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4th May 2013, 01:00 PM #1Senior Member
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Advice re cutting hole in plastic box
I am after some advice regarding a small job. My son's final year electrical engineering project involves a microcontroller system that utilizes an LCD (standard 16 x 2 that you buy off eBay). The plan was to fit the project in a plastic box with a hole cut for the LCD. As it is unlikely that my CNC machine will be up and running in time to do this task the plan was to cut the hole by hand with a Dremel (or similar) and tidy up the hole by fiting a bezel. The problem is that it seems almost impossible to find a suitable bezel - he has tracked down a few overseas but the postage is expensive, particularly when it is unclear whether the bezel is the correct size. The second plan was to cut a neat hole for the LCD display but that has proven to be a challenge. Despite best endeavors, the hole looks a bit rough and whilst might be acceptable for the prototype, he is looking for something a little better for the final submission at the end of the year. It will also probably need a number of iterations before a final layout is chosen.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to cut a reasonable neat hole in a plastic box (something along the lines of the Jiffy boxes you buy from Jaycar / Altronics)? The size of the hole is about 23mm x 71mm.
Alternatively, does anyone know where he could buy a suitable bezel (in Australia or somewhere that doesn't charge a small fortune for postage)?
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4th May 2013 01:00 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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4th May 2013, 02:23 PM #2
Have you looked at the router bits for the Dremel?
Every day is better than yesterday
Cheers
SAISAY
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4th May 2013, 02:37 PM #3
A simple solution might be found at the local hardware store, in the aisle where they keep the wood for picture frames or similar mouldings - even if it's just a simple woden strip, you can mitre the ends and have something that will neaten the look of the cutout up. Or go wild and style the case in a steampunk theme!
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4th May 2013, 02:54 PM #4
Don't Jaycar still sell the project boxes with alum. face plates?
- Andy Mc
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4th May 2013, 03:12 PM #5Bob Willson
The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.
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4th May 2013, 06:21 PM #6Senior Member
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Some good options.
The Jaycar LED panel meter bezel is the sort of thing he was hoping to find. It (the bezel) is attached to the LED display and the whole unit cost about $30. You can't just buy the bezel (and I don't think it is not quite the right size). If anyone knows of suppliers of these types of bezels in different sizes please let me know.
An aluminum front panel would still have the same issues in trying to cut a neat hole by hand. Might be easier to cut by CNC but my machine is not yet up and running.
I will try some of the Dremel router bits and see how they work in both the plastic an aluminum.
Mmmmm - Steampunk. That was definitely not one of the options I had considered!!. It does have have a certain appeal....
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5th May 2013, 01:05 PM #7Senior Member
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- Nov 2008
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- Far North Queensland
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LCD's are always a pain to mount, well in my experience anyway, lol.
Have a look at this, not a bad finish and easy to achieve with minimal tooling.
Home Made Bezel / Window for LCD, LED, TFT Displays.
I have a running CNC and while it makes some things easier, sometimes you can't beat a drill press and some black paint
Cheers.
Russell.
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5th May 2013, 02:10 PM #8SENIOR MEMBER
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5th May 2013, 05:01 PM #9
My Dremel Trio would that in no time at all
Every day is better than yesterday
Cheers
SAISAY
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5th May 2013, 10:36 PM #10Senior Member
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- Dec 2007
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- Melbourne
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- 105
Needed a reason to by a Dremel Trio!! Does peeve me that they cost $147 at Bunnings but only $54 at Amazon. May be time to invest in a 120VAC transformer!
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6th May 2013, 08:28 AM #11
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6th May 2013, 10:39 AM #12
Could always get a beat up second hand one from " stash converters " for only $135
LOLhow come a 10mm peg dont fit in a 10mm hole
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6th May 2013, 11:03 AM #13
On eBay
Also, just do a search for Dremel TrioBob Willson
The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.
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6th May 2013, 11:08 AM #14
Another way to cut the hole is to make a template that will allow you to use your routerwith a template following guide.
The template can be made from any old timber you have lying around. Fix the box lid securely to a surface and then fix the template in position over that.Bob Willson
The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.
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10th May 2013, 09:14 PM #15
I'm with RustyArc. I've done it heaps of times for LCDs. Just hog out the centre and file to the line. It's only 2mm ABS, not at all hard to file. To make it look even better cut another rectangle, cut a rectangle out of the middle the same way then glue it on with contact adhesive.
There was once a time when we didn't have CNC routers to do all of the work for us. Only takes half an hour or so.
LCD in Jiffy Box.JPG... Steve
-- Monkey see, monkey do --
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