The Apple Mac Mini M4 is a reasonably highly effective machine, so it’s fairly at residence in its position as a desktop laptop. Additionally it is very small, taking over little more room than a pair of hobbyist-grade single-board computer systems. As a consequence of its diminutive dimension, it virtually looks as if a disgrace to maintain it tied to a desktop. It appears so apparent that this tiny beast was born to roam! Is there nobody to set it free?
YouTuber Scott Yu-Jan felt the calling and took on the problem of constructing the Mac Mini M4 into a transportable laptop. For the reason that {hardware} is already so compact, there’s nothing a lot to trim or slice — at the very least not with out completely messing up the Apple aesthetic. So the problem was actually about discovering an acceptable keyboard and show for the transportable system, then making a slick case to tie all of it collectively.
Yu-Jan determined to go along with an Apple Magic Keyboard for enter, and a small, widescreen show with touchscreen capabilities. Thankfully this show additionally had VESA mounts, which made the job of integrating it into the construct a lot simpler. Sadly, its casing was black, which simply doesn’t slot in with the Apple {hardware}. However with somewhat little bit of disassembly work and spray paint, that minor concern was corrected.
The {hardware} parts (📷: Scott Yu-Jan)
After designing the casing, a Bambu Lab H2D 3D printer was used to fabricate the elements. When assembled, the show folds down onto the keyboard very like a typical laptop computer, however the Mac Mini M4 sits simply off to the facet of the keyboard. Care was taken to make sure that the entire ports and buttons are nonetheless accessible, and correct air flow was additionally accounted for.
The printer’s laser chopping module was used to create some cutouts for padded ft in order that the pc can higher grip the floor of a desk. After working with the pc for some time, Yu-Jan reprinted the underside piece of the case, however this time utilizing the printer’s multi-material capabilities. That allowed him so as to add TPU pads between the place the higher and decrease parts of the case come into contact. That makes the closing smoother and protects the end.
With the entire additions, the pc is unquestionably extra transportable, however it’s not cellular like a laptop computer — it nonetheless must be plugged right into a wall outlet. Yu-Jan is considering including some batteries to eradicate this requirement, nevertheless, this will even make the pc bulkier and heavier. Remember to keep tuned to see how that seems.
