Enclosures for electric or electronic projects

[pcmeiners]

The last few times I have searched for metal enclosures they are either uselessly thin or very expensive even on Ebay, new or used. Rather painful when the guts cost less than the box. Searched Ebay the other day, anything of quality was $100 or more.

Anyone have a decent supply source ?

 

[75gmck25]

This online catalog is tedious to look through, but they have a lot of enclosures available and most seem to be a reasonable price.
https://www.digikey.com/products/enclosures-hardware-office/en

Bruce

 

[tonyciambrone]

This online catalog is tedious to look through, but they have a lot of enclosures available and most seem to be a reasonable price.
https://www.digikey.com/products/enclosures-hardware-office/en

Bruce

Nice resource. I use Polycase enclosures from time to time. They can be a little pricey as well but if you need Nema rated/ Nema 4x and what not it's a good bet

https://www.polycase.com/nema-4x-enclosures?p=3

 

[TuxThePenguin]

Only nice-looking ones I know of are the expensive aluminum ones

All the cheap stuff I know of are those project/hobby boxes like the ones at Digikey as linked previously (and other suppliers similarly like Mouser, Parts Express, etc.)... very, very, very, very ugly. But functional

 

[slow]

I like to use Hammond Extruded Aluminum enclosures, they are somewhere between thin **** and $100, some have metal end caps others plastic. All depends on what size you need.

 

[nadogail]

Have you tried an amateur radio supply house, they used to be located on Cortland Street in Lower Manhattan.

 

[bdbecker]

I've had good luck with the Econobox die cast aluminum boxes from Bud Industries. I've got at least 50 of these in use in a production weld shop. I think we've only broken one or two over the last 5 years they've been in service.

https://www.newark.com/w/c/enclosur...ecast-aluminium&product-range=econobox-series

 

[Jarwop]

https://www.mpja.com/Electronic-Enclosures-Boxes/departments/105/

 

[pcmeiners]

Have you tried an amateur radio supply house, they used to be located on Cortland Street in Lower Manhattan.

Brings back memories, I use to go there and Canal street every couple weeks. Good used large boxes went for a couple dollars in the 70-80s. It has all disappeared, the rents are now astronomical. In the early 70s you could buy new surplus rocket engines or an Ethelene oxide generator ( used in Vietnam tunnels) on Canal.

Need to save the links you guys provided for the next project, thanks. Some of the Bud cast aluminum boxes are real nice

 

[930dreamer]

I bought (5) of these for $100, not sure what size your looking for, surplus stores would be a good source. I bought off lots from Habitat for Humanity also.

 

[pwhittle]

I built a replacement controller for my RV and ended up 3D printing the enclosure.

I have about $400 in my printer setup but each 3x4x1.5 box costs $2 in filament. I have built 30 so far and have plans to build another 30.

I also have produced an ABS replacement for something I turned up on my mini lathe. I am not very good/fast on the lathe. Once I got the design right, I can print multiple copies while I do something else.





Paul


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[pcmeiners]

930dreamer...

My projects are not that big but generally are heavier than most home projects. When I get around to building my first nuclear reactor I will remember this link. Thanks

 

[CoogarXR]

Call me a hillbilly, but for small projects, I have been using old data cassette cases. I was in IT for a lot of years, so I had all kinds of tape cases in all different sizes. They are a nice soft plastic, easy to drill without cracking. Default is clear or frosted, but you can paint them easy too.

Last one I used was a small DDS cassette box to make a manual lockup torque converter controller for my old turbo van. Just two buttons and a pilot light on the short edge. It was the perfect size.

 

[PeteW]

Nice resource. I use Polycase enclosures from time to time. They can be a little pricey as well but if you need Nema rated/ Nema 4x and what not it's a good bet

https://www.polycase.com/nema-4x-enclosures?p=3

I mostly use polycase or Hammond extruded cases for 1-off or proof-of-concept work. Digikey is your friend

 

[jlv03]

Last project I did I stripped out the circuit breaker assembly out of an indoor panel board. Plenty of space, knockouts already there to use, and easy enough to drill through the back to use screws for mounting relays, terminal boards, etc. Even had screw holes pre-drilled for a ground terminal strip!

https://www.menards.com/main/electr...ad-center/tl240scu/p-1444431226490-c-6438.htm

 

[pcmeiners]

" have about $400 in my printer setup but each 3x4x1.5 box costs $2 in filament."
Nice, sure beats waiting >2 weeks for snail mail


Jiv03...

Not a bad sized box for the money; this is the size I need .

 

[Colorado Squarebody]

I don't know if it is in your budget, but Hoffman boxes are about the best and are used extensively in the Electrical world. They make so many different combinations.
https://hoffman.nvent.com/
Give it a look and then search for a vendor that has what you may need.
I hope this helps
Landon

 

[jeffmoss26]

https://www.budind.com/
made here in Northeast Ohio

 

[pcmeiners]

Have used the Hoffman enclosures a number of times, nice enclosures.

Have to check out the Bud link. Thanks