2 different questions

[Electronics4you]

I need help with two things

The first one is how to make aluminium frontpanels with "rubber holes" for buttons and text - shown on the attached picture. What is the technique called and can it be done on plastic enclosures?

Second is where to find cheap plastic enclosures in larger sizes - like this 220 x 145 x 75 mm. I think enclosures from Digikey or Farnell are to expensive - offen more expensive than the electronics within it.

 

[dknguyen]

Is silk screen the word you are looking for? Not sure about enclosures though...how expensive is too expensive? a 22cm x14.5 is going to cost quite a bit since it is so big.

It's a bit hard to tell if the button markings in that panel are holes or are a solid piece of plastic/metal.

 

[Sceadwian]

Approximatly that size case costs 40 dollars on Digikey. Considering you're getting a heavy duty case it's not that much. If you need cheap you're going to have to actually go cheap, thin plastic that doesn't protect very well.

 

[BeeBop]

I remember seeing, at a robotics competition in Korea, a controller housed in a tupperware container. Must have cost all of three dollars, but it did look good.

 

[Electronics4you]

I'm building a power supply
Is it really right, that power supplies have to be built in metal boxes?
Where can I get earth in the power supply - the metal/plastic box?

 

[Hero999]

The mains earth connection could be connected to the metal box.

A pastic box doesn't require an earth connection.

For most applications it's better if you don't earth the secondary side of the supply; however it might not be required if the transformer doesn't have sufficient insulation between the primary and secondary.

 

[Sceadwian]

Metal boxes are a really good idea to prevent EMF emissions and if connected to earth ground are both safer for people and for electronics.

 

[Leftyretro]

One might say there is a need for us to start thinking outside the box for cost effective boxes Did I say that? shoot me

Lefty

 

[3v0]

One might say there is a need for us to start thinking outside the box for cost effective boxes Did I say that? shoot me

Lefty

Good Idea I will start a new thread with subject cost effective boxes