geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Blaise170 on Mon, 02 July 2018, 11:41:25
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Hi all, I'm currently looking for materials that are good for small scale electrical applications. In general these would be no larger than a 60% keyboard, but I am keeping options open. I am thinking that LEGO might make a good base product as it is electrically a conductor, easy to build with, and lightweight. On the other hand, they can be expensive and have some flex for larger items (like a keyboard). I'd like to avoid specialized tools if possible, but if the circumstances call for it, I do have some small tools like a Dremel that I could use. Any good ideas for what to use? In this case, let's assume I want to make case for something the size of a HDD.
(https://nerdtechy.com/wp-content/uploads/bfi_thumb/best-hard-drive-enclosures-2016-30t65lmzlmm6rbrcp9q9l6.jpg)
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You can get general purpose enclosures (project boxes) for hobby electronics in most sizes for much cheaper than building things from LEGO.
Otherwise you can build boxes easily out of balsa wood using only an X-acto knife, a steel rule and a cutting mat (and some glue). They wont be rugged by any stretch, but will be fine for office type environments.
another alternative is building boxes out of plastic sheet and strip stock used for model building. These just require the same tools as balsa boxmaking, and can be made pretty rugged if braced correctly. In addition, plastic enclosures can be sanded and painted to any level of finish you may desire.
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Hobby boxes aren't that great for my needs, unfortunately. However, balsa wood seems like a really good material for what I want to do, I'll have to look into it further. I even thought about just using some scrap wood, but I really don't have the room for cutting it down so I kind of ruled it out.
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Balsa is extremely light and not that durable. RC-Planes are often made of balsa as it is so light. But if you crash them, they will brake...
I am thinking that LEGO might make a good base product as it is electrically a conductor, ...
LEGO is ABS (like keycaps or monitor enclosures) so its not a conductor, its an insulator....
As I have no idea what you are trying to build I can't recommend a material.
And if it should be plastic and you can't fabricate it, get it 3D-Printed in your local hackerspace or on a website like shapeways ;)
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Balsa is extremely light and not that durable. RC-Planes are often made of balsa as it is so light. But if you crash them, they will brake...
LEGO is ABS (like keycaps or monitor enclosures) so its not a conductor, its an insulator....
As I have no idea what you are trying to build I can't recommend a material.
And if it should be plastic and you can't fabricate it, get it 3D-Printed in your local hackerspace or on a website like shapeways ;)
I meant not a conductor. Oops.
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Boy, I miss Blaise170. Who would have thought it?