[LeeWay]

You are both arguing semantics. It can be done either way, but like I mentioned, neither is as easy as it might seem at first glance. It can be machined in 3D format using various tools. Long cycle time for some mills.
It can be made from standard billet and then the beveled profiles mitered and epoxied in place. Much shorter machine time.
And it can be cast.
For a one off with some hand finishing, 3D machining and finishing with a mill drill and a tiny ball end mill might be the easiest and cheapest. Isn't that the results that the OP requested?

[ihavenofish]

You are both arguing semantics. It can be done either way, but like I mentioned, neither is as easy as it might seem at first glance. It can be machined in 3D format using various tools. Long cycle time for some mills.
It can be made from standard billet and then the beveled profiles mitered and epoxied in place. Much shorter machine time.
And it can be cast.
For a one off with some hand finishing, 3D machining and finishing with a mill drill and a tiny ball end mill might be the easiest and cheapest. Isn't that the results that the OP requested?

semantics? err. no.

the OP asked how THEY made it. He is arguing that the piece is a die cast off the shelf part. it is not. it is a hand machined part from the ILM prop shop. milled, filed, ground, bondo'd, painted. they didn't have cnc, or edm, or die casting. actually im shocked its even made of metal.

how the OP goes about making his OWN? that's easy. you can cnc it very easily with tapered ball end mills or using a v-carving strategy..

[LeeWay]

Semantics.Er yes. You are both using each others words with your own interpretations of what the other meant. Both positions have validity. What needs work is tactful presentation in a debate.

[ihavenofish]

arguing semantics means we are both saying the same thing different ways. that's exactly the opposite of whats going on.



I gave up on polite debate years ago. ive got him on ignore actually, but occasionally his presence interferes with my day.

[LeeWay]

You both are arguing different ways of achieving the same thing. Not precisely semantics unless you are a third party reading it.

[hjl4]

I gave up already. Semantics or not. You just can't be right for some people. My take, it was machined.(period).

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Er..... Maybe a Bridgeport manual mill with a "cherrying" head or shaper attachment???

Dick Z

[ihavenofish]

Er..... Maybe a Bridgeport manual mill with a "cherrying" head or shaper attachment???

Dick Z

what is that? pics?

[mactec54]

what is that? pics?

There were many different Heads made for Bridgeport & other manual mill, the Cherrying head would not do it, But the Shaper Head would do it

[T2SF]

Wow a little bit of drama! I do believe it was milled on a manual milling machine but not die cast.

It's not ILM but Don Pennington. IMDB.com him. I do have his email and will ask him soon. I think there could have been some hand finishing for the sharp edges or tiny ball end mills etc.

I'm about 90% sure it was not "off the shelf". No real buttons, just leds behind a plastic sheet. It looks like a membrane switch but nope. Thanks for all the info, I will post an update real soon.