Exploring the Simulation
HTTPS://AIRPODSDIRTYSECRET.COM
The first and second generations of AirPods made by Apple were given a score of 0 out of 10 by repair specialists at iFixit. AirPods are not designed to be serviced. No hardware components can be accessed without damage to the device, making it a consumable/disposable item. Tens of millions of devices were sold, each one having three sealed-in batteries. This makes it a total electronic waste disaster.
After the success of Ken Pillonel’s previous project, the world’s first USB-C iPhone, he decided to focus on trying to mitigate the AirPods disaster through an engineering project. The goal was to find a solution that gives a second life to the unopenable cases, which all face an inevitable end of life because of their built-in battery.
The solution proposed consists of making available a 3D-printed replacement part that can be downloaded by anyone. The AirPods case can therefore be purposefully damaged while disassembly, then repairs can be made inside, and finally, the 3D-printed replacement part is inserted back in place.
Now that it is possible to open the case, repairs are made possible. A replacement battery can be purchased online, but it is the only replacement part available. If a charging port is broken, there is no way to replace it except by getting a replacement part from another device. The second part of the project consists in creating a replacement part for the Lightning charging port. Because it will soon disappear thanks to a recent EU ruling, the replacement part sports a USB-C connector (bouncing off the previous hack made by Ken) and is also made available online as an open-source project. It is a custom flexible PCB manufactured by PCBWay. This further increases the impact on the possibility of repairing those devices.
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Music by my friends:
DJ yuppie bogan: https://soundcloud.com/yuppie-bogan
Voyagers: https://www.instagram.com/v_oyagers/
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Tools I use: (affiliate)
AnyCubic Photon Mono X: https://bit.ly/3uWsxfw
AnyCubic Wash & Cure Machine: https://bit.ly/380oaal
(disclaimer: AnyCubic did not have any input in this video, all ideas are my own.)
PCB Manufacturing: https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx… (5$ off your first order)
Lampert PUK Welding: https://bit.ly/3zj9zlq
Low Melt Solder: https://amzn.to/2YgPZGR
PCB Holder: https://amzn.to/3BL18xo
Fume extractor: https://amzn.to/3GPnUYE
Microscope: https://amzn.to/2YknyIe
Camera: https://amzn.to/3GU6uKn
Macro Lens: https://amzn.to/31w3svP
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My socials:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpillonel/
Github: https://github.com/kenp-io
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenpillonel
Blog: https://kenp.io
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Link to EU studies:
Common charger: https://bit.ly/3aPuraO
Unbundling of chargers: https://bit.ly/3IUXVjV
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0:00 Phone Call
1:08 First Attempt – FDM Printing
1:53 Explaining the Problem
2:31 How to Open AirPods Case
2:57 Second Attempt – SLA Printing
4:10 Lack of Replacement Parts
4:36 EU USB-C regulation
5:00 USB-C Mod Intro
5:20 Tricky Connector
6:02 Custom PCB
6:41 Metallic Bracket
8:31 Demo
8:48 Conclusion
9:04 Open Source
9:15 Giveaway
9:22 Sale?