Plastic proto cases...can I get more complicated with these???
Brian Sturk
I need to do a little more with a plastic style case. The shape is a
little irregular. Are there kits available for molding small peices of
plastic. I can't afford to do injection molds or whatever right now. I
thought that maybe some of the electronic weenies have run into this
problem.
The case would basically the long toothbrush holder size plastic box
with an addition on one side (the long side) consisting of a square base
to hold switches and a ramp/prism/pyrimid on top with two 7 segs on both
sides... I also wanted to have another attachment coming of the long
peice to hold another switch.
Bad ASCII art... :]
-
- -
- -
- -
- -
------- -------- <-------base switches on one side
-----------
-------------------------------------------
-triangle-
-------------------------------------------
----------- |
|
| -- switch-- |
|----------------------------------|
The only difference is that the triangle would be a little fatter and
the angle wouldn't be so steep. This would be attached to the long
piece mentioned above. Where the switch is I'd like to put a big switch
almost like a pad. I haven't looked to see if Digikey or whoever has
something like this. I'd like it to be a softer version of a big garage
door opener push/click switch. I'd also eventually like this to be a
two piece jobbie with the bottom snapping onto the top ( I know this one
is pushing it for proto).
Any help or guidance in the right direction would be greatly
appreciated. If this sort of thing isn't possible for not too much
money does anyone have an alternate suggestion for prototyping this sort
of thing?
--
Curator of the Unofficial Homepage for Borland C++ Builder
http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~bsturk
'"HOL" The Hardware Obstruction Layer' The NTChrist
Whatever happened to Pong??? Frank Black, The Pixies
Brian Sturk
Brian Sturk
Pat March
I did not try very hard to decipher your ASCII art...
Mail me a better drawing and I will quote a price and time for this job.
I anticipate making it out of high impact styrene, mostly sheet, solvent
bonded together. Not too difficult!
Pat March
Skonk Works
1890 Forestdale Avenue
Beavercreek OH 45432
If you want to talk about it first, my number is 937-29-2411.
Bye.... Pat
John Woodgate
In article <34C30201...@nh.ultranet.com>, Brian Sturk
<bst...@nh.ultranet.com> writes
>I need to do a little more with a plastic style case. The shape is a
>little irregular. Are there kits available for molding small peices of
>plastic. I can't afford to do injection molds or whatever right now. I
>thought that maybe some of the electronic weenies have run into this
>problem.
>
>The case would basically the long toothbrush holder size plastic box
>with an addition on one side (the long side) consisting of a square base
>to hold switches and a ramp/prism/pyrimid on top with two 7 segs on both
>sides... I also wanted to have another attachment coming of the long
>peice to hold another switch.
>
>Bad ASCII art... :]
>
either a monospaced (which is what I think you should use for ASCII art)
or a proportional font. Maybe you have sent very long lines, which have
been collapsed by my reader.
There are plastic prototyping kits and machinery available but not
cheap. What you need are sources of ready-made stuff and some glue. For
example, it looks as though most of your case could be made from
extrusions, which are available for various uses in DIY stores and
similar. It's a question of searching for products that will do the job,
and selecting the right adhesives to attach fabricated parts firmly. You
can often get quantities of offcuts from plastic sheet and extrusion
manufacturers for free.
--
Regards, John Woodgate, Phone +44 (0)1268 747839 Fax +44 (0)1268 777124.
OOO - Own Opinions Only. You can fool all of the people some of the time, but
you can't please some of the people any of the time.
Bruce LaVoie
To make anything plastic, you can get a two part urethane compound called
"ALUMALITE"
You mix the two parts and the stuff pours like water, it sets up in 5
minutes and can be colored by adding powdered tempra to it. You can make a
master for out od balsa wood, sand it real good. Put the balsa master in a
special rtv silacone mold and make bunches of boxes or knobs or any thing
you want. Your local hobby shop can get all these materials . If not email
me and I give more info.
Kalman Rubinson
Brian Sturk (bst...@nh.ultranet.com) wrote:
> I need to do a little more with a plastic style case. The shape is a
> little irregular. Are there kits available for molding small peices of
> plastic. I can't afford to do injection molds or whatever right now. I
> thought that maybe some of the electronic weenies have run into this
> problem.
Try buying some Kydex which can be shaped and moulded when heated but
quite rigid at normal temps. You can bend it to your own needs with
simple jigs.
Kal
Bob Wilson
In article <34C30263...@nh.ultranet.com>, bst...@nh.ultranet.com
writes...
>
>I need to do a little more with a plastic style case. The shape is a
>little irregular. Are there kits available for molding small peices of
>plastic. I can't afford to do injection molds or whatever right now. I
>thought that maybe some of the electronic weenies have run into this
>problem.
>
>with an addition on one side (the long side) consisting of a square base
>to hold switches and a ramp/prism/pyrimid on top with two 7 segs on both
>sides... I also wanted to have another attachment coming of the long
>peice to hold another switch.
Why not make a 2-part silicone mold of a model of an accurate model of the
part, then make epoxy or polyurethane parts from the mold? Besides the
resins, you will need a vacuum de-airing setup, but is is moderately
straightforward if you are careful and good with your hands. Dow Corning has
a multi-page catalogue with pictures, explaining the process step by step. I
have gotten pretty good results with some fairly complex parts.
Bob.
Dave Moore
Brian Sturk wrote in message <34C30201...@nh.ultranet.com>...
>I need to do a little more with a plastic style case. The shape is a
>little irregular.
> I
>thought that maybe some of the electronic weenies have run into this
>problem.
>
>The case would basically the long toothbrush holder size plastic box
>
I'm a little confused but, plastic weenie cases can
be obtained from
Plastic Weenie Cases-R-US
@ 1 (800)-URA-WEEN
Spehro Pefhany
> Brian Sturk wrote:
> >
> > I need to do a little more with a plastic style case. The shape is a
> > thought that maybe some of the electronic weenies have run into this
> > problem.
Well, you have gotten some good answers, but if you are building something
that will eventually be injection molded, and if you have the appropriate
software (true 3-D cad with 3-D output like STL?) then you can get a
prototype made with stereolithography. The cost can be as low as a few
hundred $$, which is a very small part of the cost of even a single cavity
low cost injection mold.
Methods and material vary, but there are many service bureaus that will do
this sort of thing, given your usable file and a fist full of greenbacks.
--
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Spehro Pefhany "The Journey is the reward"
sp...@interlog.com
Fax:(905) 332-4270 (small micro system devt hw/sw + mfg)
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