[W] Small Box/enclosure maker

[ScottulusMaximus]

I need a small box made up to put electronics inside, needs to look good so don't want a standard box that I mess up drilling holes into.

Made either of steel which is anodised black or clear acrylic.

Must be in Pretoria(preferably East) so I can go to the place with all the bits and tell them what I want.

Anyone know someone who can do this?

 

[Beachless]

The anodising process is essentially oxidising metal in aluminium this causes a nice hard layer to form. In steel that would be rust.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Aaaaah I see, ok steel finished in black, like they do for amplifiers and decoders.

Aluminium good too, also in black.

Basically anything but wood or opaque plastic.

That's why I need to go to a place and explain everything, don't really know what I'm talking about.

 

[Beachless]

Do you have some basic dimensions?
If its just a standard square/rectangular box you can get acrylic cut to size and then just glue it together.

I have used all sorts of things as boxes in the past. Things like light fixtures, toys etc.

Getting a custom made enclosure can be quite pricey.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Will be about(still waiting on the components to arrive) 100mmx100mm by about 50mm high with various holes for connectors and switches, thing is I need someone to drill all the holes etc as I don't have access to a drill press or any appropriate tools. And I want it to look nice, not all crooked which it will do if I try to do it.

 

[Beachless]

I think the best bet is to go to a place that laser cuts acrylic. But you might need to supply a cut file then.

 

[saor]

Aaaaah I see, ok steel finished in black, like they do for amplifiers and decoders.

Aluminium good too, also in black.

Eh - you could just use wood or mdf and paint / spray it matt black. Get it cut to size, build with metal brackets and get someone to drill the holes for you.

 

[chrisc]

Presume you are putting some esoteric audio circuitry inside!

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

I think the best bet is to go to a place that laser cuts acrylic. But you might need to supply a cut file then.

I came to that conclusion as well, have a few places willing to do it for me, they just need measurements.

Eh - you could just use wood or mdf and paint / spray it matt black. Get it cut to size, build with metal brackets and get someone to drill the holes for you.

I don't want to use wood or MDF, I want metal or clear acrylic to match the other things on my desk.

Presume you are putting some esoteric audio circuitry inside!

Indeed I am, should hopefully look like this when I'm done(just clear instead):

 

[saor]

1.) Build an MDF box (no top, just 5 sides)
2.) Get aluminum panels lasercut, one of them having the holes for your parts and also holes for screws (unless you want to glue)
3.) Get the aluminum anodized
4.) Fix the aluminum panels to your MDF box.

Although before getting the alumium anodized you could break the edges with a file and some water paper so that when they're fixed to the wooden box the rounded edges look a bit tidier.

Just easier to get flat panels lasercut than think about trying to construct a box from aluminum. You avoid bending and/or welding.