I've got a small project idea floating around in my head, and I'm wondering about an enclosures. I'm used to using a breadboard to prototype circuits, but I've not actually built a project yet. So I'm just looking for some general guidance on where people go to get cases, where to find perfboards/PCBs that fit them, tools for working with them, etc.
Hammond seems to make a lot of the cases I see on Amazon, but then there's the matter of finding a PCB to fit inside of it.
There's lots and lots of them:
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&search_type=jamecoall&freeText=encolosures
Make your own PCBs, look on youtube.
Hole punches:
I like to buy enclosures from DigiKey or Mouser. I like the Serpac ones. Here's a 9'x'4'x6' one that I am using for a custom RC ship transmitter:
Sometimes I use handheld games (poker, that sort of LCD game) and travel alarm clocks for enclosures. I like the folding clocks and games as the lid protects the screen and buttons.
I've used a lot of things not meant to be project enclosures, mostly bought at thrift stores or closeout. Plastic boxes that perfume came in, plastic gift box cases that held a pen and pencil set, etc. Watch Star Trek: Enterprise for handprops, many of them are repurposed handheld LCD games and similar items.
It can be a bit of a challenge to fit a given project, but it looks a lot cooler than a plain blue box with buttons sticking out of it.
