Intention
The main problem I have with projects isn't so much the electronics side but the enclosure and aesthetics of the finished project. I don't want them to gather dust and be difficult to clean. Also, suppose that I wish to add a new board to the project, once the enclosure is complete you are limited by the available space therein.
I therefore want an enclosure system which is simple so that I can concentrate on the electronics side, rather than having to start from scratch each time an enclosure runs out of space.
The simplest structure I can come up with is a cylinder which can be extended in sections. So suppose that I build a simple battery lantern, powered by a 1.5 Volt D size cell, with switch and light bulb, then later I wish to use a 6V bulb? I would need to change the number of cells in the lantern. Well suppose that the enclosure is a beautiful brass construction, I don't want to throw away all that hard work and build a complete new system. If I could just extend the tube so extra cells may fit, then I throw nothing away.
But now it is too long, so instead I reduce the number of cells and use a DC-DC converter. The extra extension length will not be so great. Later I decide I wish to use LEDs and have the lantern controlled by remote, so I bring in an Arduino controller IC and a photo resistor. Again it is a matter of adjusting the extension tubing to take the new board. Then later I decide to add battery management and clock, and USB so I can program the device without removing the IC each time.
The enclosure being made of metal makes grounding each new board easy.
Once I own a stack of extensions, end caps, bezels, inner sleaves, repeated in different diamters I need never worry about enclosure problems again.
I have come up with a stupid name for this project AKA - The Magic Candle, because the diameter of enclosure I wish to start with is 50mm, and would actualy fit into an off the shelf candle holder. That is the ultimate in backwards compatibility. I really wouldn't need to worry about my completed project looking ugly and it can live on display with other ornaments. Of course it doesn't have to be finished in brass, it could be plastic on the outside.
It sounds like an easy thing to build but I've been struggling for 6 months now. I came up with some designs only to discover that to get the parts made up would cost £100-£300 per part, and for my purposes I needed 12!! Too expensive, yet obviously if these things were mass produced it would be affordable. However I would then be looking at mass marketing and heavy investments just to raise the money to build the thing in the first place. Alternatively one could get a lathe.
I'm probably posting in the wrong forum, however when I started my mind was on the Arduino, not the enclosure. I've noticed other posts about the feasibility of creating more proffessional looking enclosures for finished projects, so there are likely other posters here with simular problems to mine. You've built the box, you've finished the project, along comes a new development, you want to add the board, no room in box, you know the story.
Does anyone have any ideas?