To start off, I am really new to this forum and do not really know if this thread belongs here (If it doesn't the please move it) so sorry in advance!
So since I got my first Arduino UNO a few days ago (Congrats to me) I quickly realised I would need some protection for the board itself to keep me from destroying the poor thing! And then I remembered that my school has a laser cutter and thought it would be nice to try do my own case!
I am quite used to AutoCAD and I'm planning to do the plans there! But here's my problem, there are no real 2D layout vector plans for an Arduino UNO and i have nothing to start from (Yes I can take measurements myself, but i want perfection) So i wonder if ANYONE has any plans for cases similar to those linked bellow, or any other case with openings for the same components , as linked below so I can base my design of them (with measurements and such).
And I know I can buy them cheap online, but whats the fun in that?
The case/cases I think look the best are the following:
(Yes I can take measurements myself, but i want perfection)
Yes do this.
Use a pair of calipers, prove your design out by printing a 1:1 paper copy.
Cut out the plastic version.
When you have it perfect, attach the DXF files here for us to use
Hilleskog:
...there are no real 2D layout vector plans for an Arduino UNO and i have nothing to start from
Yes there are.
Download/install the free version of Eagle.
On the products tab you can find Eagle board files of all the Arduinos.
Then you have most of the basic measurements.
You might have to measure things like the DC and ethernet socket.
Please share the DXF files.
Leo..
Hello again! I am working on the CAD-file but it's going slow, have a lot in school at the time! But i wonder, why are you all interested in a DXF file? Isnt't a DWG as good? please explain
Hilleskog:
I quickly realised I would need some protection for the board itself to keep me from destroying the poor thing!.....................
And I know I can buy them cheap online, but whats the fun in that?
The case/cases I think look the best are the following:
Well I suppose, if you have nothing better to do with your time, and you can use the school laser cutter for free, go for the intellectual exercise, and this is the result you might get. But you have to wonder about the point of the exercise, and you might find some cases a lot saner, useful even, as well as perhaps quite cheap, online.
As it is, Arduino boards are pretty robust, being solid state after all, and the only place where a bit of care might be needed is with any shields you might need, before you install them, and for which the above joke design does nothing. You might be better off popping for some pin straighteners that may be available.
I submit the real case for a case, is where you need to consider tampering, abuse, or the weather. That in the picture laughably fails in all respects. Anything that might need protecting isn't, and stuff that doesn't is.
DXF is a universal file format while DWG is proprietary and is more comprehensive. Any CAD that can produce DWG will be capable of producing DXF, but not all programmes that read DXF can read DWG.
Lasercut casings look cool, and (learning how to) lasercut something yourself can indeed be fun!
At the same time: I have considered lasercutting a casing for my arduino, but I never really seem to need one... So far, all my arduinos have survived without a casing (and with a bit of gentle care).
If you do have a project that includes your arduino, you might want to consider making a bigger casing. One that not only holds and protects your arduino, but also (some of the) other parts connected to it, this might be of greater value.
Hilleskog:
Hello again! I am working on the CAD-file but it's going slow, have a lot in school at the time! But i wonder, why are you all interested in a DXF file? Isnt't a DWG as good? please explain
Personally, I prefer .DXF because this is a file format that is compatible with the lasercutter at my local Fablab. It's also a format that can be imported in may different kinds of (free) drawing software.
