Hey Guys,
I have a plastic enclosure I will be using for an Arduino project. I am also using a 16x2 LCD display and need to cut out a rectangle.
I was thinking about buying a soldering iron that has the exacto knife extensions. However, I'd like to know what other people do to cut shapes in plastic (Particularly those with corners).
Thanks
I cut a rectangle in my front panel for my 2x16 LCD display by drilling a hole then cutting it out with a sabre saw. My panel was soft aluminum but I think its about the same. I dressed it up with a small fine file and then touched up the edges of the hole with paint same color as front panel (black). I used a metal cutting blade with very fine teeth.
Good luck,
Gene, W5DOR
I use a dremel with a cutting wheel. Drill the corners, then use the dremel to cut the straight lines. Run it slow enough so it grinds out the plastic, not melt it. Finish it off with a straight file for the straight edges, and a round file for the corners. Or just make the corners square if you prefer. It takes practice, but the results are not too bad.
In the past I've used a soldering gun with plastic melting tip. It works, but it's harder to make straight lines.
For thin material (plastic or ali, ~1mm) a nibbling tool works well. With plastic I score the line with a blade then nibble just inside the line and finish with a file.
Rob
Well, since you didn't give us your budget: 
Seriously, I've used combinations of the aforementioned methods. What works best for me is to drill small holes at each corner, then use an xacto or dremel to connect the dots.
-j
Thanks for all the advice.
I'm going to try out the solder with exacto and file method first. I'm going to use a metal ruler with quick-grips as a guide. I'm hoping this will keep the cut as close to perfect as possible.
If that doesn't work out so well, I will go on to try a router and/or the drilling / saw methods.
Are you cutting an LCD window on the enclosure or on the removable plate it has, assume the enclosure has a removable face plate?
If you want to cut the window on the plate, you can design the cut and have it laser cut on aluminum sheets or acrylic whichever you like, or even wood. Laser cut has very small "tool" size so squares have very sharp corners. Ive only done acrylic.
Hi,
What I do is cut the thicker enclosure plastic with whatever I have to hand - hacksaw blade or dremel.
Then use a much thinner more easily worked plastic to create small surrounds for the screen, leds or buttons, its allows me to be rough and quick with the thicker materials and then precise in the lower cost, thinner, easy to work materials. Its also a good way to recover an enclosure if you suddenly find you need one more LED and your spacing is now out, just drill out the whole area and use a thin facia piece for the new spacing.
Duane B
Just in case you bugger it up, this link might be useful.
I imagine there are other sources but, surprisingly, I haven't found anything on eBay.
NickPyner:
Just in case you bugger it up, this link might be useful.Electronics Forum (Circuits, Projects and Microcontrollers)
I imagine there are other sources but, surprisingly, I haven't found anything on eBay.
Wow, thanks. I did bugger it up (Which is why I originally inquired). I was looking for something just like this (in addition to methods on how to approach this in the correct manner next time )
Yeah thanks NickPyner, I like the AE displays but didn't realise they had a range of bezels for them.
Rob
How the heck do you order? Do you have to call them?
Dunno. I just took a shot in the dark because I'm sure I will have the same problem soon. More info is here
http://www.lcd-module.com/products/dotmatrix.html
I don't even know if there stuff is Arduino compatible, or if their bezels fite dispolays that are.
small holes on the inside of the corners, coping saw, finish with a file