Where to get custom ABS enclosures fabbed from a cheap chinese fab house? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Fusion916
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 09:58:28 pm
content: I have my go-to chinese fab house for PCBs, but I am looking for a good one to get custom ABS enclosures made. Looking a place with a decent lead time (less than 2 weeks would be ideal).

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 10:17:27 pm
content: Your notion is quite naive, about how these things are manufactured. Unless you want to sped thousands of bucks for a few pieces.

author: Fusion916
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 10:21:13 pm
content: Quote from: Yansi on December 28, 2017, 10:17:27 pmCare to be more specific? I really got nothing out of your response.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 10:25:23 pm
content: ABS enclosures are made by injection moulding, which needs hard tooling, which won't happen in 2 weeks.Unless you meant getting standard off-the-shelf enclosures custom machined/drilled, which is more viable.

author: Fusion916
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 10:40:01 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on December 28, 2017, 10:25:23 pmThanks, I know ABS enclosures are made by mould injecting, but I don't know much about the details on the process, tooling, and lead time. So it looks like my only options is pre-fabbed enclosures with a CNC drilling process for customization?Also, even with a large lead time, tooling and mould injection for custom ABS enclosures is pricey, as in $1000's?

author: jbb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 10:56:25 pm
content: For a modest size enclosure without fancy stuff (reasonable draft angles, no overhangs), I would expect min 6 weeks and some thousands of dollars to get the tooling done. And you’ll be screwed over by Chinese New Year; they’ll be focused on getting hings out for their big clients.After tooling, 1000 piece orders are probably in the range of $0.50 - $10 each depending on plastic volume, material and trickyness.If you only need a few, I suggest you get something from Hammond. They have accurate drawings and can do some custom machining for you.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 11:01:56 pm
content: Quote from: Fusion916 on December 28, 2017, 10:40:01 pmthe mould alone costs around 70k$ they are made to last for hundreds of thousands of pieces.Perhaps 3D printing could be an option that is how our company tests the 3D cad files before loosing 70k for some stupid mistake. However they do not look that nice, rough on the outside perhaps if you make the sides thicker you can finely sand them so they look nicer.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 11:17:01 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on December 28, 2017, 11:01:56 pmCheaper tooling can be used for shorter runs, and for some styles of case there are options like cases made from cut & heat-folded sheets.

author: hagster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2017, 11:31:41 pm
content: Protolabs are worth looking at. They can either do CNC machined parts or injection moulded parts. Prices start about £5k.