"Mickey 17" (2025) - Memory Core / Dock / Case for The Human Printer

[caross]

I've been on the lookout for a new project, and I think I've found it... a Memory Core from Mickey 17.
...and the dock,
...and the case - cause, how else are you supposed to transport and use it?!?

If you have not seen the movie, go see it on the big screen! 5/5 stars. Bong Joon Ho nailed it again, a delightful film. Impressive story, excellent film work, easily believable special effects... and a great technology mythology is written into the storyline as a "no big deal". I love when stories like this assume we all know what the technology is, how it works, and that we don't need time to figure it out. Just accept it. This is the standard Human Printer; everyone has one. Easy to use, and if you accidentally pull out a cable, you just plug it back in. If it doesn't work, blow on it to get the dust out, and try again. Re-adjust the refill cartridge, turn it off and on, whatever. Normal everyday tech.

I found some references to the team that designed it in a Variety article.

In the spirit of the film, I will go full-bore with the "common everyday technology" vibe. Just a big USB with human consciousness. Every starship has one of these, and come to think of it, so do every outpost and mining platform we've got. So this isn't going to be a replica of the movie prop, rather a common memory core for the human printer you have in the basement. Same model, cause it is industry standard, duh. They are all more or less the same anyway. Just like that pile of USB drives you have in your drawer. Every time you go to a tradeshow there is some Human Printer company giving away branded memory cores in swag bags...

So, here goes...

 

[caross]

I've got a few ideas on how to approach this - but I have to be honest, my first response it to throw 3D printing at this. But then I'm a 3D printing guy so everything "looks like a nail" to me.

Specifically, for the Brick and Cradle, it seems a little strange to 3D print a red cinderblock brick, but I'm not sure how to mill out a real brick in such a way that I could easily mount it in display lights, etc.

Thoughts?

As far as other parts, I'm gathering ideas/existing products:

Case:

• Harbor Freight - Apache 3800
• Dongles - Various in my "I might need this in the future" box. USB Dock, wires

Cradle:

• 3D Print
• Lights - TBD

Brick:

• 3D Print?
• Lights - TBD
• Pannels - 3D Print
• Handle: RV Illuminated Handle - Sarting Point.

 

[smithjohnj]

I think making a brick out of good old red clay like an actual brick would be the way to go here. A simple rectangular form with a few inserts should do the job. Pack in the clay, sand, and water; dump it out; and let it dry in the sun. For a more hardy product use colored concrete. Inserts could provide hollows for electronics and power options like rechargeable batteries. Plenty of interior space.

 

[caross]

I think making a brick out of good old red clay like an actual brick would be the way to go here. A simple rectangular form with a few inserts should do the job. Pack in the clay, sand, and water; dump it out; and let it dry in the sun. For a more hardy product use colored concrete. Inserts could provide hollows for electronics and power options like rechargeable batteries. Plenty of interior space.

Interesting... I... honestly never even thought about that as a possible route. But, no reason.

I've actually got some overage from an outdoor project - and it would be simple to give it a shot.

Thanks for sending me down this path, I'll start exploring some concrete paths.

 

[smithjohnj]

Here is my first cut at dimensions for the Memory Core. I am still looking for an image which shows the Left Side of the Core. The Top and Back do not have any inserts. I welcome any improvements or suggestions.

 

[caross]

Nice!
Good point on the filming location - you're probably right. I did some basic RoM sizing estimates with screenshots.

Your estimate for a UK brick is 8.5 x 4 x 2.5 in.
My half-assed-photoshop guestimate gets me to a similar range, 8.07in (215mm) x 4.1in (105mm) x 2.4in (60mm)

Close enough!

I've attached all the quality shots of the prop - I DO have a partial left-side view (images 2 and 3 below)... agree, looks empty.

As a possible add in, I may make this a SSD drive I can use on my desk. I am considering how to power this device, and if I could use USBC, I could make it a working Memory Brick.

 

[smithjohnj]

The new images are very helpful. I am about to try to model the inserts for 3D printing. I will keep your ideas for practical applications of the core in mind. Also when I rechecked online, the UK standard is given (in a different site than I used before) in millimeters; 215 x 102.5 x 65. Both our estimates from different approaches seem to triangulate to this size. I will adjust my illustration, repost and use mm going forward.

 

[smithjohnj]

Based on the provided feedback I have produced a metric version of the basic memory core. Again any and all feedback, images and information are welcome to improve our knowledge base.

 

[smithjohnj]

I have not seen the movie and am relying only on the trailers and promotional images. So my ideas are open to correction and improvement. For discussion purposes I put together an illustration of my impression of the panel on the right side of the Memory Core. I believe this to be an output panel. LEDs for visual output, and a grill for possible audio output. There is a rectangular opening in the center with a plain panel behind it. I thought I would make this a sliding panel which could provide access to other internal "output" ports; USB, power. Alternately this might be a rectangular "pushbutton".

 

[caross]

I started with the cradle.

I think I'm going to go with 3 "bodies" for this model.

The main cradle body will be printed in "IBM beige".
A little black "card" or inactive display covers a portion of the Memory Brick's front pannel. That will be flat-black, and the second body.
Then, because of the finish, I think I will create a void to inset the black front cradle grill. Body 3.

Not going to worry about lighting or wire management just yet.

 

[caross]

I have not seen the movie and am relying only on the trailers and promotional images. So my ideas are open to correction and improvement. For discussion purposes I put together an illustration of my impression of the panel on the right side of the Memory Core. I believe this to be an output panel. LEDs for visual output, and a grill for possible audio output. There is a rectangular opening in the center with a plain panel behind it. I thought I would make this a sliding panel which could provide access to other internal "output" ports; USB, power. Alternately this might be a rectangular "pushbutton".

Nice. I have a few close-ups of the two upper rows.

Left side are definitely rectangular LEDs or cutouts with LED.

But the bank on the right isn't LEDs... I'm 99.5% sure they are USB-C ports.

The square port (yellow in your diagram) could very well be a button. This first close-up shows what could be a latching push-button switch in OFF. And second shows ON? (Lights don't seem to coincide)

The more I stare at the first close-up the more I'm convincing myself I'm seeing the USBC hub surface underneath - and that is just a cutout.

 

[smithjohnj]

Thanks for the close up image. I agree those look like USB ports. The "yellow" port seems to have two states. A plain blank "cover" as in your first image above, and an "open" state with something visible under the cover as in your second image above. I am expecting delivery of "The Art of Mickey 17" in tomorrow's mail. Maybe something new will turn up.

 

[smithjohnj]

Just to generate some more interest and feedback I did a partial Front Panel. It does not contain the Grill on the left or the Connectors on the right. Grill would be an insert, and the Connectors piercing the back and passing through. Size is 50 x 75 x 15 mm. I am looking for any suggestions such as make this thicker, that thinner, shorter, longer, flatter, rounder, etc.

 

[caross]

Thanks for the close up image. I agree those look like USB ports. The "yellow" port seems to have two states. A plain blank "cover" as in your first image above, and an "open" state with something visible under the cover as in your second image above. I am expecting delivery of "The Art of Mickey 17" in tomorrow's mail. Maybe something new will turn up.

OOh, fun!
Do you happen to have a link for that book.

I'd be interested in any detail on the reverse of the dock if your book has it. In specific... this.

It could be a black panel with cutouts. Or, it has a real "logo sticker" vibe.

As a lot of the design language seems to stem from the 70-90s computer system design, I'm starting to gather some reference images.

 

[smithjohnj]

The book title is "The Art and Making of Mickey 17". There are several online sellers. Amazon even displays a few pages from the book. I will be looking and share anything on the Core and Docking Station. I am also interested is finding the devices in the case and a top-down look inside the station. I would like to add some "practical" features like some connectors for the Core's "contacts" and some type of positive retention element where the Core "snaps in". You might find some labeling inspiration from the digital control display on the "MRI" printer itself. The docking label looks a lot like the logo at the top of the screen. It has a stylized "M" and some seemingly non-English text.

 

[caross]

This one looks similar to a metal barcode asset tracking sticker.

 

[smithjohnj]

Thanks again for the new images. The Logo on the top of the screen in your third image above is the one which seem similar to the one on the back of the docking station.

 

[smithjohnj]

The Core case seemed like a fairly unique design which might be easy to identify. It is the Nanuk 910 case, made in Canada. It is available online but the prices direct from the company's website seem as good or better than other offers. Nanuk makes a number of different sizes but I believe the 910 is the correct size. It also comes in several colors including a red with white cross for use as a medical case.

 

[smithjohnj]

I did receive "The Art and Making of Mickey 17" book today. It is an interesting book and added a lot of background information about the storyline since I have not yet seen the movie or read the book it was based upon. From the Human Printer and Core technology there is actually very little on the final screen-used elements. So there is nothing I can add to the props we are currently addressing. The book contains a good deal of discussion about story, design, and production decisions. I have scanned most of this to see if there are any important nuggets of information. So far I have had limited success. The book indicates the director, Bong Joon Ho, wanted to include a lot of visual "signage" - things like "Slippery When Wet" or "Mind the Gap" (my examples not from this book.) The book does not really illustrate these so there may be more to look for in the film. The best confirmation of this is the number of icons on some of the digital displays.

A couple of data points were found in the text. The first, is the inventor of the Human Printer is Alan Manikova. Prior to this all I knew was he was pictured in an "arrest photo". I will not add any spoilers here. In an earlier post about "labels", I indicated I saw what I thought was a logo with a stylized "M". Until I have better information I will go with Manikova having a manufacturing operation named after himself which produces the Human Printer and Core Docking Station. Another name which appears in the arrest photo is the Ashton Police Department. Edward Ashton is the author of "Mickey 7" which the movie is (loosely it seems) based on. If I find more, I will share.

 

[smithjohnj]

Here is my first 3D print of the Core's Front Interface Panel. White is the interior framework which wraps from the Front to the Bottom of the Core. I plan to cut this design into two parts, the outer bezel will be gray, the interior black. The current black elements are separate "contacts" which slide through from the back. I am happy with the first print, parts go together exactly as I wanted. I think I can improve the objects with some fine-tuning of the design and slicer settings. Ideally the final contacts will be metal not PLA. Again, all critiques are welcome and encouraged. I would rather make correction now instead of later.