DIY'ers - can I get your advice on some homebrew PCB enclosures? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Kangurito
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:00:30 am
content: I've been designing some enclosures for my circuit boards and want your frank and honest option about the design, colour and aesthetic appeal.See attached files.Do you hate them? Do you love them? Are they meh...? If so, tell me why?What can be improved?Sizes... they're quite small so about 11cm x 7cmThe triangle in the corner is a status led that glows depending on what's happening... red = fail, blue = OK, white = bootingThanks in advance.RegardsTrev

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:07:55 am
content: I like the looks, but I don't see much provision for connectors or other interface with the outside world. If these are intended to be general purpose enclosures the available front panel space is mostly taken-up with that horizontal band.Do they stack? All good equipment must be stackable

author: Aodhan145
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:09:26 am
content: They look amazing, The minimal design works really well. Personally I prefer the black middle band over the orange, but people have different tastes.What manufacturing processes are you going to use to make them?

author: Kangurito
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:11:23 am
content: Hi AodhánIt'll be makerbot for now. LOLThanksTrev

author: Kangurito
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:13:02 am
content: Hi AndyGood point... they kind of stack as the tops are rounded... but there's no anti-slip groove on the top. Something I'll think about.ThanksTrev

author: Aodhan145
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:16:39 am
content: I wish I had a 3D printer, too expensive. What are you looking to house in the enclosures? If only you could make them out of anodised aluminium but metal working is difficult.

author: Kangurito
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:18:02 am
content: Aodhán, now anodised aluminium would be super sexy... how would I do that?

author: PeterFW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:18:42 am
content: Too many sharp corners for my taste, breaking the seams with anoter 45 degrees would be more plaesing to my eye and the haptic would be a bit improved.But over all ok.

author: eneuro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 11:32:21 am
content: Quote from: Kangurito on May 09, 2015, 11:00:30 amSmall is 1inch2 for meAnyway, you showed some rendered stuff I guess, but sharp edges doesn't look great and not safe to touch or maybe this render is minimalistic because of you didn't rounded edgesIn the middle those edges could be as it is but personally I do not like such sharp outside edges.Also this corner with triangle diode will be mechanically weak and in my designs I'd like to go into transparent PCBs with part of solder mask removed to allow diode to glow througth PCB outside, but it depends what is purpose of this enclusure.For the moment it looks like you have only fast rendered 3D model with missed details a many things to do to improove overall look and feel.People for enclusures which will be visible inside rooms will look for some kind of art behind this and those sharp edges and rectangle box is too simple form, unless it fits in someones ferniture modern design.

author: Aodhan145
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 12:18:03 pm
content: Quote from: Kangurito on May 09, 2015, 11:18:02 amI don't know much about working in metal, surely someone on the forum will know how.

author: eneuro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 12:42:51 pm
content: Quote from: Kangurito on May 09, 2015, 11:18:02 amGood starting point therehttp://www.anodizeusa.com/Bulky trafo, step down high ampere PSU and for DIY designs if there is no factory close to your location a litle bit of art work and can be done since you do not need perfect mechanical properties of anodized layer.ASF ANODIZING WITHOUT A CALCULATORI'm was interested in hard anodizing since needed good absorbers for my CSP solar power systems, so not such abig deal write a few lines of code and let ATTiny85 do the job based on potentiometers setting of anodized area and estimated thickness

author: smjcuk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 01:07:17 pm
content: Looks great to me. There's something a bit 'Cray research' about them which is a style I've always admired: