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User profile for user: andythefiredog
andythefiredog Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

iPhone Dimensions / Curve Radii / Etc Anyone? Willing to share my 3d Model!

Hey guys...

I'll be designing an exact 3d model of the iPhone in Pro/Engineer in order to help me design some really great accessories. Nothing that will tie into the dock connector yet, though.

I've found the technical drawings on Apple's Developer Connection website, but they're just not exact enough. In fact, some tolerances are +/- .4 mm, which can be a big deal in the wrong places.

Anyone have the expertise to provide detailed dimensions beyond those available on Apple's PDF for designing cases? The hardest thing to identify has been the curve radii of the corners from top/bottom/ side view... They "appear" to be 5.475, but that is not the case.

I also have access to a 3d plotter that will allow me to "cut" the part for testing purposes. I'm willing to share the 3d model in any format Pro/E can export with those whose are helpful. Turn around time for me to design the model is under 48 hours, once all the dimensions are identified.

Thanks,

Andy The Firedog

MacBook Pro 15" 2.5GHZ, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on May 23, 2008 2:19 PM

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User profile for user: andythefiredog
andythefiredog Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Posted on Jul 2, 2008 9:30 AM

Direct from Apple's Made For iPod Team:

The details about the iPhone & iPhone 3G that you've requested are not available; according to engineering the corners of the iPods & iPhone are not true radii, but complex b-splines. The only way to represent these corners & surfaces is via a very detailed CAD/CAM file of the iPhone 3G, which we are not releasing to 3rd parties.

So, with respect, there is nothing you can do to get more details about the industrial design of the iPod, iPod touch, or iPhone. That information is not available.

Best regards,

XXXXXXXXX
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User profile for user: andythefiredog
andythefiredog Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jul 2, 2008 9:30 AM in response to DaVBMan

Direct from Apple's Made For iPod Team:

The details about the iPhone & iPhone 3G that you've requested are not available; according to engineering the corners of the iPods & iPhone are not true radii, but complex b-splines. The only way to represent these corners & surfaces is via a very detailed CAD/CAM file of the iPhone 3G, which we are not releasing to 3rd parties.

So, with respect, there is nothing you can do to get more details about the industrial design of the iPod, iPod touch, or iPhone. That information is not available.

Best regards,

XXXXXXXXX
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User profile for user: MIke_C@PTD
MIke_C@PTD
User level: Level 1
110 points

May 23, 2008 6:05 PM in response to andythefiredog

Andy,

I've faced this same problem in my work as well.

The PDF's leave a lot to be desired, but they are the only source of dimensional data for iPods and iPhone that I know of. Universal dock and adapters step geometry is available via the developer site, but not iPod or iPhone models, nor the docking connector itself. And the docking connector PDF is absolutely heinous.

The corner curves are not fixed radius curves, but G2 surfaces that do not show a hard radius/plane intersection line when light reflects off them. Although I can't share my Pro/E models, I can tell you that I scaled the PDF, and manually plotted curves and intersection grid points to get as close as I could to the actual shapes. I really doubt that Apple will share the actual surface data with anyone.

Good luck, and let me know how you make out.

Mike
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User profile for user: andythefiredog
andythefiredog Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

May 24, 2008 11:47 AM in response to MIke_C@PTD

While I don't have my actual calculated numbers with me, I do believe the corners are in fact fix radius curves... They appear to be truncated circles that are tangential to the back of the phone (looking from the top/bottom). This is further evidenced if you examine any hard cases that form fit the iphone (Agent 18 cases, for example). When you peer inside the case at it's cross-section, you can a complete half circle.

Being the iPhone is 11.6m in totality, and the radius of the circle is completed in the sweep, but not the diameter, the radius must be "5.8mm < Radius < 11.6mm".

I decided against scaling the PDF, since the PDF states "Not To Scale"..

Thank for you help... I'm working with the other dimensions to further refine where between 5.8mm and 11.6mm the radius lies.
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User profile for user: DaVBMan
DaVBMan
User level: Level 6
9,286 points

Jun 10, 2008 6:11 AM in response to andythefiredog

Don't they give out these specs to accessory designers. I know Griffen had them early (leaked photos were spot on) for them to design cases.

Odds are you have to be a legit company and agree to some terms, yada yada to get the official/approved specs.

I would think you can contact Apple for a better response than a user to user forum (but I know, no harm in asking).
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iPhone Dimensions / Curve Radii / Etc Anyone? Willing to share my 3d Model!

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