Custom Enclosure

[samovar]

I'm thinking about selling one of my project. For that, I would need to order custom enclosures. Nothing fancy, small box, may be 3x5, cutout for LCD with protective glass, few buttons, cutouts for some connectors. I would commit to making 50 or 100 of them, but I'm afraid the cost would be prohibitively expensive at this quantity.

I'm looking for advice where I could order such custom enclosures, or how can I build them, and how to do that without breaking the bank. I'm in Canada.

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

Instead of "custom", look at "customized". Look at www.polycase.com.

Tooling isn't too bad.

They use a router bit to make all of the holes and cutouts, so remember no square corners.

They can print, but when you look at some of their drawings with a label area, the printing has to be a little less than the edges. everyone usually wants a vecorized drawing. I had a label printed at a local sign shop - $30 each. I can do an 8.5 x 11 sheet cold laminated for $3.00 in materials. The punches are consumables, though.

I experimented with laser printinng my own labels with round holes with very good results.
I found some nice stock which can be laser printed and some clear that can be cold laminated.
There is a flat paperpath that I can use in my printer. I did the holes with medical biopsy punches. I need 9 holes of one size and 1 of another.

Cutom labes are an option, but tooling is higher.

 

[samovar]

Instead of "custom", look at "customized". Look at www.polycase.com.

Tooling isn't too bad.

They use a router bit to make all of the holes and cutouts, so remember no square corners.

They can print, but when you look at some of their drawings with a label area, the printing has to be a little less than the edges. everyone usually wants a vecorized drawing. I had a label printed at a local sign shop - $30 each. I can do an 8.5 x 11 sheet cold laminated for $3.00 in materials. The punches are consumables, though.

I experimented with laser printinng my own labels with round holes with very good results.
I found some nice stock which can be laser printed and some clear that can be cold laminated.
There is a flat paperpath that I can use in my printer. I did the holes with medical biopsy punches. I need 9 holes of one size and 1 of another.

Cutom labes are an option, but tooling is higher.

Thank you. This looks like a viable option.

Have you tried to install an LCD module into one of these boxes? How would you do that?

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

Digikey is removing Bezels from their catalog, but that is an option.

With a routed opening, it may mount easy. Flush from behind.

 

[samovar]

Digikey is removing Bezels from their catalog, but that is an option.

Looks like the company is out of business. I went to proud.com, and it's something else.

I can't believe noone sells ready-made boxes with provisions for dislay mount and few buttons. Does it mean that there's no demand for this?

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

Bezels:
**broken link removed**

And the OEM with probably lots of minimums: http://prdproducts.com/led_lcd.html

Polycase
http://www.polycase.com/

Wtch the advertising blurbs.