Project Box

Hey,
Where do you guys get your project box?

Please don't tell me Radio Shack. Radio Shack went backrupt about 5 years ago and was completly replaced with other "retailers". (maybe that is just in my country...or its a conspiracy and they never ceased to exist!)

Recycled part perhaps? Just looking for some ideas.

My last project a 5x5x5 led cube, I used a old wooden cigar box found at a thrift store. Led array mounts on top and all the electronics mounts inside the hinged top. Easy to drill holes in the back for switches and power jacks, etc.

Lefty

Good if you're in the UK:

http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/boxes.html

I often use transparent boxes made for foodstuffs or other household things (sorry, I don't know many correct household terms :slight_smile:

They come in all sizes and qualities. They have two drawbacks:

  • many are much too "floppy"
  • they are rarely rectangular

The trick is to use them upside down: I screw or glue a work plate onto the top, and close it with the transparent main part.
The work plate can be a strip board e.g.; epoxyd is much better for this than pertinax.

The boxes I use are between $2 and $5... But they do come in all sizes !

Electronic Goldmine is cheap.
http://www.goldmine-elec.com/

ebay:

farnell?

Or just look for a random wooden box, will look far better than a plastic beige box.

Well, I got most of mine from Radio Shack... Too bad you don't have a Radio Shack near you.

Anyway, I have also bought project boxes from www.allelectronics.com before, and the quality was pretty decent.

I have found boxes from this company:

...to be particularly interesting; their 0.2 liter box and lid can hold an Arduino Duemilanove (without a shield), while their 0.3 liter box and lid will hold one with a shield, maybe even two shields. One would have to, of course, modify the boxes to allow for mounting of the Arduino, and access to the USB and power plug...

A few interesting things about the boxes:

  • The design, especially with the lid on and snapped closed, is very rigid, and resists flexing
  • The lid includes holes, which line up with holes on the folding snaps, which could allow for screws to secure the lid shut
  • Easily worked polypropylene plastic, in a variety of transparent colors, clear, and solid black
  • Stackable and modular
    :slight_smile:

See above - I think this is very similar to my collection :slight_smile:

Follow-up to cr0sh's post...

I've been using their 0.07 and 0.2 litre boxes for stand-alone projects. You can fit in two AA batteries and a bit of electronics. Staples and Office Depot carry them here.

I've also used 3xAA battery cages. I gut the middle battery slot for the electronics. You can get battery cages with a built-in on/off switch. Drill holes for the bits that show through (like LEDs) and, voila, a nice hand-held box complete with an off switch.

From trees :wink:

I make a lot of my cases from wood. I also size some of my boards to fit in Altoids tins.
Almost all the wood I use is reclaimed from trees in my yard or from construction-site dumpsters.

Some other examples are at Loading...

(* jcl *)


www: http://www.wiblocks.com
twitter: http://twitter.com/wiblocks
blog: http://luciani.org

WOW :o

sxdemon

Where are you located in Canada?

In Ontario their are several physical store front companies including:

*Sayal my favourite has several Ontario locations . . . all with a VERY good assortment of boxes . . . note that the stores are great, but their web site sucks
www.sayal.com

*Creatron in downtown Toronto has a FANTASTIC selection of Auduino and associated accessories like shields and xBee modules of every sort

*Active Electronics has several Ontario locations

*Active Surplus in downtown Toronto . . . you never know what you will find here and stock changes so buy if you like it now, cause it will not be there the next time you come.

*KW Surplus in Kitchener, Ontario where you will also need to buy it when you see it if you like it
(no web site)

*A-1 Electronics Parts
http://www.a1parts.com

NOTE that Creatron and Active Surplus are located just a few blocks from each other in Toronto, so if you go to one . . . make the pilgramage to the other at the same time

BTW - Radio Shack was replaced with a crappy chain called The Source, and they still carry a few project boxes . . . keep an eye out, because they frequently clear out their inventory of electronic components by offering knobs, buttons, switches . . . and boxes . . . at 50-70% off. I am sure that they will be completely out of the small component business within a year or two.

Charity shops. I look for interesting items that'd hold an arduino and a few bits.

I have used old cigar boxes before or made some myself out of wood.

I have found boxes from this company:

http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/

Hey, these look cool! Just ordered a bunch from the US store for delivery to my hotel in CA next week! Nice!

Cheers,