Source for project enclosures ?

[chancy99]

I know it's kind of off-topic, but I would think that this would be a good group to ask this question of.

What is a good source for project enclosures ? One that can provide a good idea/drawing/definition of the boxes, so I can design the pcb and mounting holes appropriately. Not Rat-Shack ...

Digi-Key has some, as do a few others, but it's awfully hard to get a good sense of their construction in the little diagrams. I'm not to keen on spending $15+ each on a bunch looking for the "right" one.

Specifically, I'm looking for an aluminum box, with pcb mountings inside, and a nice clean outside. About 7"x3" or 6" x4" x 1-2" high. Preferably no protruding screw heads, etc.

Dean.

[Jason Roetz]

Bud had some nice boxes.

http://www.budind.com/

Take a look at their plastic enclosure section.

Jason

[Jason Roetz]

Oops. Re-read your post and noticed you're looking for aluminum.

In that case, check out Bud's die cast aluminum boxes. :)

Jason

[randychase]

Would you consider an extrusion?

I have one I designed and use. It's very economical. You slide the pcb in and any connectors stick out the end through plates that captivate the pcb.

There are some other companies that supply a line of alum extrusions also.

[chancy99]

Yup, I'm thinking that an extruded case would be the easiest to deal with now. I'm looking at the Hammond 1455 series

http://rocky.digikey.com/WebLib/Hammond/Web%20Data/1455%20Series.pdf

http://www.hammondmfg.com/1455.htm

The hassle was that the original design was a mainboard with a daughterboard, both with DB25 connectors on them. Figuring the max pcb size that would still allow the board to be shoehorned like a foot into a shoe into a normal lidded box was aggravating to say the least.

Also, I had found several other enclosures that really looked nice, but was unable to find a distributer that carried them. I tend to use http://www.findchips.com and http://www.freetradezone.com for parts searches.

Any other suggestions ?

Thanks -

Dean.