Re: Drilling and customizing enclosures - tips please

On 2005-09-04, Richard Owlett <rowlett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
[...]
> I think what you are looking for is a "Bug Box" [a registered trade mark]
> A Google search hit on Jameco Electronics (jameco.com). But their site
> appears to be unavailable. I cannot recall manufacturer of Bug Boxes so
> can't say where else to purchase. At one time (I reveal my age) many
> high volume electronics supply houses ( Arrow etc ) stocked them as a
> catalog item. They were a collection of standardized enclosure with one
> or two removable aluminum panels.

I think you probably mean "Bud Box", named after the manufacturer, Bud
Industries, Inc. They're still sold through most electronics supply
houses. For low-volume orders, digikey.com and mouser.com are
probably your best bets. You probably want one of their "mini boxes",
but they have quite an extensive line of metal (***, extruded, and
cast) and plastic enclosures to choose from. The *** aluminum boxes
(which is what the mini boxes are) are pretty easy to make holes and
cutouts in. (Of course, you can also build your own pretty easily
from plain *** aluminum if you have the tools.)

As others have said, if you're making 10-20 of them, you should look
into finding a local metal shop to make them for you, if you want
professional results. It might be cheaper than you think.
.