Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

26

Part I: Basic Hacks, Tools, and Techniques

Project Overview

To create your Macquarium, you’ll first take apart the Mac and remove the

electronics. You’ll then prepare the case, removing parts that would inter-

fere with the fish tank and grinding down parts that would scrape it. You’ll

build the tank, using Plexiglas that you buy at your local hardware store.

Finally, you’ll assemble the tank, place it inside the Mac case, and populate

it with your fish.

Hardware Assembly Instructions

The following steps walk you through the construction of your

Macquarium.

1. Disassemble the Mac

The first thing you need to do is to carefully take apart your Mac.

Remove all switches and screws

Begin by prying off the sliding programmer’s switch with a screwdriver, as

shown in Figure 2-1. (Keep in mind that not all Macs are equipped with

this switch.) Save the programmer’s switch, as it will be put back on later.

Mac SEs have a different switch that pries up from the bottom side. The

Mac Classics switch is part of the case and does not come off, so you will

leave it in place.

Now remove the battery door and the Torx screw behind it, as shown in

Figure 2-2. (Mac SEs and Classics do not have a battery door, so there is

nothing to remove here.) Save the battery door for later reattachment. Torx

screws have six-pointed star-shaped sockets that require a special screw-

driver, which can be purchased at DigiKey or perhaps a local hardware

store.

Look at the back side of the case and remove two Torx screws from the bot-

tom. You can see their location circled in Figure 2-3.

Figure 2-1: Power switch

Figure 2-3: Bottom Torx screws

Figure 2-2: Battery door

Currently, a Mac SE can be purchased

on eBay for less than $20.

Project Overview

ch02_aquarium.indd 26

1/13/2002 2:19:20 PM

27

Chapter 2, How to Build an Aquarium Inside a Macintosh

(On older Macs, you will notice the “Hyperdrive” sticker on the back.

This was one of the first internal hard drives for the Mac, with a cable that

clipped directly to the processor. It was very cool at the time, but quite

expensive.)

Look inside the carrying handle and remove the two Torx screws located

deep inside. Their location is circled in Figure 2-4.

Remove the back case. You can do this by laying the Mac on its face and

gently slapping the back. Position your hands on opposite corners of the

case and slap the sides of the case while pulling upward (see Figure 2-5). If

this doesn’t work the first time, try again and slap harder.

If this doesn’t work, you may need a special tool to crack the case. Try ask-

ing an Apple service provider or a repair shop employee. A thin-bladed putty

knife may also work, but don’t use a screwdriver; its blade is too narrow and

will mark up the edges of the case.

Remove all internal connectors

It’s now time to get your hands inside the case. Be sure to carefully follow

these instructions.

WARNING

There can be high voltages present inside the Mac. These voltages can be danger-

ous and may be present even on machines that have been turned off for some

time. Exercise caution when working on the inside by keeping one hand behind

your back when doing so. If both of your hands happen to touch high-voltage

parts of the circuit, the high-voltage electricity could flow from one hand to the

other across your chest. This high voltage could be enough to stop your heart.

Inside the old Macs, you will find the high voltages on the anode cap that touches

the picture tube.

Figure 2-5: Slide off back case

Figure 2-4: Handle Torx screws

Hardware Assembly Instructions

ch02_aquarium.indd 27

1/13/2002 2:19:20 PM