Thinkpad T500 - chassis material

[comps]

Hello,
I'd like to ask if anyone can provide any info on the T500 chassis (called "Structure frame" by the Hardware Maintenance Manual) - especially on it's properties. I've noticed it's neither plastic nor a solid metal.
Can it be cut by some regular clippers? Is there an easy way to etch it with an acid? .. Something else?

I'd like to "remove" small-factor WLAN screw "holders", so I could exchange the Intel card for an Atheros one (which is about 1mm thicker on the bottom) without disassembling the entire laptop and grinding the holders.

Thanks in advance.

[Colonel O'Neill]

It's magnesium alloy. Are you sure the Atheros card doesn't fit into it by default? I think some T500's shipped with Atheros adapters.

[comps]

It's magnesium alloy. Are you sure the Atheros card doesn't fit into it by default? I think some T500's shipped with Atheros adapters.

I'm sure, I have tried. I had to remove the Modem Daughter Card, so I could move it's cord a bit, but the atheros card still doesn't fit, because it has a 1mm thick metal "box" on it's bottom (see http://www.justop.com/catalog/images/de ... 02.11N.jpg), as opposed to completely-flat Intel card.

There used to be an Atheros 802.11n card for R60/T60/..., but it's no longer available. Furthermore, I believe it's the same card, just the older thinkpads don't have the half-sized miniPCIe card holders.

[Colonel O'Neill]

I'd think it'd be a bad idea to try and remove part of the rollcage. The 'damaged' portion becomes the weak spot most likely to fracture in an impact.

Any particular reason you want the Atheros card? Hackintoshing?

[comps]

I'd think it'd be a bad idea to try and remove part of the rollcage. The 'damaged' portion becomes the weak spot most likely to fracture in an impact.

Any particular reason you want the Atheros card? Hackintoshing?

Well I don't think removing a 1mm layer from a screw holder will make any impact on the integrity of the rollcage. I guess I'll just try if it can be cut. If not, I'll just isolate the screw holder from the rest of the laptop and try to carefully "grind" it.

The reason is actually more interesting than simple aircrack-ing, since the Intel Wifi Link 5300 card is able to do that just fine. Since the Atheros HAL source code release in 2008, I've been working (well, "experimenting") with the card, trying to understand it's logic (on the driver level) and it sort of became my hobby. I'd like to try an ath9k-based card (802.11n) and thought it would be nice to have the tool right inside my laptop, so I wouldn't have to carry an additional pcmcia/expresscard/usbthumb wherever I go (and get bored).
I would also like to use it as my primary WLAN card (which is why I don't want to put it in a WWAN slot), so I could test any modifications I make to the driver.

[ThinkRob]

It's magnesium alloy. Are you sure the Atheros card doesn't fit into it by default? I think some T500's shipped with Atheros adapters.

The T500's base uses CFRP for the bottom casing (the black exterior piece). The magnesium alloy is used for the internal frame (the grey bit inside).

Sorry if that's what you meant, Colonel -- the original question was a bit ambiguous.