| richardkrol |
Hi Guys,
Don't know whether this is allowed but I thought I'd share it with the DIY community.
I am considering having an aluminium case manufactured made from 4mm aluminium. The case will have custom front and back plates which can be pre-drilled / routed for the connections.
The case will be either anodized or powdercoated.
I'd be interested in finding out whether there's an interest in such a case before proceeding with this.
Cost is unknown at this moment but is largely driven by quantity.
So basically let me know what you think.
Cheers
Richard |
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| wytco0 |
richard, I would be interested in a couple of those.
I like black and as high a quality as possible !
Do you have just an approximate idea of cost? |
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| jedel |
what are dimensions we are talking about?
I'm looking for 430 mm wide (normal audio size) and a height of about 60-70 mm. (to fill with 2 UCD180's)
the other solutions out there are either to standard (rack mount) or to expencive (> 200E)
what is the prize range were thinking about?
<100 E would be great |
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| richardkrol |
The width of the case is 440, depth is 350. It's a very sleek design - trust me on this.
As for the height, I was thinking of offering the case in three dimensions: 50mm , 75mm and 120mm height. That is internal dimensions. That would suit a mono amp, a stereo amp and a multichannel amp.
I expect the case to be in the 150 - 200 Euro bracket. This is and will be a high end case. 4mm thick walls, top and bottom. Enough to hold the largest transformers.
Back panels will be available with either 2, 3, 5 or 7 speaker binding post holes with both singled ended and balanced inputs. It'll also accept a trigger input and output therefore catering for all connections.
Another option is to use one case for the PSU, in that case one back panel will feature a Neutrik industrial power connector i.e umbelical cord and the other one will feature an input.
All back panels will be custom manufactured. Investigating labelling as an option.
The inside of the case will have standard slots to fit Hypex and Zap modules straight onto the cooling fins. The fins will have exactly the same appearance as the case > not some kind of bolt-on profile...
Cheers
Richard |
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| richardkrol |
| Height of 120 (internal) - 128 external |
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| gengis |
I like the case.
Any holes on the front panel for switch, led, etc?
If the price is around 100 or so, I will take two. |
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| richardkrol |
Holes on the frontpanel is not a problem.
The front and back plates can be swapped. It would also be very easy to use a bench drill and drill the holes yourselves.
100 is a price that cannot be achieved unless we are talking really big numbers here. As I mentioned, the price would be nearer the 150-200 bracket.
Cheers
Richard
Edit: Depending on interest I'll have this case manufactured. Again, cost is very much driven by quantity. There more people are interested - the higher the chances that I'll have this case made. Expect the initial costs to do this to be very high.
Cheers |
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| Yves Smolders |
Richard, very interesting, but the price bracket *is* a bit high, I'm afraid!
There's a case to be had, from the states, aluminum, 5mm front panel, with power connectors/xlr/cinch in/speaker terminals present, transport included, for about 170 dollars.
If you can lower the price after a while, count me in - I'd rather buy from a fellow Belgian :D |
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| classd4sure |
Hey Yves any chance you can save me some fishing and email me that link, wouldn't want to insult anyone by posting it here.
Thanks,
Chris |
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| Yves Smolders |
Chris,
You got mail. |
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| gengis |
Yves,
Can you also PM me where to find that in the US?
Thanks. |
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| wytco0 |
| I have some of what I think are the US cases (they are not made in the US) and they are good but this case looks as though it could be better. I am definitely interested even at the price being stated. |
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| Yves Smolders |
Of course, Richard should give it a go, a solid looking case adds to the sound... at least psychologically!
Keep us informed Richard!
PS. I know about the "us" cases being made in Taiwan, but that doesn't matter - I'm interested in 1 piece not 20. |
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| greggp |
| quote: | Originally posted by Yves Smolders
Of course, Richard should give it a go, a solid looking case adds to the sound... at least psychologically!
Keep us informed Richard!
PS. I know about the "us" cases being made in Taiwan, but that doesn't matter - I'm interested in 1 piece not 20. |
Yves,
Could you also PM me the link of the US/Taiwan case. I can't afford the Belgian case either...
Thanks!! |
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| richardkrol |
This particular case will be made in belgium. There's no point in having it made in Taiwan or elsewhere unless you're willing to manufacture 2 containers of it. But then again you won't get the quality we're after.
Secondly, we (I think) want a case that isn't the average foldable metal sheet box clad with a 10mm alu front but we want a case that is solidly engineered. This case will be 4mm front to back, top to bottom.
Another feature of this case is that it is configured EXACTLY as you yourselve specify. You want only 3 single ended inputs - then you can have it. 7 Balanced? No probs. You name it - "we make it".
This case will outclass the best of cases. Some exceptions of course...Chord comes to my mind albeight at another cost level.
I am still looking for alternative suppliers who can manufacture some parts of the case at a better cost. This means at the moment that with some interest the case will be in the 150-200 bracket. Again volume drives cost > if we're talking about lets say 300 cases then I'll be able to drive the cost further down > it'll be a real bargain then.
Also, if you spend lets say 1000 euro's on the interior then 150-200 is not to much for a classy case to stick it in.
I also plan to add the option of copper shielding in the case to separate the supply part from the electronics but I'll have to give this some further thought.
Tease me enough and I'll have it made !!
Any prefs for colour? Black would be my first choice.
Cheers,
Richard |
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| richardkrol |
Can somebody PM me the address of the us case as well? I'd be interested in finding out what it would have to compete with..
Cheers
Richard |
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| gengis |
Richard,
Your case is much better looking. I would spend the extra money to buy your case, but shipping probably kill the deal.
And I am only building a LM3886 gc, it is going to be around 100. It will be an integrated. |
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| wytco0 |
richard black is my preference as well although i might be tempted by a high quality anodised finish.
Re the US cases I suspect that the following wiki refers http://www.diyaudio.com/wiki/index....GP+in+enclosure
I have 4 of these cases and they are very nice and better than any retail cases i have seen elsewhere. However I do not think they are as high a quality as the ones that you are suggesting. |
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| richardkrol |
Thanks for the link. I can understand why this case can be made for a better price since it's folded metal sheet clad with an aluminium front.
I'll investigate and do some more homework on the price.
Keep me posted with interest though!
Cheers
Richard |
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| Yves Smolders |
Oh, I'll have to check that, I was under the impression that it's aluminum all the way.
It's pretty important for cooling of course... if it's not alu, I'd have to add extra cooling inside the case. |
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| richardkrol |
The "all aluminium" aspect is a prime feature of the case.
The case has been designed to take full advantage of the heat exchange properties of aluminium.
I'll have to conduct test on a pre-production example (yet to be made) to decide wether additional cooling vents/slots are required.
As it stands now, further work is required but a light is shining at the end of the tunnel. I am very anxious to make it work. The case is a modular design and with different front/back panels it could also act as a media server case.
I'll provide you with updates as I proceed. Should there be any ideas you have for the case then please share them so we can have the best of best!
Cheers
Richard |
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| wytco0 |
richardkrol,
The media server comment is very interesting. I am very interested in that possibility. Are you thinking of more than one size? Cooling for a media centre PC might be difficult to engineer. |
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| richardkrol |
The media server back panel can have two cutouts for two fans > 1 to suck air in and the other one to blow air out. Depending on the components to be used one will probably have to go for the 120mm case. Again the heat exchange properties will also help keeping the temperature down.
As mentioned before I plan to offer the case in 3 different heights.
De DVD tray can be slot load to keep the clean look in tact.
Cheers
Richard |
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| Yves Smolders |
FYI,
I just checked with the US cases supplier.
The case is fully aluminum, 2mm, with a 3mm front plate. Additional heatsinks are provided in the back for stereo UcD usage. |
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| wytco0 |
Yves,
Which supplier? those are not the same as the ones I have as mine dont have 2mm panels, mine are all ali (but black).
The ones I have dont have heatsink at the back either ;-( |
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| richardkrol |
I have some more images to share....
Cheers,
Richard |
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| richardkrol |
| from the side... |
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| richardkrol |
| and another one... |
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| Yves Smolders |
Sorry my post was wrong.
It's 4mm front plate alu, 2mm alu all over on the US distributed cases. |
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| classd4sure |
Damn is that ever a nice case!
I wonder how much it is? Time for an email.
Thanks,
Chris |
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| Yves Smolders |
well since we're starting to link...
Digital Analogue DIY
and slightly off-topic, THIS is a case to drool over... I think the price reflects this as well :D |
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| classd4sure |
Yeh sure bring it on guys the more options the better.
Actually what I don't like about the case I liked a second ago, is the rounded sides which seriously limit mounting options... pretty well only to the front face plate.
If anyone knows of any other cases now would be a great time to share!
Thanks,
Chris |
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| Yves Smolders |
This is a micro-atx computer case by "NEO SYSTEM"
Here
I wonder who makes these casings, I have one, it's only like 25cm wide, 4cm high and weighs a lot, feels icecold to the hands. I want this in large format *drool* |
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| Steven |
Yes, the NEO is a nice case, that asks for something more advanced inside than just a PC board. A quick search showed that this case is a fanless case from Lex System (Taiwan).
http://www.lex.com.tw:8080/product/...tem-chassis.htm
There is even a bigger one, the Twister.
They have sales channels all around the world (three in Belgium).
Steven |
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| Yves Smolders |
Steven,
You should see these cases in real life! I've got a NEO at work (a computer company) and it feels to heavy, the front plate is 5mm, feels heavy and sturdy.
Looking at the website, it seems you can only get this case, and the bigger "twister" with a mainboard included.
I'll try to see if the case can be had "gutless" - The twister is about 7.5cm high - I might be able to fit an 800VA toroid and modules in there. Cooling will be more than adequate, the thing feels like a fridge in your hands!
Edit: Found the reseller, will have info next week.
Yves |
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| Steven |
Yves,
Keep us informed, please. This is a very nice case indeed. I also found that you can only get it with PC-boards inside, although still without power supply. I've been looking around for an empty one, but to no success. Most other brands have CDR drive slots in the front.
Steven |
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| BWRX |
amt makes a few really nice cases that can be found here:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ampbox/
i have the one for the SI and it's awesome! the other cases look equally as impressive. |
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