Project "Off the Deep End": Reinforcing T400 Frame

[wswartzendruber]

As the former proud owner of a T60, I have come to be disgusted with the quality of the T400's magnesium frame. So I ordered another one from IBM for a mere $27 along with some other stuff.

The purpose of this project is to eliminate the following deficiencies:

1. Flex above the UltraBay slot (around the <P> key).
2. Flex on the bezel above the UltraBay slot (right of the backslash key).
3. Bending at the right bezel junction (right of the right arrow key, between the HDD and UltraBay slot).
4. Flex above the ExpressCard/Cardbus slots.

Issue #1 seems to be because the magnesium under the frame is a lot thinner and doesn't make use of right angles.

Issue #2 seems to be partly because of #1, but also because half the magnesium composite has been cut out of that area.

Issue #3 seems to be caused by a bowing in the plastic base below the HDD slot. The frame itself is weak here.

Issue #4, also present on the T60, is caused by the magnesium being too thin there.

So to fix these discrepancies, I've been thinking about sanding down the coating off the frame and gluing a thin sheet of metal over the affected areas. The glue used would be JB Weld. I just need to get this thin metal from some place, and even then, I have no idea which type of metal to use.

[kingweb]

Is it really worth it? You just spent anywhere between $1000-$2000 on a new computer, and you want to "sand it down" and weld or glue metal plates to it in order to strengthen the chasis?

It's a computer, not and armored car.

Too bad Lenovo stopped offering the Titanium lid like they had on the Z series.

[tylerwylie]

It's a computer, not and armored car.

You don't know him like I do, he wants it to be his armored car.

[kingweb]

I guess, you could put armored plates around all the sides, top, bottom, etc.
Then cut holes for all the cables/connectors.

[sparta.rising]

Just a few ideas off the top of my head. Well the rollcage is made of magnesium, so that seems the logical material to graft onto the existing cage. A quick ebay search yielded reasonably priced sheets. You could also lay kevlar under the palmrest and bezels.

(sarcasm) You could find some heat-conductive but non-electricly-conductive resin and pour it into the base, making sure to leave space for moving parts (the fan, hard drive, and optical drive).

[wswartzendruber]

Who guys, hang on a minute. I'm talking about reinforcing the magnesium frame itself, nothing else. I don't intend to change the machine's appearance, I just want it to feel like a 600.

With that said, though, it seems like T400s aren't having flex issues anymore, so maybe the initial frames were just a bad batch. Other people have been saying that their new ThinkPads feel stronger than the T60, but mine definitely isn't. I THOUGHT it was for a while until I had some time with it.

[LondonConsultant]

An armour-plated case... Sounds like a job for B.A. Baracus!

[wswartzendruber]

So I got the new frame in today and already snapped it.

You can also permanently bend it into a different shape if you're slow with it.

I'm thinking I'm just going to sand it down (to expose the metal) and give it a light coat of JB weld. 60% hardener and 40% of the other substance.

[nykobing06]

Aside from that, how is your T400?

Worth downgrading from 15.4" to a 14.1" for the LED backlit screen??

[truk]

I don't have much for strength issues on mine. I was, at about 130lbs, jumping on my t400 a few days ago without any give in the frame. I don't know about the t60s, but my old t30 wouldn't quite put up with that.

[wswartzendruber]

Aside from that, how is your T400?

Worth downgrading from 15.4" to a 14.1" for the LED backlit screen??

The structural "problems" (minute at best) are the only thing I don't like about it. Even with the sun shining down, I've never had problems seeing the screen. I think it's like 500 NITs or something insane.

And yes, it's still the best-built thing since the 600 series (besides the T60). Maybe my launch model is defective or something. Do you have any of the issues I described?

[Mannersxxx]

I feel well placed to voice my opinion on this matter. I first fell in love with Thinkpad's when I started playing with my sister's laptop 7 years ago and was shocked by the industrial strength of the construction - it was a 600x. I've since then done pretty much anything you can to a 600x and the machines keep clocking over - amazing machines.

Recently I bought a T61 which I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality. Ok the battery was a bit loose and there was a tiny bit of flex on the left hand side of the keyboard but other than that the keys clicked well and the overall build quality felt sturdy. It was not 600 series indestructible - there wasn't the feeling it could be chucked around and still work. Having said that I did drop the T61 and the she kept on chugging. Overall I thought the T61 was true to the Thinkpad line

Since then I've now got the T400 because I needed a better battery. Again I'm pleasantly surprised. The keyboard admittedly isn't as good (much discussed) there is significant clicking on the right hand palmrest and the trakpoint clicks as well. HOWEVER its still incredibly well constructed. It seems to be identical to the T61 and has that "bashable" quality. Those concerned about the strength of T400 should note this - compared to every notebook I've seen on the market today the T400 is still way ahead in sturdiness. Us Thinkpad enthusiats have become used to laptops that feel invincible, the T400 is as close as you can get these days. Pop into your local consumer laptop dealer (pc world in the UK) and just look how plasticky, flimsy and disposable your average laptop is.

On a personal note I don't think there'll ever be another 600 series style strength unless you go for a "Toughbook" style computer designed for expeditions or something. The 600 series was unique and thats why people should still try and get their hands on one and play. In fact (sorry for the plug) check out my mod here (http://thinkpad600x.blogspot.com/) to see how much punishment they can take.

[wswartzendruber]

I actually gave up on the project. I decided it was stupid.

[bradhs]

But I was actually curious to see what you were going to do! Oh well, it was a cool idea. I'd do it if I didn't have to work so much.