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Kezalkoatl

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 26, 2017
5
2
Hello everyone.


- Story
Year ago bought myself 5k 27 (late 2015 from authorized reseller, we don't have appsotre in Ukraine) for some graphic design needs. I am detail oriented due to my profession that is why noticed that the gap between glass and body on the top edge of imac is not equal everywhere and it differ for 1mm or less - for the corners it is almost close to the body, for the middle part gap is getting bigger. I haven't opened it and it is still on guarantee period.

- Questions:
Is that ok for imacs and I shouldn't panic or somethink wrong with adhesive tape inside ?
If that possible, could you check this on your imac?


Thanks in advance!
 

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nambuccaheadsau

macrumors 68020
Oct 19, 2007
2,024
510
Blue Mountains NSW Australia
Mine is flush all the way around other than a slight space on the bottom as air intake for fans.

I purchased it from Apple HQ Sydney where it had been used in the Head Office for 18 months and never has been opened up.
 

Kezalkoatl

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 26, 2017
5
2
Mine is flush all the way around other than a slight space on the bottom as air intake for fans.

I purchased it from Apple HQ Sydney where it had been used in the Head Office for 18 months and never has been opened up.

Thanks, seems like I'm very presize to the details because of the apple reputation, here is a bigger photo of the gap. You can see that it is very close to the body but not as close as at the corners and you can probably see what is inside of this seam.

Also this gap becomes visible only when you put the light into the seam therefore attachment 2

Or maybe i'm an idiot
 

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294307

Cancelled
Mar 19, 2009
567
315
You are trying to convince yourself whether or not there is an issue with your iMac and that's the only problem here.

You've had the iMac for a year. Unless you have noticed the gap increase over time, it is not an issue and what you need to do is stop thinking about it. The adhesive strips that keep the display in place are extremely adhesive and are quite difficult to remove without the right tools.

If you still concerned, take it to an Apple Authorised Service Provider but I think you know what they will say. They can't replace the adhesive strips free of charge unless they can prove to Apple they are defective or are becoming defective and I imagine that will be difficult to prove even if there is a slight variancy in the gap between the glass panel and the display chassis.

Even if there is a gap, it may be within manufacturing tolerances that do not impact the longetivity of the iMac.
 
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Kezalkoatl

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 26, 2017
5
2
You are trying to convince yourself whether or not there is an issue with your iMac and that's the only problem here.

You've had the iMac for a year. Unless you have noticed the gap increase over time, it is not an issue and what you need to do is stop thinking about it. The adhesive strips that keep the display in place are extremely adhesive and are quite difficult to remove without the right tools.

If you still concerned, take it to an Apple Authorised Service Provider but I think you know what they will say. They can't replace the adhesive strips free of charge unless they can prove to Apple they are defective or are becoming defective, and I imagine that's difficult to prove even if there is a slight variancy in the gap between the glass panel and the display chassis.

Yes, seems like you are right, i'm overthink things
 
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mikeboss

macrumors 68000
Aug 13, 2009
1,518
791
switzerland
on one of the pictures I can see the gap. it's possible that the iMac was opened up and during re-assembly they did not use the proper adhesive strips. there should be no gap at all!
 
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Kezalkoatl

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 26, 2017
5
2
on one of the pictures I can see the gap. it's possible that the iMac was opened up and during re-assembly they did not use the proper adhesive strips. there should be no gap at all!

Thanks for the reply, I think I've found the reason:
The metal body of the imac itself is a bit curved may be because of the stuff that is inside or because of the manufacture questions so the glass doesen't get close to the body at such place, the size of the gap is abou the 0,5mm or smaller, I think it follows the manufacturing tolerances as mentioned before by bbnck. To approve what was said here are some other photos with different scale.
[doublepost=1514370943][/doublepost]Also I've found image in the internet with the imac that has the same gap so it seems like its a common thing for the macs
https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/imac-imac2008-top-facing.jpg
 

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Bryan Bowler

macrumors 601
Sep 27, 2008
4,025
4,353
Maybe I've stayed up too late tonight, but I cannot see what you're taking about. Can your camera focus closer to the gap you see? As it stands now, i can't see it.
 

mikeboss

macrumors 68000
Aug 13, 2009
1,518
791
switzerland
as I wrote already: there should be no gap at all. also, I'd say that the manufacturing tolerances are very, very small. the aluminum case shouldn't be bent at all, should be perfectly straight. none of my iMacs has or had a gap between the glass and the iMac's case.
 
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Kezalkoatl

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 26, 2017
5
2
Maybe I've stayed up too late tonight, but I cannot see what you're taking about. Can your camera focus closer to the gap you see? As it stands now, i can't see it.

Check the attachment. It goes along the place where the wifi spot is situated
[doublepost=1514376213][/doublepost]Thanks to everybody.
Anyway, from the user point of view I have nothing to do with it, I can't change the mac just because of this gap, and I don't think that service provider will see any so I will accept it as a manufacturing issue or feature.
 

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Bryan Bowler

macrumors 601
Sep 27, 2008
4,025
4,353
Check the attachment. It goes along the place where the wifi spot is situated

Ok, thanks. I can see it now. If it was still under warranty, I would have it fixed, but obviously you are well past any warranty period unless the reseller was able to provide AppleCare. But the good news is this is no big deal. The adhesive tape is used on an iMac is incredibly strong and that tiny bit of separation (from the tape or just a manufacturing defect) is of zero concern and is no problem at all. Hope this helps...
 
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