Suggestions for Plastic Molding Case for Embedded Project

[Ben Nguyen]

Im laying out a PCB and Im looking to have a simple plastic casing
around it.

This is just for my senior project, so Im not looking for high volume (cost)
production.

The case would just need to be the size of the card (~ 4" x 2") and some
room for a few double aa batteries.

Can anyone recommend a company?

 

[Tim Wescott]

Im laying out a PCB and Im looking to have a simple plastic casing
around it.

This is just for my senior project, so Im not looking for high volume (cost)
production.

The case would just need to be the size of the card (~ 4" x 2") and some
room for a few double aa batteries.

Can anyone recommend a company?

Almost every distributor that sells parts sells cases. Some of them have 9V
battery boxes built in, I don't know about AA. Look on their websites. Get
a case that's bigger than you think you need and lay out the board to fit
it. Print out your layout, glue it to cardboard and test-fit it, with your
bigger components in place.

Digi-Key, Mouser, All Electronics and Marlin P Jones would be my first
choices for suppliers in the US.

 

[CFoley1064]

Subject: Suggestions for Plastic Molding Case for Embedded Project

From: [email protected] (Ben Nguyen)
Date: 3/2/2004 5:26 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>

Im laying out a PCB and Im looking to have a simple plastic casing
around it.

This is just for my senior project, so Im not looking for high volume (cost)
production.

The case would just need to be the size of the card (~ 4" x 2") and some
room for a few double aa batteries.

Can anyone recommend a company?

Radio Shack Cat # 270-1806
Enclosure 6x4x2" (15.4x10.16x5.08cm) $4.99USD

Battery Holder
$1.69USD Catalog #: 270-382

Use the plastic top rather than the aluminum -- If you have to, you can do the
machining with an Xacto knife and a pin vise with drill bits -- it's soft
thermoplastic.

Good luck
Chris

 

[Active8]

Almost every distributor that sells parts sells cases. Some of them have 9V
battery boxes built in, I don't know about AA. Look on their websites. Get
a case that's bigger than you think you need and lay out the board to fit
it. Print out your layout, glue it to cardboard and test-fit it, with your
bigger components in place.

Digi-Key, Mouser,

Yup. AA and IIRC, AAA. And then go to the Serpac or Hammond site
and you can get the AutoCAAD DXF files and see if your board will
fit.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Radio Shack Cat # 270-1806
Enclosure 6x4x2" (15.4x10.16x5.08cm) $4.99USD

Battery Holder
$1.69USD Catalog #: 270-382

Use the plastic top rather than the aluminum -- If you have to, you can do the
machining with an Xacto knife and a pin vise with drill bits -- it's soft
thermoplastic.

You can also buy one of those crap hand nibblers for like $10-12 US
and it cuts through the cheesy thin aluminum like paper.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Martin Riddle]

Pac-Tek (Hammond) make nice small project cases. Rat Shack used to carry one with the 9 volt battery compartment.

Cheers

 

[Dave VanHorn]

Can anyone recommend a company?

Bopla plus the others that have been recommended.

 

[Mark Fergerson]

Im laying out a PCB and Im looking to have a simple plastic casing
around it.

This is just for my senior project, so Im not looking for high volume (cost)
production.

The case would just need to be the size of the card (~ 4" x 2") and some
room for a few double aa batteries.

Can anyone recommend a company?

Unless you plan to do this for a living later and want
the practice (see thread "Lost Their Minds"), why not just
find a general hobby store, buy some plastic sheet and
appropriate glue and an Xacto knife/Zona saw, and _make_ one
to fit perfectly? Look for Plastruct brand; they make sheet,
tubing for standoffs etc, and all sorts of other shapes (as
well as the perfect glues for their plastics).

If you can't find it, go to:

http://www.plastruct.com/

and find a local retailer.

I have no affiliation with them, other than buying lots
of their stuff to build things I couldn't buy ready-made.

Mark L. Fergerson

 

[Tim Wescott]

Unless you plan to do this for a living later and want
the practice (see thread "Lost Their Minds"), why not just
find a general hobby store, buy some plastic sheet and
appropriate glue and an Xacto knife/Zona saw, and _make_ one
to fit perfectly? Look for Plastruct brand; they make sheet,
tubing for standoffs etc, and all sorts of other shapes (as
well as the perfect glues for their plastics).

If you can't find it, go to:

http://www.plastruct.com/

and find a local retailer.

I have no affiliation with them, other than buying lots
of their stuff to build things I couldn't buy ready-made.

Mark L. Fergerson

That would take a _lot_ longer than schlepping down to Radio Shack and
buying a case, and there's cases available that are all set up for circuit
boards; you just have yours made to the dimensions that'll fit.

 

[Mark Fergerson]

That would take a _lot_ longer than schlepping down to Radio Shack and
buying a case, and there's cases available that are all set up for circuit
boards; you just have yours made to the dimensions that'll fit.

Yep, if the OP can arrange his board to fit
one-size-fits-all boxes. That may or may not be practical,
but he hasn't said. Besides, the textured sheets can give a
"custom" look that may help his grade. FTM why does he
_want_ a case around the board? Won't he be graded on layout
practices etc.?

Mark L. Fergerson

 

[Tim Wescott]

-- snip --

Besides, the textured sheets can give a
"custom" look that may help his grade. FTM why does he
_want_ a case around the board? Won't he be graded on layout
practices etc.?

Mark L. Fergerson

Interesting point. Certainly if I were grading somebody on the overall
project I'd question the use of a custom case rather than an off-the-shelf
one, from the perspective that if you're working for someone you want to
cost them the least amount possible in labor + materials. But then I'm
planning on being an old curmudgion when I get old enough.

 

[John Woodgate]

I read in sci.electronics.design that Tim Wescott
com>) about 'Suggestions for Plastic Molding Case for Embedded Project',

But
then I'm planning on being an old curmudgion when I get old enough.

You'll have to learn to spell curmudgeon before you can be elected.

 

[Mark Fergerson]

Interesting point. Certainly if I were grading somebody on the overall
project I'd question the use of a custom case rather than an off-the-shelf
one, from the perspective that if you're working for someone you want to
cost them the least amount possible in labor + materials. But then I'm
planning on being an old curmudgion when I get old enough.

Oh, the times I've watched Marketing and Accounting spill
each other's blood over custom vs. off-the-shelf. Low cost
matters of course but smart execs, who wind up having to cut
the Gordian knot, want the product to at least not look
exactly like somebody else's beige box (scuse me, gray box;
didn't mean to show my age) even if it functions exactly the
same.

Maybe the OP can get extra points for showing he thought
about these things if grading's sufficiently flexible.

I guess it hinges on what kind of curmudgeon the teacher
is. What say, Ben? ;>)

Mark L. Fergerson