Has anyone seen this guy's PCB enclosures - blew my mind! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: nzo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2011, 06:06:18 am
content: Dave Richards. Just scroll down the page a little. Beautiful work. There is still love in DIY!

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 23, 2011, 07:19:41 am
content: Dear Nzo:--After seeing this guy's efforts, and seeing my own, the word piddling comes to mind. I thing I will just go and soak my head. Remember, anybody can to the job with the "right" tools. Best RegardsClear Ether

author: KJ6EAD
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2011, 08:11:19 am
content: A well-crafted manhattan build always seems like functional sculpture to me. He lacquers the copper on his enclosures to prevent oxidation but I think the artistic value might be enhanced by patinating it.

author: sub
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2011, 08:30:59 am
content: Really scary is this one that he references:http://qrpbuilder.com/downloads/pcb_chassis_a.pdfOnce painted they look incredible. Presumably one could get some of the boards fabricated professionally and so have a nice-looking front panel too.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2011, 10:29:07 am
content: It is a shame he has to inclose the pcbs, they are a work of are as well.Regards

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2011, 12:23:33 pm
content: If you make nice guts, an option is to use transparent acrylic for your housing; not the best for EMI though. You could put a screen inside to act like a Faraday cage yet still be transparent enough to see.

author: nzo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 02:45:56 am
content: For those of you who may try PCB enclosures, here's some tips for cleaning the boards before laquering:QuoteSource: ebay PCB vendor

author: kaptain_zero
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 02:57:03 am
content: It is not my intention to hijack this thread, however, the beautiful enclosures reminded me of a project that I have every intention of building, just because of it's appearance, The Electroluminescent Receiver:http://www.amateurradioreceivers.net/elrchucknolin.htm

author: nzo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 03:08:36 am
content: You read my mind. Good on you for posting it.

author: Kozmyk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 04:05:42 am
content: Those enclosures are schweet.It's nice to see a bit of craftsmanship.A few years back I had cause to visit Rod Henson of Matisse Audio fame.The band I was in had some London gigs and a couple of the guys in the band stayed at his place, he being an old friend of the sax player.He showed me a stereo power amplifier he was working on.All valve output stage with custom wound transformers.What struck me most was the PCB.Symmetrical to the point of perfection even the wiring was laid out precisely symmetrical.All the copper on the PCB was gold plated and the heavy brushed ally front panel was to be gold plated as well.Just so all this electronic art work didn't go to waste, the top of the case was a thick sheet of perspex.It was beautiful to look at. Beautifully made.It's the kind of stuff that if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.Unfortunately I don't have any pics of that unit but his website shows the care he takes in presentation and layout of his products.http://www.paulsen.co.uk/rod/index.htmlHe seems to favour blue PCBs over gold these days.The gold must be an optional extra these days. ;^)

author: nzo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 06:42:50 am
content: Beautiful! - but I bet they cost an arm and a leg. They usually do when they hide the price.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 06:43:59 am
content: I was going to ask whether the pads of the Manhattan style posed significant capacitance to the ground plane. My question was answered in the document by Chuck Adams K7QO:http://www.k7qo.net/manart.pdfVery good tutorial about Manhattan style build. In short, the capacitance presented by the pads is so miniscule that you don't have to worry about it at all, while in theory it is non-zero.On the other hand if two sided PCB is used, and the component side is ground, the opposite side can supply V+. In this case a PCB of 100 x 200 mm will have a capacitance of 465pF with extremely low ESR. As perhttp://www.daycounter.com/Calculators/Plate-Capacitor-Calculator.phtmlI always hated prototype boards. For a while I thought about tooling up for wire wrap but after seeing this I am a believer.

author: nzo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 07:44:01 am
content: Thanks for posting that HAL-42b - that's worth it's weight in gold. Why have I never seen this stuff!?

author: Dave Richards AA7EE
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 03:23:02 pm
content: I just found out that nzo had mentioned my home-brew receiver in this thread and thought I would provide a link that leads directly to the post. Anyone who follows the link that was given, in a few months will probably have to wade through a bunch of other posts first.Here's the direct link:http://aa7ee.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/the-wbr-a-simple-high-performance-regen-receiver-for-40m-by-n1byt/Thank you for the kind comments, and thank you nzo!DaveAA7EE

author: Time
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2011, 03:47:04 pm
content: There are no pcbs in his copper enclosure. Its all just point to point soldering in a very cool/neat manner.

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2011, 02:21:19 am
content: Dear Dave-AA7EE:--Absolutely brilliant work. Please keep us posted when you add pictures. Best RegardsClear Ether