EEVblog 1537 - Project Enclosure Search FAIL

[EEVblog]

Working on a new project, Dave failed at finding an off-the-shelf enclosure, can you find one?

[abeyer]

I feel like I'm going to get sucked into that altinkaya vendor and end up with a bunch of enclosures for projects I don't have time to build. 

[abeyer]

What about that nifty looking DT-140, but add a cutout and insert for the controls, so they stay horizontal?

Something like below:

[kc9qvl]

https://www.budind.com/series/general-use-boxes/compucab-series/#series-product-grid
only thing to be found.

[EEVblog]

What about that nifty looking DT-140, but add a cutout and insert for the controls, so they stay horizontal?

Nifty, but would have the design the front cutout mould, so probaly just as much work as a compete case.

[EEVblog]

https://www.budind.com/series/general-use-boxes/compucab-series/#series-product-grid
only thing to be found.

Yeah, the search is pointless, there is nothing suitable out there. I'll just design my own.

[edpalmer42]

I knew a guy who was looking for a few hundred tiny boxes.  He had no luck despite extensive searching online.  I suggested that he actually *talk* to companies that had something similar to what he was looking for.  It turned out that one of them had just what he wanted as a 'non-catalog' item.  IOW, no setup charges.  They just hadn't bothered to put it in their catalog.

It wouldn't hurt to ask "I'm looking for something similar to your Model XXX except ........  Do you have anything like that?".

[KE5FX]

Have a look at the Takachi catalog, maybe.  Not so well known as Bud or Hammond but they have some good stuff at reasonable prices.

[jlunder]

So there are all those enclosures that are too deep and not tall enough... why not just stand it up on the other side? Like this:

https://www.newark.com/bud-industries/pc-11495/enclosure-desktop-abs-grey/dp/99B1493

"Vertical display" seem like possibly useful keywords from there. Hilariously the same product is shot on Amazon lying down: https://www.amazon.ca/BUD-Industries-PC-11495-Plastic-Natural/dp/B005T98PQS?th=1

[Fryguy]

The last time i have seen a plastic enclosure like this was 40 years ago on a bedside clock .
You won't find anything like it off-the-shelf today . 

3D-printing one is the best option .

[Rdx]

Instead of going the full 3D print route it might be a good idea to take an existing enclosure and only design and 3D print the top part of it. This would make it a lot less 3D design work while still giving a mechanically solid base.

Anyways, there is something to seeing those cases that makes the nerd brain go wild by thinking what you could do with it. Its really quite interesting

[SiliconWizard]

There used to be a lot of options for those sloped console enclosures back in the days (I'd say 80s-90s) but these days options are very limited.
Like this kind of big ones: https://cpc.farnell.com/retex/33020115/sloped-console-black-400x147x230mm/dp/EN83078

Sure you could go for 3D printing, that's what I do these days for prototyping, the downside is that it doesn't look very good (surface finish is very meh), unless you're ready to pay big bucks for those advanced 3D printing services.

An alternative for custom stuff at low quantities (not requiring molding) is plastic machining. Some companies offer this service and can make pretty elaborate custom enclosures this way, and it costs a lot less than molding. Over here we have a company that's been doing that for a long time: https://www.ltp.fr/en/
There probably are companies doing similar stuff all over the world.

[aeberbach]

Have a look at the Takachi catalog, maybe.  Not so well known as Bud or Hammond but they have some good stuff at reasonable prices.

Takachi enclosures are excellent quality; those and Raaco storage cases are the only reasons I will use Element14, don't know anyone else that has them.

[EEVblog]

Instead of going the full 3D print route it might be a good idea to take an existing enclosure and only design and 3D print the top part of it. This would make it a lot less 3D design work while still giving a mechanically solid base.

Yeah, thought about that, would probably be a good option. Only thing would be the through hole pins sticking out the bottom.

[jonovid]

AlieX enclosures cost More if you buy them empty & undrilled. 

[scopeman]

Hi Dave,

Here are some ideas: This depends on how flexible you are on your design of course.

https://www.okwenclosures.com/en/Products/Plastic-enclosures.htm#Table-top-/-instrument-enclosures

Phoenix Mechano (Rose/Bopla enclosures) could be a possibility. They also offer machining and silk screen/engraving etc. I have used them for industrial stuff for
decades.

https://www.phoenix-mecano.co.uk/products/enclosure-technology

Pics off their website of possible models attached . They can be a bit pricey but I don't specifically know what your target is.

These days the enclosure is as expensive or more expensive than the electronics that goes in it.

I did a design of a two piece similar to a bud box for a friend of mine in SW and had them made out of aluminum punched painted and silkscreened cost was well over $35.00USD each not including shipping (pre plandemic) at 100 pieces. Now they are  approaching $50.00USD each. We are having these made locally no problems with the quality or fit but are considering other options due to cost.

You can see the current design at the link below. If you could find a local sheet metal shop that has CNC punching and bending capability perhaps you could do something similar. The nice thing about SW for this is it works out all of the compensation for the sheet metal bends.

https://midwayelectronics.us/qrp/

For your sloped cabinet design how about also taking one of the common Chinese extrusions and cutting it to the slope you want and then use a PCB designed to fit as the front panel? Some of these extruded enclosures out of China are cheap. You could cut one at a slope and then mount that on the top of a matching one to get the flat area you want. Many of them slide apart as well.

I do wish you well on your search as I feel your pain.

Here is a real challenge for you and forum members:

For hard to find how about a source for knobs for encoders that do not have a line or indicator on them that will fit the common 6mm "D" shaft (like the bourns PEC16 or 12 line of encoders)?

I would love to find matching ones in gray that are say 10mm and 14mm in diameter for instrumentation use and perhaps a 25mm flat one for a "wheelie" type knob that you find on common HP instruments (like the HP8648 series for example). As common as these knob sizes are on T&M equipment they seem impossible to find. I may be able to find one that is perfect but I never can find the companion size.

All the best!

Sam
W3OHM

[scopeman]

Just found this supplier. Maybe they can make exactly what you need. This design is similar to what you are looking for:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251801825033828.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt&_randl_shipto=US

Scroll down for their exhaustive catalog

Sam
W3OHM

[thm_w]

Looks good although I doubt the budget is in the $50 range. Unless its a one-off project.

[themadhippy]

This would make it a lot less 3D design work while still giving a mechanically solid base.

By the time youve measured the existing base and adapted your 3d drawing to suit you might as well start from scratch.
Not even half an hour in onshape turns out

[jerry507]

Retex also has a smaller one, but I'm guessing still too big: https://cpc.farnell.com/retex/33020113/sloped-console-black-268x117-5x185mm/dp/EN83076

[bot5am]

This is off-topic but can anyone let me know what ECAD/EDA Dave's using in the video?

[thm_w]

This is off-topic but can anyone let me know what ECAD/EDA Dave's using in the video?

uhh.. you aren't talking about the hand drawn sketch are you?

[bot5am]

uhh.. you aren't talking about the hand drawn sketch are you?

As much I have figured out that should be DaveCAD, no? Although as awesome as that is, I'm actually asking for the software behind it with slick, dark mode interface and pretty icons. It isn't Altium, Eagle or EasyEDA, right?

[abeyer]

I don't see any ECAD anywhere, just the digital davecad... which I think is drawboard.

[thm_w]

uhh.. you aren't talking about the hand drawn sketch are you?

As much I have figured out that should be DaveCAD, no? Although as awesome as that is, I'm actually asking for the software behind it with slick, dark mode interface and pretty icons. It isn't Altium, Eagle or EasyEDA, right?

https://www.drawboard.com/