And so it begins!
October 8, 2007
Hey Dudes!
I have been fascinated with how things work since I disassembled my first remote control car at age six. Now I’ve moved onto bigger and better things like electronics … and REAL cars. My engineering job at Polycase (we create and manufacture plastic enclosures for electronics) puts me in touch with other engineers who create things. The realm of uses for enclosures gets me hyped! Also, it really gets me going when I knock around ideas with other engineers.
So I thought, why not introduce a format where LOADS of engineers or creative types can exchange ideas or ask questions or just toss about crazy concepts. Here it is, my blog, Plastic Enclosure Dude. Now we can exchange ideas, get answers to our questions, and you guys can help me create products just the way you want them.
To get this whole thing started, I’d like to take poll to answer a question that we’re always wondering about:
| What battery types do you use most often in your electronic designs? 1) One 9V 2) Two AA 3) Four AA 4) Two AAA 5) Four AAA 6) 20mm Coincell View Results Make your own poll |
Check back to find out the results OR just leave us your opinion on any electrical/electronics topic! Anything in particular you’d like to know? Let us know and we can run a poll right here and you can all see the results.
Doug-
hey this should be a lot of fun. Looking forward to the whole collaborative spirit of the blog. Not sure if you’ve looked at a couple of my favorite tech “gadget” sites but I thought you might be interested. oike you, I’m always fascinated with the desin engineering aspects odf new technology.
Here are a couple posts I found interesting:
On The gadget Blog – Ubergizmo (http://www.ubergizmo.com) they review the new Nissan Pivo 2 electric concept car – totally cool with a rotating cab so there is no need for reverse.
Another great write-up at Ubergizmo reviewed Microsoft’s ~$80.00 Gaming mouse – SideWinder. My take-away from the review – “a bunch of impressive features will amount to nought if a product isn’t designed properly and looks less than appealing.” Probably NOT a surprise to you.
Good luck with the blog – you’re off to a great start.
Rick B
Great idea, Doug.
Nice link, Rick. It’s also got some new info posted on the ASIMO robot, which I believe was featured in the last Polycase catalog.
When’s the new catalog coming out?
Nice to start a blog. I do not know if I can reply here but Lets begin…
We buy the KT-45 with ribbon cable slot already. We complained in the past about the Knit lines caused by the slot molding process. Customer feel it is a defect. Do you have an idea to solve this problem? We do not need the ribbon slot but just the smooth surface for our membrane.
Hey Doug…
You just worked up the pimp for my new enclosure… so I thought I’d make a side comment here…
So, I’m using the clear cover for my box… but it’s “textured” so you can’t actually see IN the box. Makes it kinda hard so see all the LEDs on the PCB.
What’s up with that?
Clear but not visible?
Phil.
@Phil
Ha ha, I’m glad to see you getting in the “Pimp yo box” spirit!
As for your question:
It is unfortunate for your specific design that there’s a “texturing” on the surface of the LP-55 (the same goes for the LP-35 & LP-70 BTW), but the rest of the LP series offer a “recessed/smooth” option that has an untextured “window” that would be perfect for your needs. The LP 35, 55, and 70 have been around for quite some time and were originally designed for “opaque ABS” applications only and the texturing helps hide finger prints and other blemishes. The clear option is something we have added years later. Could you utilize some sort of taller LED pipes that would protrude through holes that we would machine into the cover? We see this method all the time and it works great!
Hey… don’t even try delaying my order with your cool suggestions…. I’m comitted to the current design, and I want it NOW
OK… take a breath …
I was planning on raising the LEDs up so they are a bit more distinct, but I also really wanted my users to be able to see inside to verify the wiring etc… and see my cool PCB.
Not a huge deal… but I nearly had a perfect solution… now it’s just pretty good.
D’oh
Phil.
@ Robert M.
Thanks for the response!
First, I’ll define what a knit line is. A knit line results often when you mold a hole in a plastic part. When the molten plastic is injected into the mold, it must flow around the steel core that forms the hole. When the two flow fronts of plastic “join” back together on the opposite side of the steel core a knit line results. This is not a defect, it is simply a result of the manufacturing process. The KT-45 with the molded-in cable slot is designed for a membrane keypad to be placed into the recessed area and would cover up the knit line. The good news for your specific application is that the KT-45 is available without the molded-in cable slot. The recess is textured and an overlay with proper adhesive will adhere just fine. Contact your Polycase Customer Service Representative for more info!
One method to help mask knit lines is to texture the surface of the part. Another method seen commonly in high volume applications (such as the Automotive industry) is to paint the plastic parts after molding to hide any knit lines. Finally, knit lines are most apparent on black parts and are less noticeable on bone and gray parts.
Yo, Doug. The format you use for your catalog makes it very easy to find the right enclosure! That’s awesome. Pages 6 & 7 are extremely useful in selecting the right enclosure. First, you select a size that will accommodate your design. Then you go directly to the page to see what styles are offered. This cuts down on the length of time it takes to find the right enclosure. Most catalogs on the market forces you to look at every style and compare dimensions. Anyway, the project I’m working on requires the DC-96P. This enclosure is perfect for what I want except the depth. The depth is a bit too deep. If it had the same depth as the DC-47P, it would be perfect in all respect. I’ve just about decided to go ahead and order the DC-96P, in spite of the extra room I’ll inherit.
Respect
Patrick
Patrick,
Thanks for the great post! It’s always great when we get customer’s feedback on our catalogs. I also find the selection guide handy when helping customers out. We can certainly provide you with a DC-96 enclosure that is machined down to your specified height. In-fact we cut down enclosure heights all the time! Our machine shop is capable of even more extreme modifications and love challenges!