Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: Metal cases required (fabricated)
ChrisW

posted on 5/8/13 at 11:08 PM Reply With Quote
Metal cases required (fabricated)

Hopefully someone on here can help with this. As usual, I'd much rather give the work to an LB'er of course.

I need some metal cases designed and fabricated for a custom electronic device. There is not really much to it, just a rectangular box, but it needs various cutouts in it and to be cut and folded to achieve a professional look. Either aluminium, in which case it can be bare metal, or steel in which case it will need to be powder coated or similar.

Size approx 300 x 200 x 100mm. Total requirement is 42 but depending on price I may have to order in small batches, say 7 at a time.

They will need some kind of fixings inside for a PCB and, as above, a few cutouts in the sides. For the prototypes we have used this type of enclosure...

Plastic box
Plastic box


...and just dremel'd out the cutouts and drilled the back plate for fixings like these to hold the PCB....

PCB fixings
PCB fixings


However we are looking for something a bit more professional looking for the final product.

If anyone can help, drop me a u2u or reply here.

Cheers, Chris





My gaff my rules

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
Madinventions

posted on 5/8/13 at 11:58 PM Reply With Quote
We use a company called Hitec in Cambridgeshire (link) for our custom cases and never had a problem with them. Maybe worth a call?

Ed.





Mojo build diary: http://www.madinventions.co.uk

Solo music project: Syrrenfor http://www.reverbnation.com/syrrenfor

View my band website:
http://www.shadowlight.org.uk

http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk/

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
omega 24 v6

posted on 6/8/13 at 09:18 AM Reply With Quote
Rs components do a range of die cast alloy boxes. However I would think in your position you are aware of this and have already discounted them.





If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
luke

posted on 6/8/13 at 11:23 AM Reply With Quote
Are you needing these to be IP rated? In which case you will probably be alot cheaper to buy a standard off the shelf box and modify to suite your requirements.

There are plenty of sheet metal shops around that will be able to make enclosures if you dont require IP rating. I can point you in a few directions of people i come across in work if you struggle to find someone.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
watsonpj

posted on 6/8/13 at 03:56 PM Reply With Quote
Chris
another cambridge area company is teversham engineering they make our brushed stainless boxes for us and were cheaper than buying an off the shelf box and moding it. The boxes they make for us come with stand off posts for PCBs and earth posts internally and also cut outs for environmental glands etc. We then add seals,etc to make it IP67.

Pete

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
mad4x4

posted on 6/8/13 at 05:56 PM Reply With Quote
Custom will Cost.... Better try and get an off the shelf





Scot's do it better in Kilts.

MK INDY's Don't Self Centre Regardless of MK Setting !

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
ChrisW

posted on 7/8/13 at 01:55 PM Reply With Quote
Hi all

Thanks for the suggestions.

I am aware that custom will cost. The main issue is the cut outs. It takes a lot of fiddling to do it and get it looking professional. In terms of man hours vs cost I suspect it would be much cheaper to have them punched (or laser cut) into the box before it is folded up.

Those cast alu boxes are ok for DIY if you are cutting and filing the cut outs but I suspect a bit limited when you start talking about quantity. I'm guessing that if you tried to punch cut a hole in the side of one it would just fold up?

I don't need anything custom shaped or sized, we can just pick the 'next size up' that fits all the parts.

No, it doesn't need to be IP rated.

Chris





My gaff my rules

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.