Vaio Z screen hinge alignment, strength & durability?

I have noticed on various Vaio Z series laptops (mine included) that the screen, hinges and body don't necessarily always line up perfectly. For example. when the laptop is closed and viewed from behind, there appears to be a <1mm discrepancy in the gap between screen and body. Also the screen when viewed at the same angle seems to naturally bend or arch up towards to middle and then curve back down towards the sides (again with slightly uneven gaps). Furthermore, the screen overlaps the body by ~1mm on the front left of the laptop when closed, yet sits flush on the right hand side. Oh, and I know I have too much time on my hands.

My question is this: are the slight misalignments a direct result of the manufacturing process, or is it more likely that the hinges on the Vaio Z are prone to permanently bending when subtle force has been applied (eg. resting a few magazines on top of the laptop, storing the laptop in a case with other items possibly pressing slightly against it, or whilst upside-down during upgrades/repair, or when you're momentarily holding the laptop more by the screen than the body when picking it up whilst open)?

Are the hinges able to withstand more than just simple handling and light downwards pressure whilst maintaining their position and alignment (like the older Vaio models do) or are the gaps I've noticed a result of user mishandling and therefore just likely to get bigger over time?

Cheers,
Ash

 

I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be down to use.

By the way - maybe you could add some pics or basic sketches? That would make it easier to visualize.

 

When making a joint of two different materials, it is important to have slack (as in gaps) because different materials expand differently with heat.

 

I'm cool with the gaps themselves, and I fully understand the need for their presence. It's the discrepancy of these gaps that slightly concern me, and the possibility that they may change in size over time due to pressure on the hinges through normal use...

I'll try post up some pics/diagrams soon.

 

Keep in mind that what you see aren't the actual hinges, but just a plastic cover around the hinges. The plastic covers are a tad loose, and can be moved around a fair bit. Bad design? Perhaps, but also practical.

 

So resting a few books or magazines (or the pressure that's naturally applied in a full laptop bag) on the Vaio Z when its closed shouldn't permanently bend/misalign the hinges and screen?

 

It shouldn't.

But read the manual - it may state a maximum pressure.