Wood boxes for Electronics Projects

[sacherjj]

Anyone else make nice wooden boxes to hold electronics projects? I'm going to be putting a small power transformer and a PC board with a few chips and a microprocessor inside a box. There will be an 16x2 character LCD display and three push buttons, power switch and three LEDs on the front. I'm wondering about nice looking venelation design (shouldn't need much) as well as how others have integrated nice looking woodwork with a thin metal switch mounting layer, etc. Anyone else doing this sort of thing?

[jziegler]

Joe,

I've never done it, but I have seen stuff on the web about people building wooden cases for their PCs. Sometimes they just build around the metal, sometimes replace it.

The only real concern that I see is that you might get more radiation from the box than with a metal case, although a metal lining would solve that (just like with plastic).

For ventalation, a nice pattern of holes or slots would work well, I think.

-Jim

[scorrpio]

Most of my electronics projects are done using various enclosures from Jameco. Consider, for example, their catalog #209358, a 7.5x9.8x3.2 enclosure, $14.99. That is the largest one in that style, smaller sizes are available. The cover part is vented and attaches to aluminum base with screws. Includes rubber feet to mount on the base.

If you wish, you can take this enclosure, and use its cover portion as template to make a wooden cover.

Configuration #1: 2 sides and top, joined with dovetails/ dado/rabbet, etc, with narrow dadoes on the inside of sides/top to accomodate front/back of aluminum base, and rabbets on bottom of sides for base bottom. Metal cover used as template for vent slots/mounting screw holes. You can make wooden part slightly longer and add a back wall as well.

Configuration #2: 2 sides, top, bottom, joined. Aluminum base slides in, and is secured from sides or bottom. Rubber feet can be mounted to wooden bottom. For a 'pro' look, add a face frame to hide faceplate edges. (base slides in from the back).

Configuration #3: sides, top, bottom, back. Cut off (or trim) the back wall of aluminum base, make narrow dadoes in sides for the bottom, and small rabbets in sides/top to accomodate the front.

[LCHIEN]

Anyone else make nice wooden boxes to hold electronics projects? I'm going to be putting a small power transformer and a PC board with a few chips and a microprocessor inside a box. There will be an 16x2 character LCD display and three push buttons, power switch and three LEDs on the front. I'm wondering about nice looking venelation design (shouldn't need much) as well as how others have integrated nice looking woodwork with a thin metal switch mounting layer, etc. Anyone else doing this sort of thing?

for mounting panel componenets which typically mount in panels up to 1/8th inch thick, you can countersink (carefully) larger holes behind the normal panel holes. Or mount a rectangular metal panel inset or flush with the wood face and a rectangular cutout in the wood.

For ventilation you can cut a rectangular hole, bevel the outside visible edges, and staple a piece of screen material on the inside. Use a coarser screen to prevent plugging up with dust, unless it's a computer project in which case use a fine screen to keep the bugs out .

[jdschulteis]

[. . .]
I'm going to be putting a small power transformer and a PC board with a few chips and a microprocessor inside a box. There will be an 16x2 character LCD display and three push buttons, power switch and three LEDs on the front.
[. . .]

OK, curiosity gets the best of me again--what does your gizmo do?
Or do we have to wait to see you on "American Inventor"?

[sacherjj]

OK, curiosity gets the best of me again--what does your gizmo do?
Or do we have to wait to see you on "American Inventor"?

Nah, it won't be that big. It is a specialized device that will be useful for a group that has clubs around the world. It isn't very exciting, and I had only planned to build two of them. However, those I asked about the details when putting together the specs thought that the organization might be interested in the design for distribution to the clubs. I know that doesn't tell you anything, but I'm gonna keep my cards close to my chest for a little while.

[mleichtle]

I'm hoping to start building a super small computer case in a few days. I think I got all the details ironed out, I just got to turn the theory into reality.

[DaveS]

"specialized device", "clubs around the world"

My guess is a speech timer/light-up thingy for Toastmasters.

Did I win? Oh wait... there's no contest...

[sacherjj]

Yep, you would win. More than likely, I will just be building a few and putting the plans, schematics and PIC code on a web site for people to build as they see fit.

[gonesailing]

Radiation

Sounds real neat Joe, but I would strongly recomend that you put some kind of shielding inside the box to prevent radiation. I would think that an interior lining of copper screen wire would probably do the trick. I am a Ham Radio operator, and I know how devistating an unshielded PIC computer can be to reception.

The FCC does rather frown on such radiation, so you might want to check that out. It really shouldn't be much of a problem.

Sounds like a neat idea, good luck.

Mike L

[sacherjj]

It will be running at 4 MHz and will definitely need to be shielded. I'm an Electrical Engineer (by degree, but not by job), so I'm familiar with all that. Used to be HAM (N9JVV), but I let that lapse in 2000.

I was planning on a metal interior box for the power supply circuity and board, hanging only the LCD and Transformer unshielded. Although, after a trip to Frys to see some enclosures, I might just go all metal. It would just be simpler. Sigh, too many projects, too little time.