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Post by jphoward on Mar 16, 2009 8:28:51 GMT
What cases are folks using? Metal or plastic? What supplier and part # ? How successful are you finding your case?
I'm going to start on my tweaked amp in the next couple of days, and really want to have a decent case for it. In the SCHA pics forum it looks like a lot of people use metal cases - is this because it creates a better sound, or is it just for looks? What do you use for cutting your metal case (e.g. for the power adapter) - just a rotary tool like a Dremel?
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Post by traf on Mar 16, 2009 11:01:57 GMT
I used a case from the Galaxy range supplied by modushop.biz in Italy: www.modushop.biz/ecommerce/cat037_l2.php?n=1#2Pricey (euro exchange rate hasn't helped!) but v.good quality - pics on 1st page of the "Post pictures of your SCHA" thread" which you have probably found already . The one I used is nicely compact GX183. I used this as I wanted something that I wasn't ashamed to put on show in the living room:) My speakers are banished to my loft room As for cutting holes, I found that drilling a series of holes around the perimeter and then dressing with a decent small file is a lot easier and quicker than faffing around with a dremel - the drill bits tend to wear quicker than the material being worked on Make sure you protect the facia to avoid scratches.
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robertkd
Been here a while!
Electronics Engineer from sunny Queensland
Posts: 111
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Post by robertkd on Mar 16, 2009 11:14:37 GMT
I used a case from the Galaxy range supplied by modushop.biz in Italy: www.modushop.biz/ecommerce/cat037_l2.php?n=1#2Pricey (euro exchange rate hasn't helped!) but v.good quality - pics on 1st page of the "Post pictures of your SCHA" thread" which you have probably found already . The one I used is nicely compact GX183. I used this as I wanted something that I wasn't ashamed to put on show in the living room:) My speakers are banished to my loft room As for cutting holes, I found that drilling a series of holes around the perimeter and then dressing with a decent small file is a lot easier and quicker than faffing around with a dremel - the drill bits tend to wear quicker than the material being worked on Make sure you protect the facia to avoid scratches. traf, let me offer a slightly off the wall clue, for aluminum a lite even "kero" based "all in one fixit" such as WD40 as a lubricant for drilling aluminum combined with only 300 RPM spindle rate and a piece of wood under the panel your mileage might vary but will be way up using slower spindle speed and lubricant, even better a good "cutting compound" Robert
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Post by jphoward on Mar 16, 2009 13:43:28 GMT
So how does this work - you mean you spray the WD40 on to the drill bit before you start drilling? Or onto the panel?
Traf - the idea of drilling and filing is nice; I've thrown away 3 metal cases so far because my dremelling has destroyed either the case, or the bit I've used.
Should I be using metal cases instead of plastic? Do they have shielding properties that are useful? If so - how thick do they have to be? (I remember as a kid surrounding my sound card with plain aluminium foil, which I wrapped in contact to avoid it shorting against other components, and found that I got rid of most electrical noise quite effectively... So does simply sticking alfoil on the inside of a plastic case do a decent job for the SCHA?)
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robertkd
Been here a while!
Electronics Engineer from sunny Queensland
Posts: 111
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Post by robertkd on Mar 16, 2009 14:16:42 GMT
for aluminum a lite even "kero" based "all in one fixit" such as WD40 as a lubricant for drilling aluminum combined with only 300 RPM spindle rate and a piece of wood under the panel So how does this work - you mean you spray the WD40 on to the drill bit before you start drilling? Or onto the panel? Traf - the idea of drilling and filing is nice; I've thrown away 3 metal cases so far because my dremelling has destroyed either the case, or the bit I've used. Should I be using metal cases instead of plastic? Do they have shielding properties that are useful? If so - how thick do they have to be? (I remember as a kid surrounding my sound card with plain aluminium foil, which I wrapped in contact to avoid it shorting against other components, and found that I got rid of most electrical noise quite effectively... So does simply sticking alfoil on the inside of a plastic case do a decent job for the SCHA?) well shielding from what? the aluminum case offers some shielding from external electrostatic fields and minimal electromagnetic fields, good layout and techniques will get you damn close in a plastic case. A metal case brings it's own issues such as earthing and where exactly do you put common returns? Thermal issues are not likely to be an problem for a "standard" SCHA build except for low impedance loads, so unless your going to do a custom steel case it's really a preference thing and practicality becomes one of the over riding choice factors. As for drilling aluminum yep a quick measure on the drill bit and steady feed rate will do the job Robert
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Post by st on Mar 18, 2009 16:57:37 GMT
the cases by Jaycar are supposed to be good value:
the plastic professional case has many good recommendations - HB5910
also the 1U rackmount has had some decent buils with it - HB5120
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