The Wand Company TOS Tricorder is coming!

Well with Comic-Con on the horizon… of which I’ll be attending as always since I live in San Diego..

It’s way past due time to change out my iPad mini 4 Tricorder case, see below. I had bought the case many years ago from a website in the U.K. which no longer exists that I can see. So, I just found a custom case website where you can upload your own pics and designs to apply to the front and back covers of the customizable iPad case, which comes in different IPad sizes.

I found and uploaded a Diamond Select Tricorder (my personal fav choice) pic for the front cover, and new for this case, I also picked the Wah Chang signed Tricorder concept drawing pic as a homage to Wah, for the back cover. The old U.K. case had a graphic representation of the tricorder back cover with the screw head.

I won’t know how it turns out until I get it. I’ll post pics when I get it later this month just before the Con.


I stretched the Tricorder pic width some in order to take advantage of the width of the cover….hence an oval moire..I’m okay with that. In fact the moire from the U.K. was sold just like that, stretched, from their standard offerings.
1CC28357-E60C-477E-8EEE-FA312FD4DA4A.jpeg
 
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Clever idea!

I don't attend SDCC any more due to all of the hoops we have to go through just to win their lottery.

There was a time not that long ago that I could decide to go, pack a quick bag and be on the road. I could buy my membership as soon as I arrived and go into the convention.

Now, I have to wait to see if I won a place in line.

I'd still go if I could just show up and buy my membership.
 
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drusselmeyer said:
Clever idea!

I don't attend SDCC any more due to all of the hoops we have to go through just to win their lottery.

There was a time not that long ago that I could decide to go, pack a quick bag and be on the road. I could buy my membership as soon as I arrived and go into the convention.

Now, I have to wait to see if I won a place in line.

I'd still go if I could just show up and buy my membership.
Click to expand...

Yeah….the old days were the best for cheap ticket pricing and none of that ticket lottery crap.

I have my ticket….and I’m at the age now where they are half price.

I sometimes think the ticket system is rigged. The so call random generating of selections…..could be in favor of out of towners to get more $$ out of tourist economy dollars. Local friends of mine have not been able to get tickets.

I feel your pain.
 
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Hey guys anyone have light bleed around the moire pattern? I’ve go some light bleed and was wondering if anyone also had that issue.
 
Once I received my own tricorder I refined my initial models for the three compartment dividers. I have edited my original posts #4246 and #4281 to update the model to the version I am attaching here. I had to make some minor adjustments to the tabs. For example in my compartment, both bottom-most outside slots are slightly narrower than all the other slots. Thus in my models I have made these two tabs slightly thinner. I tune my printer very precisely and print with .15 mm layers. For the best fabrication I therefore whenever possible make my objects with thicknesses of multiples of .15 mm. My divider models are all 1.2 mm thick – which seems consistent with the original dividers. The tabs are also 1.2 mm EXCEPT for the bottom-most. I have made these .9 mm thick. This fits the bottom slots in my compartment. Originally I also noticed on the provided images of TWC divider tabs – the front top and bottom tabs had notches on the top edges. I included them then as I expect they might be necessary to insert and remove the dividers into the compartment. For the top slot there is indeed a rib underneath which might require the tab not to protrude too deeply. However, that rib is on the BOTTOM of the slot not the top so the notch might be an artifact of an earlier design. I did not see any similar rib in the bottom slot. For now I have removed the notches from my models.

I have printed three identical “left” dividers to fit all three compartment positions. I have attached a photo showing that all three provide a “flat” fit to the sides of the compartment. There is no vertical “play” for these dividers in my tricorder. My original plan was to print in ABS to be consistent with the original dividers. However an earlier post indicated even the TWC dividers could scratch the Medical Scanner. So I am using PLA. Also my “display” dividers are printed in black PLA, but for the purpose of this post I have fabricated them in Gray to be easier to illustrate the fit and finish.

I am attaching the stl. For the “left” divider which is the one I use in all three locations.

HOWEVER, after waiting for five years for this prop I am as careful as possible with mine and want to provide the same care for others if they wish. In addition to the full, left divider; I am providing an .stl for a “split” left divider. In my attached photograph this is shown in the “right” position. For those who want to test fit my model and have little chance of harming their tricorder compartment you can print both parts (front and back) and test them separately and then together.

I am retesting my “center” and “right” divider with my own Medical Scanner. Once I am satisfied it is also harmless to our props I will share them in a later post in this forum thread.

I welcome all feedback. I do not guarantee these models will work with your printer and with your tricorder. However, I did not need to do any post-print processing on my prints and I am very satisfied with both sets I have created.

EDIT: July 12, 2025 updated Left Divider .stl to most current version. The companion Center and Right Dividers .stls can be found in post #5105 of this forum thread.
 

Attachments

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  • Back Divider Test.stl
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  • Left Divider V4.stl
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1138sw said:
Hey guys anyone have light bleed around the moire pattern? I’ve go some light bleed and was wondering if anyone also had that issue.
Click to expand...
It's not an issue with the device. It's because there's a speaker behind it. It's mildly annoying, though.

The straps on the tricorder are terrible, though. You WILL crease them. It just takes a few minutes of it resting a certain way for it to permanently crease. I've opted to use a velcro tie in order to keep the strap looped without forming sharp angles. However, if you let the strap ends (near the tricorder) rest at any angle that isn't going completely up, it WILL crease.

Fortunately the strap is removable (go watch the 'tear down' video on Youtube). So you can replace it if the creasing eventually leads to cracks in the fake leather. I would probably remove the strap as soon as you get it and store it curled up and use a custom leather strap for display/cosplay purposes.

The leatherette case is very nice, though.
 
Gaius Octavius said:
It's not an issue with the device. It's because there's a speaker behind it. It's mildly annoying, though.

The straps on the tricorder are terrible, though. You WILL crease them. It just takes a few minutes of it resting a certain way for it to permanently crease. I've opted to use a velcro tie in order to keep the strap looped without forming sharp angles. However, if you let the strap ends (near the tricorder) rest at any angle that isn't going completely up, it WILL crease.

Fortunately the strap is removable (go watch the 'tear down' video on Youtube). So you can replace it if the creasing eventually leads to cracks in the fake leather. I would probably remove the strap as soon as you get it and store it curled up and use a custom leather strap for display/cosplay purposes.

The leatherette case is very nice, though.
Click to expand...
Already replaced with leather. Getting 2 stitched and leaving one as is.
 

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Gaius Octavius said:
It's not an issue with the device. It's because there's a speaker behind it. It's mildly annoying, though.

The straps on the tricorder are terrible, though. You WILL crease them. It just takes a few minutes of it resting a certain way for it to permanently crease.
Click to expand...

What was touted as the pinnacle of perfection isn’t so perfect after all…..
 
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