jrkirkish Posted April 30, 2007 Report Posted April 30, 2007 I think it's time for me to start thinking about an enclosure...Since I really can't find any threads about this (bulding enclosures), I guess I'll start one.My biggest question is: How do I cut square holes in a quarter inch of aluminum? I've got this nifty little project box (one unit half rack sized), and the front panel is freakin' thick aluminum. How would I go about cutting a square hole for the LCD? Dremel, what bit? Drilling holes along the perimeter and then filing down the rough edges? Or should I just get somebody with a flow-jet to do the work? I'm on good terms with my old high school shop teacher (even 6 years after graduating), and he's helped me with projects before (even helped me build a guitar in his free time). But I'd like to know if it would just be easier to do a panel in AutoCAD and send it off some place to be manufactured.Next, what's the best way to mount my PCBs to the inside of the box? I need to have the outside of the box relitively free of screws sticking out the top and bottom (as this box it going to be wedged into my synth rack on three sides). I'm thinking double stick tape. Or maybe that would produce a static charge....I guess I intend this thread to be a repository of information about building enclosures, so If you've got any questions, or more importantly answers, please reply. Quote
Wilba Posted April 30, 2007 Report Posted April 30, 2007 Square holes are hard... I think the DIY method is to drill one round hole the same size and just file out the corners, or if it's bigger, multiple round holes, hacksaw, filing... lots of work.You can use JB Weld and threaded spacers on the bottom, then screws through the PCBs into the spacers. Quote
Sasha Posted April 30, 2007 Report Posted April 30, 2007 jrkirkish, I think you can find alot of inspiration here for making the enclosure. People build it cheap, expensive, quick... it depends mostly about what do you want to look and how much money are you willing to spend on it. Enclosure, is usually most expensive part of any MBHP project if it is CNC milled. You can always make some compromises without loosing much on aesthetics. To me, cheapest but very nice looking front-panel or complete housing is made using laser cutter and acrylic based materials. If you cannot find good service locally I can make you one and send it. Like you, I always dont like to see screws, but it can be avoided using sub-panels that will have as many screws and holes as you need. Top panel will hide that all. It can be fixed over sub-panel with 4 corner screws or easily glued on to of it. Take look at my current project... I have so meny screws and holes all over the sub-panel and all will be hidden when front-panel comes in place. For mounting the PCBs, you can also use 3rd sub-panel like I did it on the link belove. It could have screws and holes wherever you need it. To me it is the best way to have screw-less box.http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php?topic=8933.0And, here is the laser cut/engraved panel I mentioned above, if you like it I can make it for you.http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php?topic=7008.0 Quote
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