However, the Ma cMini has issues: it's older, and it has a hardware problem such that it can only address one of two memory modules which creates a limit of 4GB of RAM. Separately I acquired a 27" iMac that is a lovely machine, but has a broken spring in the stand; if you leave it alone it leans forward drunkenly to a useless angle. Apple will fix the stand, but for about $350 (it's a 2012 iMac, and long out of warranty), and I'm not keen on that. I wanted to use the iMac in the kitchen instead of the MacMini but it was too tall to fit under the cabinet, so I did nothing and time passed.
From time to time I would look for a solution -- for example, in the 2011-model and prior iMac's you can pretty easily unscrew the base to install a VESA mount, but ever-helpful Apple removed that option in 2012. Then one day I came across this on YouTube. It's in Japanese, but the images tell a story and gave me the idea: Hack the Mac.
I decided to cut the base off my iMac so that it would fit under my cabinets on my kitchen counter. The iMac is about 17 5/8" tall, and my cabinet is 17.5" above the counter. I figured it would fit fine once I gave the computer a little tilt.
Here's a photo record of what I did.
Face down on a towel.
First I drilled and tapped some holes (1/4-20, because that's the hardware I had). I'll cut a piece of plywood to length and use screws to attach it to the remainder of the base to give the computer the right amount of tilt.
Next I clamped a board to serve as a fence, and put some tape on the aluminum base to keep from scratching it with the sole plate on the jigsaw. Since mine is the 2012 model that does not easily release the base, I sawed mine while it was still connected to the computer. Careful! Oh, and you'll notice I've taped over all the holes/vents on the computer to keep aluminum filings from falling in.
After chopping.
Then I chopped off another half inch of aluminum from the remainder of the base (from the section with the hole in the middle, forming two sort-of-rectangular chunks). Why? Well, it turns out that the fresh air intake for the iMac is on the bottom edge, and so I need some way to raise it above the counter surface now that I hacked off the base. My idea is to use these two pieces as "feet". They are each about 1/2" wide and 1 1/4" long. I filed a groove in the top so that the bottom edge of the iMac will rest in the groove.
I cut a piece of plywood and drilled a selection of parallel holes so that I had some height flexibility, and screwed the wood to the remnant of the stand.
Now the iMac fits, barely, under the cabinet and is tilted at a pleasant angle.
Here is the finished product. Note the two little "feet" under the iMac on the counter, providing space for airflow and for USB cables.
Oh, and here's the "sacrilicious" leftover:
That is awesome - I almost laughed when i saw it because my desk is exactly the same even with the wine rack! I was thinking about doing this. Can you tell me how hard it was too cut?
ReplyDeleteIt's very easy to cut, assuming you have a metal blade in your jigsaw. To keep things straight, I used a clamp to attach a wooden guide fence parallel to the cut I wanted to make. Go slowly and it'll be just fine.
ReplyDeleteI really love this idea you showed us.
ReplyDeleteI wish Apple made all their iMacs height adjustable. My concern though is; what if an earthquake shakes? Wouldn't that cause the iMac you have to tip over?