Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
Equipment Case Sources and Modifications
(1/5) > >>
engrguy42:
Okay, so I decided to take an old-er 600 watt ATX power supply and bench-ify it.

But I decided to do it a little different...I'm adding a plastic junction box that has almost identical H & W dimensions as the power supply. I'll just screw the box onto the PS, and the junction box has a removable front panel that just screws in. So the PS wires coming out of the PS case just go into the junction box and I'll attach a meter. selector switch for the meter, on/off, power LED, and lugs on the front panel.

Now a couple questions...

1. Is the only source for cases like this the Amazon/Home Depot electrical junction box market, or am I missing something? Yeah, I know Radio Shack died long ago but is there any remaining source for this kind of DIY stuff?

2. The largest pain has always been cutting square holes in cases like this. I hate it. So does everyone use a Dremel for this, or is there some other magic tool that does it better?

Oh, and a suggestion for anyone cutting holes in stuff like this....

1/16 inch is NOT 1/8 inch. I'm serious. The 1/16 marks on a ruler are the small ones, and the 1/8 is a LONGER distance than 1/16 inch.

So don't, for example, think your rocker switch is 7/8 inch wide when it's only 7/16 inches wide.  :D

Measure 12 times, then run it by somebody to double check, then cut once. 

Thanks.
ChristofferB:
There are a lot of electronics vendors that sells enclosures, try Ebay too.

I try avoiding square holes if possible, but if not, drilling 4 holes and then hack sawing out the square can be done nicely enough if you're patient. There is also a tool called a nibbler that takes our little square bites.

coromonadalix:
With an hacked atx psu  I would put some loads on the outputs,  some models need loading on the output to be efficient and stable, since they regulate with a load ...

Done that to an beautiful dell atx psu, and loaded all my outputs into 330 ohms 5watt  resistors, stable   and the fan inside  is automatically controlled :)

Drilled holes and used a square filer to adjust the square holes ... and used banana jacks with standard spacing on most psu's, meters ...  you have some dual banana holders adapters etc ...
james_s:
There are loads of companies that make enclosures. I've used boxes from Pac-Tec, Hammond and another company whose name escapes me. If you search online for "instrument enclosures" you'll find all sorts of hits. Dozens of styles in all different sizes ranging from key fobs to large benchtop cabinets.
engrguy42:
Has nobody used a Dremel or equivalent for square holes? If not I strongly recommend it, rather than drilling round holes and hack sawing and nibbling. Much much easier. And you can get a Dremel-type device for only around $25-50.

My only problem with a Dremel is it can make some gnarly edges that don't have that super-straight, machined quality look and probably need a bit of sanding. Though the Dremel comes with a sanding accessory.

I was just hoping there's some new device out there that makes cleaner cuts. 
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod