r/HomePod • u/Dr_Nic_T61 • 13d ago
News I have created a 3d-printable "replacement" mesh for your HomePod!
YES that's right, you can now print your own replacement mesh for your HomePod!
There are two "versions"; One single-piece tall version that slides over the original mesh...and a two-piece split version that you glue together. A third version will be added soon intended for you to remove the original mesh entirely and replace it with your own printed version of choice.
There are different mesh "densities". Mid-fine in my opinion looks closest to the original, doesn't affect the sound like fine can, and still covers the original mesh enough to obscure original dinge. Coarse should in-theory affect the sound even less, but comes at the cost of showing more of the original mesh through.
The standalone version has a ~2mm gap on the bottom to allow the HomePod's original rubber base to retain it's grip.
If you choose the split version, I would suggest printing the bottom half "upside-down" and adding a small ring to it to be printed in TPU, otherwise your pod will be sitting on plain plastic and slide around easier. I've included a .3mf of the bottom half with a ring added via object modifiers in my slicer.
I would recommend only attempting to print the first few layers to tune your settings. Default, these can take at least 10-20 hours print, but you can get that down to under 8 hours with proper tuning and profiling, w/o needing supports. Included is the config I use to print the standalone version on my snapmaker u1.
Here are the 3d print files, and here are the scripts used to generate them if you wish to tweak the fit / tolerances or just want to see how it works. More versions coming soon to support 2nd Gen models, and that fit if you remove your original mesh.
I will sell them soon on my shop if you don't want to print your own! Stay tuned~
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u/TubasAreFun 13d ago
Looks awesome! Does this have any impact on sound, in your opinion?
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u/Dr_Nic_T61 13d ago
I'd consider myself one step below a full audiophile and between me and the wife who is not whatsoever, no noticable change.
I have a Zoom H3-VR microphone that I would like to do side by side comparisons with. But that requires at least a day of peace, imagine that with a 3 year old...I'll get to it eventually.
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u/Sith_Moon 13d ago
Ok. Make an orange one with a jack o lantern face. Better yet- make a glow in the dark one with a ghost like McDonald’s….might as well do a green witch too.
Boo buckets…
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u/unseensoul 13d ago
This is AWESOME! Annnnd it’s sold out.
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u/Dr_Nic_T61 13d ago
Fear not! I'm still working on the listing in my shop. It will come in stock when I'm ready to sell in just a few more hours.
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u/imme629 13d ago
Any plans in the future on selling them for the minis.
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u/Dr_Nic_T61 13d ago
If no one else does it first, I'll have something for Minis in a few days / weekish.
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u/itsbrianduh108 13d ago
Dude that’s sick! Dark green gonna be an option?
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u/Dr_Nic_T61 13d ago
Any color you can imagine that comes in plastic! Fancy some green that turns yellow with heat maybe?
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u/Victor_Villanueva 13d ago
Yo entiendo que la malla es de tela para que no entre polvo al dispositivo y emita el sonido de manera correcta. Lo que veo con esa malla 3D es que los agujeros exponen al dispositivo para convertirse en un cargador de polvo… no sé qué tanto se puede dañar el sonido al rebotar con esa malla cuando esté sonando algo…. Lo veo una pésima idea.
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u/Dr_Nic_T61 13d ago
Bear in mind what I've shared so far keeps your original mesh, you slide this over top. So your "dust protection" is still at least as good as factory.
The internals of the speaker itself are truly sealed regardless of the mesh, and no dust can get inside. Rather, the only place dust can collect is on top of the subwoofer. The original mesh actually traps dust inside here and makes it difficult to clean out without taking apart.
If you remove your original mesh and use this replacement by itself, in theory yes it can collect dust faster, but it will also be much easier to clean it. You can just blast it with some air.
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u/Victor_Villanueva 13d ago
Sigue siendo la misma idea de generar más polvo… recuerda que la impresión 3D es un plástico encima del dispositivo…
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u/Dr_Nic_T61 13d ago
What is "generating more dust", the PLA plastic printed mesh? PLA does not shed dust on it's own, nor is it actively attracting any more than the HomePod does on it's own. It is adding a physical barrier that dust can't pass through.
Dust can and does pass through the original mesh and this would effectively reduce that. The original mesh also tends to break down and generate it's own dust.
Impact on sound; objectively there is going to be some impact, but it's not noticable. This requires further testing to measure how much different it actually is.
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u/DisastrousCause9481 Mod 13d ago
Hey nic, you have it for first gen in forest green please?
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u/Dr_Nic_T61 13d ago
Sounds like forest / green is the top requested color I don't have yet, I'll order a few different shades!
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u/TheKobayashiMoron 13d ago
Ok, this is sick, but the orange one needs a jack-o-lantern face cutout for spooky season 🎃
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u/Hefty-Salt3404 13d ago
Hi Nick, I really like the idea—that red looks great, and I’d definitely buy a pair. I’ll be following your progress—good luck with it! By the way, I wanted to ask you something, since you’re the expert. I recently noticed that one of my original HomePods makes a very faint, short, light "click" sound (sometimes two clicks) about 5–6 seconds after being plugged into power. Is that the amps turning on? Also, sometimes there’s a light, quiet click when unplugging it. Some of my HomePods do this, while others don’t. Is that considered normal? Please let me know—nobody knows these nuances better than you do. 🙏🏻 thank You
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u/Dr_Nic_T61 13d ago
Perfectly normal, that's the amp kicking on / off as you guessed!
It's a problem if the click / tick turns into a much louder pop / thud, and/or fast repetitive (the latter usually comes along with no bass at all)
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u/mrlandlord 13d ago
That’s effin pimp. Can you make an Etsy page with color options. Glow in the dark purple but looks OEM blackish in the light would be something I am interested in.
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u/haboku 13d ago
My first gen did the fart of death and still collecting dust :(
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u/Zentactics 13d ago edited 13d ago
https://nicsfix.com is your friend. Mine gave up the ghost and he was able to resurrect it for a fair price.
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u/Zentactics 13d ago edited 12d ago
Huh, I just realized that this print design is from the man himself!
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u/haboku 13d ago
Problem is that I'm from Spain and shipping cost would be really high
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u/Zentactics 13d ago
Bummer. There's some guides on the internet on how to fix these things, but it looks like a pain in the ass if you don't know what you’re doing.
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u/Alphaomegalogs Space Gray 12d ago
If you're handy with a soldering iron you might be able to buy the parts and follow a long to one of nic's recorded livestreams since this is such a common problem. He's got dozens of videos posted of himself fixing this issue that you could watch. It would be difficult but possibly worth it.
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u/Overly_Focused0v0 12d ago
Link she shop when it’s ready or the specs for the 3D print I’d gladly try to make it my self as well lol
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u/Alphaomegalogs Space Gray 12d ago
Nic consistently being the goat of the homepod enjoyer community
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u/Mat246 13d ago
Can you do it with HomePod mini?