Who makes rod mounted project boxes?

[JohnDMcMaster]

This enclosure fits between two rods on an industrial robot. I want to make some replacement parts and I'd like to match up the original enclosures if at all possible. Unfortunately I'm having trouble finding any project boxes with this sort of rounded slots on the sides. Maybe it's a custom part? Alternatively I'm thinking something like get a Hammond case and 3D print an adapter bracket.

Background: I'm trying to make new radios for a bomb disposal robot I got a while back on eBay. The originals are damaged and I'd like to put some more modern long range ones (LTE?) on anyway.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[Ian.M]

That looks like the usual aluminum extrusion with endplates style of robust box.  Unfortunately custom aluminum extrusions are relatively affordable, even for limited volume production, and thus fairly common,  so you'll have the devil's own time trying to find the original part if it was bought in as a box, or if it was custom for the OEM, an off-the-shelf equivalent.

If it isn't too long, it could be duplicated by machining from aluminum billet stock, but it certainly wont be cheap.

I suggest using an off-the-shelf box extrusion with custom oversize endplates, to provide the grooves that engage with the rods.

[JohnDMcMaster]

Thanks for the link! Yeah, its likely that would be quite affordable for the robot maker then. Upon closer inspection I've also discovered there is an internal non-extruded lip. So I'm leaning more towards a custom part now...maybe extruded followed by some simple machining.

It's not just the end plates as there is a matching channel down the middle that matches the end plates. While I've found some slots on enclosures I haven't found any that have this round style. In any case I agree that using a standard box and putting custom end plates is probably the way to go.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[nali]

If you can knock up a CAD file you could try getting a part made by a 3D print shop. I'm talking about sintered metal SLS fabrication not the home FDM type printers... that should get you a fairly decent fabrication without breaking the bank.