter.

 

[Elemenoh]

I love the idea of making accurate replacements. That being said, compact Mac feet might be the last ones I'd want. I'd be most interested in replacement rubber feet and stoppers for PowerBooks where they often melt and are very noticeable when missing / melted.

Is it possible to cast a rubber-like material without an injection molding machine?

 

[Kay K.M.Mods]

The new material TPE allows for filament printing instead of resin printing. It is made using 100% infill using a Bambu Lab 3D printer.
For now, we have listed it in our store as a great value 8pcs in one pack.

Gimme New Feet! for Mac | infinityproducts

Gimme New Feet! Mac, with a New Material!/Set of 8pcs (for 2 compact Macs) Compatible models: Mac128K(512K), MacPlus, SE(/30), Classic(II), ColorClassic(II). We believe that quite a few enthusiasts are searching for replacement rubber feet for their vintage Macs. Our previous version, Gimme New...

en.infinityproducts.co.jp

 

[Trash80toG4]

Go for the original 128K prototype feets, complete with Apple Logo.

 

[Kay K.M.Mods]

Go for the original 128K prototype feets, complete with Apple Logo.

Hahaha, yea. I thought the US store I looked at had it listed. *I forgot where...
I'm sure enthusiasts will be happy, especially if it has an Apple mark on it, but there are mixed opinions on how to handle the Apple logo. I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat, so personally I don't really like to touch it.

 

[bakkus]

Go for the original 128K prototype feets, complete with Apple Logo.

@jcm-1 sells a version of these at https://jcm-1.com/product/macintosh-bumper-feet-prototype-style/

 

[JDW]

@jcm-1 sells a version of these at https://jcm-1.com/product/macintosh-bumper-feet-prototype-style/

Personally, if I had a choice between a rather hard and firm foot that sports the Apple logo (which I won't ever see in daily use), or a softer foot that more resembles the original and which I know won't scratch any desks at all, I think Kay's solution is the winner here.

Here's what the 2 product pages say:

1. JCM feet: "printed them in flexible TPU filament"

2. Kay's feet: "Compared to TPU, a similar material that we previously tested, TPE is softer and provides better grip—making it an ideal choice for our product."

Remember that the weight of your Mac rests on the feet, so I personally think that SoftnessMatters™.

 

[jcm-1]

The softness of the feet is dictated mostly by the hardness measurement, like Shore or similar. I'm curious what the hardness value is on Kay's product.

 

[jcm-1]

Personally, if I had a choice between a rather hard and firm foot that sports the Apple logo (which I won't ever see in daily use), or a softer foot that more resembles the original and which I know won't scratch any desks at all, I think Kay's solution is the winner here.

Here's what the 2 product pages say:

1. JCM feet: "printed them in flexible TPU filament"

2. Kay's feet: "Compared to TPU, a similar material that we previously tested, TPE is softer and provides better grip—making it an ideal choice for our product."

Remember that the weight of your Mac rests on the feet, so I personally think that SoftnessMatters™.

The TPU I use is not hard and won't scratch any normal surface. My workbench is pressed fiberboard. I can scratch it with my fingernail. My printed feet don't mar that surface at all.

 

[Kay K.M.Mods]

@jcm-1 Don't worry, I think Joe's products are good too.
I don't intend to compare and argue.

For me it was meant to replace the feet I first made with a resin printer in 2021.
With TPU, it was difficult to bend it when the infill was 100%,
but with TPE, you can bend it easily with your fingers even with 100% infill.

Please see here for an explanation by a Japanese YouTuber. He mentions details and grips and is easy to understand:

*Translate and watch the video