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00:00:00 – 00:12:00
In this video, the creator documents the meticulous process of crafting a Solid Gold Xbox Controller, addressing numerous challenges and technical considerations along the way. Key issues include ensuring the functionality of shoulder buttons after losing their plastic linkage, securing the battery cover without clips, and effectively managing the material loss and cost. Advanced techniques, such as using a tungsten carbide burr for processing and a Rofin Starweld DX laser welder for precise metal filling, are employed.
Goldsmith Hendry is instrumental in determining the surface finish, ultimately opting for a "snake lightning" texture after considering and testing other options. The team focuses on achieving a cohesive aesthetic, including a mirror finish achieved through extensive hand-polishing and using custom tools such as a porosity hammer.
Attention is also given to preventing electrical shorts due to gold's high conductivity. Multiple layers of acrylic conformal coating and additional protective measures like electrical tape are applied. They transition to using a rechargeable battery to simplify the internal setup, dealing delicately with the metal components to avoid damage and ensure durability.
The final assembly emphasizes careful handling, demonstrating concern over the fragility of metal compared to plastic. Nonetheless, the assembled controller is tested thoroughly, with all buttons and functions working correctly. The video concludes with a preview of a montage showcasing the project's journey and a sponsored segment about Backblaze, a cloud storage solution. The creator encourages viewers to explore related projects and watch previous parts for a comprehensive understanding of the endeavor.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, the creator continues the journey of making a Solid Gold Xbox Controller. They face some challenges, such as ensuring the shoulder buttons function properly after losing their plastic linkage and fixing the battery cover without its original plastic clips. The video discusses potential solutions, like laser welding for assembling the controller.
They showcase using a tungsten carbide burr for preliminary processing and mention concerns about material loss and cost. Small holes found in the gold controller are filled using the Rofin Starweld DX laser welder, which uses an eight-kilowatt laser pulse to melt metal precisely. This welding process, similar to arc welding, employs coherent light instead of electricity. Finally, attention shifts to deciding the texture for the finished controller to maintain the grippiness of modern Xbox controllers.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the team discusses addressing two significant issues related to surface finish after removing sprues and subsequent polishing. The original factory texture wouldn’t have survived the necessary polishing, so they opted for a custom texture. The goldsmith, Hendry, demonstrated two texture options: “snake lightning” and a hammered finish. They chose “snake lightning” for its artistic appeal, despite the subjective nature of its application. They carefully planned the layout with a Sharpie, and despite initial concerns during the process, the result was impressive. The shoulder buttons also functioned correctly, addressing initial concerns.
For a cohesive look, they decided on a smooth, mirror finish for the top, which involved extensive polishing. A porosity hammer, custom-made by Hendry, was used to flatten the surface, followed by repetitive use of polishing wheels. This process took about a day and a half due to the part’s size.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the presenter addresses concerns with using gold to modify an Xbox controller, emphasizing the need to prevent electrical shorts since gold is highly conductive. They spray an acrylic conformal coating multiple times as an insulating layer and plan to add electrical tape inside for extra protection. The presenter mentions switching to a rechargeable battery to simplify the setup.
During the final assembly, the fragile nature of metal parts compared to plastic is highlighted, especially regarding potential damage and fatigue failure of gold. Despite initial concerns, the buttons and springs seem to function well without requiring excessive force. Care is taken to handle the parts delicately, using gloves to avoid tarnishing the finish and avoiding over-tightening screws originally designed for plastic. All buttons and functions on the controller are tested and found to be working correctly, leading to a promising result.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the team discusses the delicate assembly of a complex project, highlighting the challenges with small components and material compatibility. They emphasize the weight and difficulty of handling individual pieces. A montage is planned to showcase everyone’s experience with the project, which will be covered in a future video. The segment transitions to a sponsorship promotion for Backblaze, explaining the benefits of their affordable cloud storage solution and its features, such as data restoration via hard drive. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to check out related projects and previous parts.