Decent project boxes

[DavidDLC]

Can somebody provide me with links of providers for decent project boxes ?

If they are in the USA will be a plus.

Good quality and good looking boxes.

Thanks.

[just]

Maybe here http://www.hammondmfg.com/ you can find some boxes for your projects.

[Mechatrommer]

not the www.polycase.com ?

[DavidDLC]

Great links, thanks guys.

If somebody have more options, please post.

[A-sic Enginerd]

Another thanks!
I too have been frustrated with what I've found and how much they want for them. These are really nice options.

Any comments on dealing with them? In stock / out of stock, fit and finish, anything else? (just curious and good info to have is all)

[alm]

I've often been frustrated by searching for enclosures. Most enclosures are quite deep, but not very high. I often need the height/width for front panel space (eg. LCD + buttons), but don't need much depth, for example like many recent instruments (eg. Rigol DSO). Larger cases (like most bench equipment from manufacturers like Agilent) are also hard to find.

Many seem really ugly and scream 'amateur' or seem designed for mounting to the wall in industrial settings, although there are some exceptions like some from Hammond.

Even with the parametric search from Digikey, you can't just ask for a case with inside dimensions at least l x b x h, you have to scroll through the whole list manually.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Talking of project boxes, when I was in Tokyo a while ago I found this ridiculously small snap-together box.
Internal dims are about 7x12x6mm!



Now what can I build in it....?

[charliex]

http://www.protocase.com/

[alm]

http://www.protocase.com/

I didn't know that one, thanks for the link. Just tried a quick quote for a basic 5x10x7 inch u-shaped enclosure, 300 GBP ($450) in quantities of one ($350 for US customers), and not much less for higher quantities, ouch! For that money, I'll make do with standard enclosures or re-use old stuff.

[redek]

Maybe here http://www.hammondmfg.com/ you can find some boxes for your projects.

I've used a few high quality aluminum enclosures from them.  They are really good.  The larger sizes are fairly expensive, but fairly reasonable for a smaller box or enclosure.

[rossmoffett]

I've always been frustrated by high cost or unavailability for special-purpose enclosures too.  A friend of mine recently purchased a CNC plasma cutter and I've been thinking about buying a metal brake and making my own.  There's a lot of room for projects with good enclosures, just look at all of the kits on the web without anything to protect the circuit board.

@mikeselectricstuff, That looks like a pill box to me.

[A-sic Enginerd]

I've always been frustrated by high cost or unavailability for special-purpose enclosures too.  A friend of mine recently purchased a CNC plasma cutter and I've been thinking about buying a metal brake and making my own.  There's a lot of room for projects with good enclosures, just look at all of the kits on the web without anything to protect the circuit board.

@mikeselectricstuff, That looks like a pill box to me.

Oh how I long for my long awaited shop space. Having a brake and a shear would be awesome. For a project I'm starting on I was even considering taking some scrap oak plywood I have sitting around, sand it down and shoot it with some lacquer and call it done.  Talk about going old school retro. 

[Mechatrommer]

polycase let you design your own case in CAD and submit to them for sample and pricing, i never tried one, just by reading the site info. but in case i have a serious project... i think i'm gonna hire them coz so far, thats the only site i found that let us design our own shape etc. + the existing design price seem to be reasonable, the question is just the shipping cost.

and... they got youtube promo video as well... just type in "polycase" in youtube.
protocase seem nice too... for "custom" metal enclosure. thanx 4 d info

[MTron]

I'm with Just, i just finished a new project (built a vacuum tube amplifier...old school i know!)

Anyways, i used a Hammond enclosure, it was reasonably priced and well built!

Hammond sells to a LOT of distributors, and if you find an electronics surplus or supply store chances are they will stock some Hammond enclosures. That's where i got mine, along with some Hammond transformers

[NiHaoMike]

I often recycle cases from old electronics and other items.
My first Hybrid Digital audio amplifier, in a case from an old 802.11b router: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/appliances-gadgets/358-amanda-harris-prius-home-audio.html
Another Hybrid Digital audio amplifier, built inside a cheap iPod cradle: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/appliances-gadgets/984-allie-moore-ihybrid-40-next-generation-ti-hybrid-digital.html

[slburris]

What about buying some off-the-shelf case from Hammond or the like, then
replacing the front and/or back panels with custom stuff made by
emachineshop.com or frontpanelexpress.com?

Anyone tried that?

Scott