Help locating supplier for aluminum enclosure box extrusion - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 06:53:44 pm
content: I've designed a couple of projects that slide into the Adafruit "Extruded Aluminum Enclosure Box - 94mm x 83mm x 30mm, PRODUCT ID: 2230" (https://www.adafruit.com/product/2230).I like it, and their price is pretty reasonable (around $5), but I don't need the end panel plates or screws, which Adafruit isn't able to sell without, and I might need the extrusions in a higher volume than would be appropriate for Adafruit. So, I am looking for an alternate supplier.I have attached a mfg drawing here -- does anybody recognize the supplier (I can't read Chinese)? Or can anyone recommend a suitable, reliable replacement? If need be, I can tweak my board dimensions a bit, but this form-factor is close to perfect for me. The is a black-anodized single-piece extrusion.Thanks,Paul

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 08:52:21 pm
content: If you can't find the supplier, the flat end-plate would be pretty easy to get custom made for a reasonable cost. The bonus is you can make modifications for your application and even put custom engraving on it. eMachineshop springs to mind but there are others. they will give you a free quote with a little work on your part.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 10:05:56 pm
content: A Chinese translation won't help - I OCRed it and ran it through google translate to get:Quotewhich has nothing even vaguely resembling a manufacturer name.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2021, 10:35:33 pm
content: Thanks for the translation. There are hundreds of possible sources that show up, so far none of them exact, and I have no idea how reliable the random Chinese vendors might be. They could be great, it's just something I've never tried to source and I don't want to make a huge lifetime buy when I don't know how many I will need.As for front plates, those are what I *don't* need. As it is, with the Adafruit box I am slowly collecting a big collection of blanks. I was thinking about having them milled / screened, or doing it myself, but ended up using JLCPCB to make PCB faceplates. I like the blue soldermask! These faceplates cost about 33 cents in small qtys, which compares *very* well to the milled aluminum faceplate from someone like FrontPanelExpress. I know this is an apples/oranges comparison, but the PCB faceplate does the job for me. Here's one: (I need to fine-tune the logo graphics)

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2021, 12:36:43 am
content: Normally, I dislike FR4 front panels but that does look nice.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2021, 04:06:43 am
content: Quote from: phil from seattle on February 08, 2021, 12:36:43 amThanks!I agree with you about basic green FR4 front panels, but I thought I'd try with the blue solder-mask (after all, it is tenacious stuff, resistant to high heat). I was quite pleased with the result. The only drawback is that the board edges are still uncoated green FR4, and there is a slight board-texture embossing (which doesn't at all bother me aesthetically). I used a black Sharpie marker to hide the edge color, but in this case a blue marker would have looked better. Hey, I was in a hurry -- first boards, and I used what I had at hand. Perhaps an ink pad would be a decent solution for that if I eventually need large quantities. Or pay my kids to do it.

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2021, 05:15:37 am
content: Hammond makes this sort of box in all shapes and sizes and they say they’ll modify them and drill the end panels to suit your needs. Worth a shot!

author: mon2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2021, 09:51:13 am
content: Yes, we buy similar enclosures all the time with custom laser engraving. Very pleased with the quality control. We use black FR4 for the endplates and use custom screws from another vendor for an elegant finish. This enclosure vendor has a wide variety of options. They will be on CNY holidays now I believe but contact is Jason.salesglobal@yonggu-enclosure.comHope this helps.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2021, 04:25:26 pm
content: Quote from: mon2 on February 08, 2021, 09:51:13 amThanks for this! I've seen the Yonggu website and they looked legit, so it's really good to get this referral. I'm interested in your screw supplier as well -- the ones on my box are local catalog items. They are fine, but could look better.As for Hammond and other USA-domestic enclosure suppliers, I've looked at them but the pricing is not what I need to make my product viable. (Hammond = $18 vs $5 for the Adafruit box). This is OK if I'm making a few for my own use, but if I accept a 400% price increase on too many of the big-ticket items it pushes my sales-price to painful levels (I think -- still have to see if the features I find so valuable are useful to anyone else).[more...]And it looks like Yonggu actually makes the enclosure I'm looking for. At least the dimensions and style match. Funny, it didn't pop up previously when I searched their site using those dimensions with a generous tolerance. I found it by eyeball.

author: mon2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2021, 04:17:56 am
content: Yes, they are legit. Have been using them for a few years now. They are in Foshan, China which apparently is common for aluminum industry players. A few others we tested just ran across the street and brokered the products so the service and pricing did suffer. We would much rather work with a manufacturer like this one. This vendor has some really nice looking designs. Have been told that you can even have a custom enclosure tooling made for $500-$1k usd but have not yet had this need. We are considering to use their sleek audio enclosures in the future. They can supply the mounting hardware but I think you can expand your options with others.Here is the contact details for the screw manufacturer we are using with excellent results and great pricing:David LinVEDALI HARDWARE CO., LTDTel / Fax: 86-769-82601418Email : group@vedalitech.com , chinatophardware@yahoo.comwww.vedali.com,http://vedali.en.alibaba.comSkype : life1010goThe best recommendation here is to find the best looking screw and finish that you like and share this information with David. He will then offer their equivalent clone. Even better if you can send him the sample but catalogs are fine. In the past we crossed a special M2 screw from Tyco that was $0.85 usd each in 1k qty to $0.06usd when we purchased right from China. Dead ringer for the original with no issues to date. This is an exotic screw so others are much cheaper in cost.Due to the low cost of the screws, you may have to work with MOQs like 3k or so but the savings are there.Typically we fly in by DHL small qty to get started and ocean freight the rest with our other consolidated goods.Shout back if you need other assistance. We have been to the HK trade fairs for the past 15-20 years and have met some great suppliers for the electronic manufacturing. These are usually held in April and again in October. Hope to travel again in better times.Hope this helps.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2021, 07:54:50 am
content: mon2, thanks again, your help is much appreciated. I don't really know yet if I any of my products are actually saleable, so this may end up going nowhere. But advice like yours definitely removes some roadblocks!Best,Paul