Sheet metal enclosures... inspire me

Sometimes I fabricate enclosures for other appliances too..

Reactive load. This one is quite large. 28x20x8cm.
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Signal generator
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Here's a recipe - how to make an enclosure without sheet metal bender.

You need:
- one piece of the aluminium square tube (width, height, length - close to the final size of the box).
- one piece of the aluminium sheet
- two pieces of the aluminium angle
- rivets, screws,

Here's the main element - square tube. Just remove one wall (top or bottom) - with hacksaw, table saw, jigsaw. Clean the edges with a file.
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Rivet two short pieces of the aluminium angle.
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Cut aluminium sheet to size - it's going to be top + front + rear surface.
Drill all the holes - pots, led, 3pdt,
Bend the piece to form C shape (it's doable witout a sheet metal bender).
Drill the mounting holes (front and rear walls of the C).
Now mark and drill small holes in the aluminium angle - using previously drilled holes as a guides.
Tap the holes.
And you have a custom box for your build.
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These are fantastic, thanks for sharing.

I finally went down to our metal supply shop and got myself the sheet metal I needed. I also got some brass round bar so I can make some brass knobs which I think will look pretty good. We're in the middle of a heat wave here though so I've not gone out in the garage for over a week. The heat ought to relent next week so I'm looking forward to sharing some of my failures with you all here :ROFLMAO:
 
When I saw an alert to a new post in the thread, I clicked on the link but it loads to the top of the page (4), and so I read through to the bottom and I want to click "Like" on a lot of posts, but apparently I've already been here done that.

Always good to refresh the memory, and of course to read the new posts as well.
 
Yep, they're all steel so far. We use a sorta weird bottom plate mounting system, and not sure aluminum would hold up


I've been looking at different ways to mount the bottom plate and sides and have come up with a few ideas that I plan on trying out to see what I like more so I really appreciated you showing all of that. Your method of pressure fitting that plate in there is pretty brilliant in it's simplicity and elegance, for what it's worth.
 
Yep, they're all steel so far. We use a sorta weird bottom plate mounting system, and not sure aluminum would hold up
I had to upgrade my "Like" to "Love" for this post, 'cause I finally got 'round to watching the vid and ...

Tell us more about the Hot Rod and the dog!

Back on topic.

I don't have a brake, but my friend has one (same friend I got to try his welder the other day), so I'm thinking I might try an old-school Muff-like enclosure;
I like the enclosures that the front, face, and back where the jacks are is all one piece, and the sides and bottom the second piece. I don't think my welding is good enough yet to attempt that style of enclosure. Maybe in time...


Really inspiring thread, thanks to all the contributors.
 
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