How the Aluminium Case of a MacBook Is Made?

Lasers play a part in shaping unibody MacBook components.

Introduced in 2008 with the launch of the MacBook Air, Apple's "unibody" construction has spread across its laptop range and beyond to desktops and tablet devices.

Manufacturing

Large, cylindrical blocks of aluminum are extruded into thick sheets and then cut into slabs. These are subjected to a sequence of CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) milling operations that carve the metal into the desired shape. Some operations use lasers, including cutting out the speaker grille and making the tiny perforations that allow indicator lights to shine through the metal.

History

First seen in the MacBook Air in January 2008, unibody construction spread across the MacBook range over the course of the following year. An aluminum unibody MacBook was produced until mid-2009, when it became part of the MacBook Pro line. The same construction method has since been used in other products, such as the iMac and iPad.

Advantages

The precision of the CNC processes and complexity of the resulting forms allows case sections to fulfill multiple structural roles, saving weight and thickness. The process also produces very little waste, as aluminum shavings are easily collected and recycled. In addition, the design has been widely praised for its feeling of sturdiness, solidity and quality.

References

• Apple: MacBook Pro - Design
• AppleInsider: Apple details new MacBook manufacturing process
• Fortune Tech: Inside Apple's industrial design lab

Resources

• Engadget: MacBook and MacBook Pro Review
• Gizmodo: MacBook and MacBook Pro Dual Review