Circuit board enclosure ideas - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: pacmann
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2024, 12:27:38 pm
content: I want to use a circuit board as a front panel like the picture. Any ideas for custom size enclosure to be able to counter sink the circuit board and use it as a front panel? Circuit board will have holes to use screws with.

author: squadchannel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2024, 12:46:19 pm
content: countersink? where?most fabs will not be able to do this.mod:want to use flat head screws?have you considered round head or thin head screws?

author: pacmann
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2024, 01:15:22 pm
content: Quote from: squadchannel on December 18, 2024, 12:46:19 pmCounter sink the circuit board to the enclosure for the circuit board to be flat and "finished" looking

author: Poroit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 05:08:50 am
content: G'day pacmann,Do you own or can you borrow a Router?Cut a hole in the lid of an enclosure so that it fits snugly around your PCB.You could mount your PCB on standoffs inside the enclosure.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 06:24:26 am
content: I doubt most PCB manufacturers will do this (countersunk holes), although with enough money, you may have a chance.Unless you have to make large quantities, you could otherwise do this yourself after receiving the PCBs. Just allow enough clearance around these mounting holes (to avoid exposing copper) and use a drill press with a countersink drill bit.

author: jane810314
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 08:20:32 am
content: You can make the PCB holes by countersink hole, like the picture

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 08:30:37 am
content: I had PCBWay do 82deg countersunk screw holes for a production batch of 1000 boards about a year ago. Normal 0.062" FR4. It didn't even raise the cost much.I had a mechanical drawing callout on my FAB layer with the dimensions of the countersink and depth and all that. They didn't even ask any questions about it.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 08:31:57 am
content: Quote from: jane810314 on December 19, 2024, 08:20:32 amThose look like counter-bores. different thing.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 10:23:31 am
content: I don’t think OP is actually interested in countersunk screw holes, but in an enclosure where the PCB front panel is flush or recessed.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 10:43:39 am
content: Quote from: tooki on December 19, 2024, 10:23:31 amI agree, OP wants a box where front panel is recessed.And there are many such boxes, especially plastic ones with metal front and rear panel.

author: pacmann
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 01:21:40 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on December 19, 2024, 10:23:31 amYes this is what I meant. Cheers!

author: spostma
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 01:31:52 pm
content: would it be an idea to use M2 / M2,5 / M3 laptop screws to mount this board?They have heads with minimal head thickness, say 0.5 - 0.8mm, depending on thread.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 01:50:17 pm
content: Is this a one-of enclosure?It's easy enough to 3D design and print a custom plastic box.I imagine you could find a fab house to make large quantities if it's a future product.I used M3 button-head screws on mine. They are pretty low profile.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2024, 02:34:07 pm
content: Quote from: MarkF on December 19, 2024, 01:50:17 pmThere is gazilion ready made enclosures exactly like that....