off the shelf enclosures - cutouts? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 03:07:24 am
content: I've been looking at off the shelf enclosures, and I've found many that will work for my project, but none of them have the correct cutouts I need for the connectors on my board. This is a project I plan to sell so I will be needing more than prototype quantities of enclosures. What do you guys do if you want to use an off the shelf enclosure? Are there companies that will cut the ends to fit the connectors for you (and don't cost a lot)?

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 03:20:18 am
content: Most companies that manufacture OTS enclosures will also do custom panels and cutouts for you. They charge a fair amount for the work, but they do it.(edit) Sorry, wrong link ...example :http://www.pactecenclosures.com/company-info.php

author: Jon Chandler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 03:26:12 am
content: As John says, often the vendors will do it. The downside may be set-up charges and minimum quantities.One way to cut costs is to use an enclosure with a removable end plate if you can arrange all of your needed cuts to be on one surface. Then you can either buy or build the end panel in quantity and have them machined in a large group and you only have to buy the enclosures in quantities as needed.

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 04:00:35 am
content: And if your quantities are decent, but not high enough to may for custom, you could get a small CNC mill and machine standard enclosures in your own shop.http://www.sherline.com/8540pg.htm

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 04:43:29 am
content: Quote from: Jon Chandler on February 18, 2011, 03:26:12 amAnd panels are usually close enough to 1.6mm that you can use a standard PCB in place of it. So easy to get your front panels manufactured and silkscreened at the same time from your existing PCb supplier.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 05:42:23 am
content: Quote from: JohnS_AZ on February 18, 2011, 04:00:35 amorjust a mill...i picked up some used steppers last weekend, downloaded emc2 the other day. im almost there!-sj

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 03:01:19 pm
content: Quote from: sonicj on February 18, 2011, 05:42:23 amThat's the route I took, but MY mill is way bigger than YOUR mill.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 09:07:50 pm
content: now now boys, it's not about how big it is but how you use it.... hang on a minute are we sizing up the same thing ?you could find a local machinist willing to give you a decent price

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2011, 09:31:30 pm
content: heheheActually I was thinking about getting the same mill Sonicj linked to do engraving. Th one I have is better suited to engine intake manifolds.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2011, 01:02:34 am
content: i suffer from mill envy! i don't own one yet...have you cnc'd yours yet? what software do you use?-sj

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2011, 03:29:44 am
content: Quote from: sonicj on February 19, 2011, 01:02:34 amI cnc'd it about 7 years ago, but it's kind of an odd duck.I'm VERY fond of buying surplus industrial equipment for my projects. For the mill I bought several Compumotor (Parker) servo drivers with their associated cables and servo/stepper motors. The controllers use a 'directed command language' (as opposed to simple step pulses), and they all hang on a common RS-232 line. So instead of sending step pulses out a parallel port, you actually have to send something like "A2S4M+32475G" (Axis 2, speed=4, move 32,475 steps positive, GO!). Actually, you send one string per axis, and they all start their moves when you issue the "G".For CAD I use Corell Draw (vector). I installed a driver for an old PH Plotter (again, vector move commands) and have the system save the HPGL code to a file when I print the Corell drawing. Finally, I have a Perl package I wrote that translates the HPGL file to Compumotor command strings on the fly.The only shortfall with my arrangement is there is no real control of the Z axis. HPGL only supports "PEN UP" and "PEN DOWN", and my Perl drives the Z all the way up, or down to a preset depth appropriately. Since I built the thing to produce 2U and 3U 19" rack panels the Z axis was never a problem. Plus I always figured I could hack the code some more to do a variable Z if I needed it.It works pretty well, and I rather doubt that anyone has anything like it.If it's not raining tomorrow I'll go snap a picture of the rig.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2011, 08:05:00 am
content: ditto on the surplus thing! i picked up a pair of steppers at the orlando hamfest for $5 each. they should be adequate for a small lathe or mill.i can't believe you've gone 7 years without a variable z axis! lol. actually, i'd be happy (for now) with a 2d setup... all kinds of cool stuff can be built with stacked frames!i never really got into corel. most of my 2d drawings are in illustrator. im sure you know corel pretty well by now, but have you triedGoogle's Layout? the learning curve is almost non-existent. it exports dxf/dwg and i think it will export vector via PDF. if someone has no idea what they are doing and wants to design a panel, layout is where its at!bring on the pictures!-sj

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2011, 11:55:04 am
content: I have a project in the pipe line ( on hold due to the demise of my lab (shed collapsed due to heavy snow)) to make a small cnc mill to make panels, engrave and possibly etch pdb's if I can get the mechanics accurate enough (money mainly). The software I intend to use is Mach3. Used it with some lash ups (I've got the electronics and steppers sorted) and it works great. Toying with the Idea of using it as a sort of solder paste /flux / component assembly machine as well but need to make it first Lol. A great source of cnc bits is DIYCNC in the uk.http://www.machsupport.com/http://www.diycnc.co.uk/

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2011, 03:07:45 pm
content: Quote from: JohnS_AZ on February 18, 2011, 03:20:18 amThanks. I had been looking for info like this but hadn't found it. I sent them an email and got a quote back. It was surprisingly reasonable.

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2011, 03:08:55 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 18, 2011, 04:43:29 amThis is a great idea.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 21, 2011, 03:12:33 am
content: Quote from: ToBeFrank on February 18, 2011, 03:07:24 amAll depends on the enclosure, quantities, intended environment etc. For one offs and small quantities it is usually cheaper to use pin headers on the PCB to connectors, switches etc that use a circular hole. Component cost vs labour cost for a presentable finished product..For prototypes and customer specials I sometimes usehttp://www.frontpanelexpress.com/, the results look professional with a CNC milled panel able to cover or replace almost any required bush metalwork. Front panel express uses a dodgy custom CAD package to design your panel which is a free download. For Europehttp://www.schaeffer-ag.de/enoffers a similar service.Low cost is relative, the cost of a custom panel is often much less than the labour to produce some home made atrocities.