Enclosure Design? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: tonyarkles
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 04:46:39 pm
content: Does anyone have a good resource for learning about enclosure design and PCB/enclosure co-design?Here's my problem: I designed a little remote (AVR+TI CC2500 module) and it works great. But getting it into a case with externally accessible buttons has proven problematic. I know that there's a number of different options (buttons with tall caps, silicone buttons with carbon pills, etc etc), but I'm having trouble getting from point A to point B. The first design used tactile switches, and I ended up using some 2 part plastic resin to cast little buttons for it, but they don't work very well. I thought I had ordered some buttons and button caps that would match, but despite the part numbers appearing correct, they don't actually work together; I'm going to do some more research and maybe order some more parts.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 05:11:31 pm
content: I have had a great success with the Sick Of Beige standard. It is simple, looks nice and well ventilated. You can get stock covers (and modify them if needed) or make your own laser cut designs (I am following the Ponoko inkscape instructions and order from them). Here is one example, this is an older version, the newer version also has laser engraved text.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what-are-u-working-on-right-now-(electronics-related-and-with-picture-please)/msg438324/#msg438324And here is the design file (open with inkscape)https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zapta/power-monitors/master/pmon_uno/eagle/pmon_uno_ponoko_laser_cut.svg

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 05:15:58 pm
content: If it is for small quantities you start with an off-the-shelf enclosure likehttp://www.teko.it/it/prodotti/famiglia/PO/serie/117http://www.teko.it/it/prodotti/famiglia/PO/serie/46http://www.teko.it/it/prodotti/famiglia/PO/serie/66http://www.polycase.com/fb-45-serieshttp://www.polycase.com/fb-40-serieshttp://www.polycase.com/vm-series(just examples, other suppliers have similar products)Once you have settled on an enclosure you design your PCB and select your switches so they fit in the enclosure.If it is for medium quantities you still do the same (unless you have lots of money), just that you maybe turn to a cheaper supplier and get some customization.

author: tonyarkles
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 09:46:44 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on May 27, 2014, 05:15:58 pmThat is the understatement of the year, I think.I suspect a big part of my problem is that I wasn't sufficiently slow and methodical when I was doing that process. I did use a pre-made case (Hammond). The board has 3 buttons, 3 LEDs, and an RJ45 jack on the front. The case got backordered, so I was designing the board based solely on the mechanical drawings for the case. Lots of dependent variables here: the RJ45 jack defines how close to the top of the case the PCB can go, RJ45+board thickness defines what kind of spacers/standoffs there need to be between the PCB and the bottom of the case, etc etc. There's no room for separate buttons, so I went with PCB mount buttons; that means that the stem length of the buttons is dependent on all those other things too. And the case is curved on the inside, so it wasn't entirely clear which stem length to go with.Ugh, mechanical. Designing the board was so much fun.

author: tonyarkles
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 09:55:43 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on May 27, 2014, 05:11:31 pmThat's a really cool idea! The hackerspace in town has a laser cutter and I'm just in the process of becoming a member...That seems to be kind of a jellybean-of-cases, which really appeals to me. Eliminates a lot of the fiddly work and enables you to have a cool looking case without too much messing about.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 10:13:22 pm
content: Quote from: tonyarkles on May 27, 2014, 09:55:43 pmWe have such machine at work so I registered for a class this Thursday. Yet to be seen if I will be able to replicate Ponoko's qualityDidn't ask about it but possibly it can also do plastic smd stencils, not sure.

author: tonyarkles
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 10:27:47 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on May 27, 2014, 10:13:22 pmThat's pretty handy! The guy I know at the hackerspace says he's done SMD stencils with his quite well. So there's hope!I'm just looking around here at the SoB designs... Have you ever come across one with a battery door? I suppose it'd be easy enough to just require the 4 screws to get removed to swap out the AA batteries.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2014, 11:02:28 pm
content: Quote from: tonyarkles on May 27, 2014, 10:27:47 pmThat's a very good idea.