Enclosures
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From: D Yuniskis on 19 Mar 2010 16:02 whit3rd wrote: > On Mar 19, 10:32 am, D Yuniskis <not.going.to...(a)seen.com> wrote: > >> I need a small quantity (~20) of small {plastic,aluminum} >> enclosures. But, I'm looking for something other than a >> simple rectangular prism shape. >> >> So far, I haven't found anything "stock" that looks >> appropriate > > Three ideas: sheetmetal work is fairly easy, if you can > find a shop with brakes and shears, they > can whip up a variety of flat-surfaced boxy things. > Spotwelding or POP rivets or PEM nuts are suitable > for the fastenings. > > Polycarbonate or acrylic sheeting can be heated in an > oven to sag into any mold shape (or over any interior > shapes), at modest temperatures. Ooooh! That's an idea! Much less work than fiberglass, too! (though I suspect relying on gravity means you need to constrain your "shape" somewhat -- e.g., I imagine there are "minimum sag radii" :> ) > Lots of 'box' items are available for lots of purposes, > can you get a file-card box or a lunchbox to suit your > purposes? How about an Altoids tin? Hubcap > from a '57 Chevy?
From: Rich Webb on 19 Mar 2010 16:09 On Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:41:05 -0700, D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >Hi Rich, > >Rich Webb wrote: >> On Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:32:42 -0700, D Yuniskis >>> I need a small quantity (~20) of small {plastic,aluminum} >>> enclosures. But, I'm looking for something other than a >>> simple rectangular prism shape. >>> >>> So far, I haven't found anything "stock" that looks >>> appropriate (I did find a COTS "console-like" case but >>> the angle is too shallow). >> >> Some possibles from my bookmarks list: >> http://www.polycase.com/ >> http://www.rose-bopla.com/Main_Pgs/Table_of_Contents.htm >> and of course http://www.hammondmfg.com/ > >I had already checked ploycase and hammond -- no joy there. >I chased the second link you provided and they don't seem to have >anything either. > >I'm pretty sure I am going to have to roll my own. >So, it boils down to figuring out what the limitations >of any process I might adopt would be. The "how big" question is still out there. A non-rectangular shape could also be a pretty big animated head for a carnival float... ;-) There are some "craft" approaches, like a papier mache shell over a wire armature or a putty build-up over an existing form. Use that as a positive to create a negative mold and then a small production run using cast resin. http://www.micromark.com/Casting-and-Molding-Supplies.html has the supplies to get started. Or, talk to the folks at http://www.protomold.com/ -- Rich Webb Norfolk, VA
From: D Yuniskis on 19 Mar 2010 16:21 Hi Hans-Bernhard, Hans-Bernhard Br�ker wrote: > D Yuniskis wrote: > >> I need a small quantity (~20) of small {plastic,aluminum} >> enclosures. But, I'm looking for something other than a >> simple rectangular prism shape. > > So now we know what you're _not_ looking for. But we don't know what > you _are_ looking for. How is anybody supposed to be able to offer > meaningful suggestions based on that? Apparently, *other* have managed to do so! But, if you need more details... > What actually is the shape you're trying to get? Klein bottle > What size? 3 gills > What colour / surface finish? Must not reflect any light in the visible specturm > How good does it have to look (e.g.: visible screws, tool marks)? See above > Any requirements about sharp edges / curve radii? Yes > What's it allowed to weigh? < 0.0375 stone > How tightly does it have to fit the content? tight enough to keep the contents from escaping! > What tolerances (i.e. how equal do those 20 units have to be)? racial, ethnic and religious > What's the budget, both in terms of money and time? 3 peng, less than a hebdomad > What skill level can be expected from the person building it? Somewhere between rocket-scientist and cancer-curer Does any of this change your potential solution?? :-/ (If I could boil it down to "X = 2 * 3 + 4 / 5" then I wouldn't need to ask for suggestions, would I? :< )
From: mpm on 19 Mar 2010 16:32 On Mar 19, 12:32 pm, D Yuniskis <not.going.to...(a)seen.com> wrote: > Hi, > > I need a small quantity (~20) of small {plastic,aluminum} > enclosures. But, I'm looking for something other than a > simple rectangular prism shape. > > So far, I haven't found anything "stock" that looks > appropriate (I did find a COTS "console-like" case but > the angle is too shallow). > > If push comes to shove, I can have a friend mill them > out of blocks of aluminum but that seems terribly wasteful! > > I'm wondering, instead, if I can't hack together something > with a sheet metal skeleton (or, maybe even a cardboard or > wooden form!) and fiberglass? This doesn't need to be > terribly strong, structurally. And, I could no doubt > come up with a way of mounting everything to a *base* > (i.e., to eliminate the need for fasteners *in* the skin). > > Has anyone done this sort of thing before? Pointers to > helpful tips as well as things to avoid... :> > > Thanks! > --don Have you looked at PacTec Enclosures yet? Link: http://www.pactecenclosures.com/ -mpm
From: D Yuniskis on 19 Mar 2010 16:36
Hi Rich, Rich Webb wrote: >> I had already checked ploycase and hammond -- no joy there. >> I chased the second link you provided and they don't seem to have >> anything either. >> >> I'm pretty sure I am going to have to roll my own. >> So, it boils down to figuring out what the limitations >> of any process I might adopt would be. > > The "how big" question is still out there. A non-rectangular shape could > also be a pretty big animated head for a carnival float... ;-) > > There are some "craft" approaches, like a papier mache shell over a wire > armature or a putty build-up over an existing form. Use that as a > positive to create a negative mold and then a small production run using > cast resin. http://www.micromark.com/Casting-and-Molding-Supplies.html > has the supplies to get started. Ah, excellent! Thanks! > Or, talk to the folks at http://www.protomold.com/ <frown> |