Hi all!
Question, I have some pic projects that need to move from a breadboard setup to "the real thing". I need to get some covers \ cases made that house my pic, battery etc. (plastic)
Does anyone know of a good starting point that tells me what I need to provide "them" to make it.
Thanks in advance!
~Kam (^8*
Getting plastic stuff made question...
The best route would be to find an off the shelf case and have that painted, silkscreened, drilled etc for your product.
What is the basic shape and size limitations: Simple box with lid, handheld with LCD readout, benchtop with slope front, instrument etc. Give us some guidance and we might come up with some recommendations.
If you want a custom plastic enclosure, you need a quote from a plastic injection molding company. Best to come in with a CAD file of what you want that they can use for the quote and as a starting place for their design. They probably will need to modify your ideal design to compensate for manufacturing limitations only they know about. The up front cost will be high for the making of the mold and the NRE associated with te CAD work. Your min order may also be in the hundreds. The case and PCB need to be designed simultaniously.
If you wanted a metal case, you start with a sheet metal fabricator and they can usually hook you up with a painter and silkscreener.
Yahoogle on Electronic Enclosure for some ideas.
What is the basic shape and size limitations: Simple box with lid, handheld with LCD readout, benchtop with slope front, instrument etc. Give us some guidance and we might come up with some recommendations.
If you want a custom plastic enclosure, you need a quote from a plastic injection molding company. Best to come in with a CAD file of what you want that they can use for the quote and as a starting place for their design. They probably will need to modify your ideal design to compensate for manufacturing limitations only they know about. The up front cost will be high for the making of the mold and the NRE associated with te CAD work. Your min order may also be in the hundreds. The case and PCB need to be designed simultaniously.
If you wanted a metal case, you start with a sheet metal fabricator and they can usually hook you up with a painter and silkscreener.
Yahoogle on Electronic Enclosure for some ideas.
Thanks for the reply. I just used the "case" as an example. I wish I could take an off the shelf and rejigger it...
I need custom parts for a CAT5e/6 connector type o'thang
I need custom parts for a lighting system
I need custom parts for a caliper system
I will look at fabrication placed locally and see where that leads!
Thanks again.
~Kam (^8*
I need custom parts for a CAT5e/6 connector type o'thang
I need custom parts for a lighting system
I need custom parts for a caliper system
I will look at fabrication placed locally and see where that leads!
Thanks again.
~Kam (^8*
I select a case before I do any layout/board design. The manufacturers often have drawings on line and usually have a PCB pattern with mounting holes. You then make sure you design your board to those dimensions. some of these boxes have keypands, battery holders and so on. I learned the hard way to do a validation check with the real box, though. 
Off the shelf is way cheaper than custom and there are some very nice looking boxes out there. Usually less than $10.
Off the shelf is way cheaper than custom and there are some very nice looking boxes out there. Usually less than $10.
I really do not need a case, that was just an example! I need housings made that are NOT like a case (eg. not a box), but a housing to hold pcb, power etc.
also, I need to get a housing made for a custom cat5e/6 end plugs.
These would not be one off's, but how many, that depends on the sales!
But you're right, I would like to get off the shelf parts, but that may not be doable for my stuff.
I did find a company in So. Cal that does these things (I got their name from the URL haklesup provided [http://www.jobshop.com/]). Lots of info there!
~Kam (^8*
also, I need to get a housing made for a custom cat5e/6 end plugs.
These would not be one off's, but how many, that depends on the sales!
But you're right, I would like to get off the shelf parts, but that may not be doable for my stuff.
I did find a company in So. Cal that does these things (I got their name from the URL haklesup provided [http://www.jobshop.com/]). Lots of info there!
~Kam (^8*
there are an amazing number of ots cases. look at the pactec site: http://www.pactecenclosures.com/ they will do customization of their enclosures.
another one is serpac - http://www.serpac.com/
another one is serpac - http://www.serpac.com/
Correct, I don't need a box, but parts like a cat5e/6 end tabs etc.JPKNHTP wrote:Are you after custom plastic parts like what an R/C car or mouse uses? By that I mean you don't just need a box you want to design anything out of plastic and have it made? I don't know of any such places but you don't seem interested in project cases but custom plastics. -JPKNHTP
Not sure where you live but this trade show is making the rounds at lots of cities.
http://www.design2partshows.com/
They have a "Plastics - Low Volume" vendor category you might want to look at.
Hopefully you can find someone with a mold they can modify for you instead of making one from scratch. Setup costs can be sky high for plastic parts.
http://www.design2partshows.com/
They have a "Plastics - Low Volume" vendor category you might want to look at.
Hopefully you can find someone with a mold they can modify for you instead of making one from scratch. Setup costs can be sky high for plastic parts.
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