There has been a rumour that the Store may be able to offer drilled heat-sinks for 4U & 5U cases. This should, if it happens not only increase the options for builders but also increase the Store's revenue figures.
If this really interests you please post a response so that some feedback gets to those who can make a stocking decision.
If this really interests you please post a response so that some feedback gets to those who can make a stocking decision.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/diyaudio-store/221218-chassis-discussion-8.html#post4620226
Here's the source of the rumour: (post #391 and #392)
Russellc
Here's the source of the rumour: (post #391 and #392)
Russellc
Just my experience and opinion, but here goes anyway.
Unless you are getting the rest of the case materials for free, you should calculate the cost of the rest of the parts and your time.
For example, a 10mm 6061 aluminum face plate cost me $46. The top, bottom and back .09" 6061 aluminum plate cost another $70. Then there's the hardware to put it together: feet, screws, nuts and bolt, etc.
Approx. internal dimensions 12x19x6. This is where the plate sizes come from in my build example.
Four 4U style case heat sinks (6" high) cost me $100. I'm now at $200+. Took me 2 weekends to put together. If I paid myself $2 an hour for 8 hours for 4 days it's $64. Now I'm closer to $300 for the case. See my point?
This isn't to discourage you from building, but help surmise what goes into building a case.
Again, just my experience. You can tell me to go pound sand, if it makes you feel better.
Vince
On the other hand, if you want a certain look to your case build, buying anodized heat sinks is a good idea.
Unless you are getting the rest of the case materials for free, you should calculate the cost of the rest of the parts and your time.
For example, a 10mm 6061 aluminum face plate cost me $46. The top, bottom and back .09" 6061 aluminum plate cost another $70. Then there's the hardware to put it together: feet, screws, nuts and bolt, etc.
Approx. internal dimensions 12x19x6. This is where the plate sizes come from in my build example.
Four 4U style case heat sinks (6" high) cost me $100. I'm now at $200+. Took me 2 weekends to put together. If I paid myself $2 an hour for 8 hours for 4 days it's $64. Now I'm closer to $300 for the case. See my point?
This isn't to discourage you from building, but help surmise what goes into building a case.
Again, just my experience. You can tell me to go pound sand, if it makes you feel better.
Vince
On the other hand, if you want a certain look to your case build, buying anodized heat sinks is a good idea.
Really.. that much for your Ali sheets? Or did you additionally have CNC/laser work done?
I just bought similar materials; top, bottom, front, back in 1/8" 6061 (Albeit my front plate was a mere 1/4" thick) 8' of 1x1 ali angle .. My Ali bill was 40$ (cdn) Total.
Not fully understanding why yours was so much. Is it perhaps Huge?
Nope.. it does seem as ~ 3, 4 " longer, but not as tall as mine. odd.
Metal supermarket is my source (google)
Agreed on the DIY build effort as not cheaper...far from it actually.
Although I am ending up with more tools and a 'potentially' alternate appearance Box for the amp gizmo
I just bought similar materials; top, bottom, front, back in 1/8" 6061 (Albeit my front plate was a mere 1/4" thick) 8' of 1x1 ali angle .. My Ali bill was 40$ (cdn) Total.
Not fully understanding why yours was so much. Is it perhaps Huge?
Nope.. it does seem as ~ 3, 4 " longer, but not as tall as mine. odd.
Metal supermarket is my source (google)
Agreed on the DIY build effort as not cheaper...far from it actually.
Although I am ending up with more tools
and a 'potentially' alternate appearance Box for the amp gizmo
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Yeah I'm in a similar situation to you. Plenty of unused aluminium laying around. So this is of interest to me.
For someone who has never built a case before, I'd recommend just getting the full case. It's usually a bigger job than most people think for the first time builder.
Really.. that much for your Ali sheets? Or did you additionally have CNC/laser work done?
I just bought similar materials; top, bottom, front, back in 1/8" 6061 (Albeit my front plate was a mere 1/4" thick) 8' of 1x1 ali angle .. My Ali bill was 40$ (cdn) Total.
Not fully understanding why yours was so much. Is it perhaps Huge?
Nope.. it does seem as ~ 3, 4 " longer, but not as tall as mine. odd.
Metal supermarket is my source (google)
Agreed on the DIY build effort as not cheaper...far from it actually.
Although I am ending up with more tools
Similarly, my F-5 build has a face plate about 2/3 as thick as the 10mm, still quite heavy, top bottom and so forth from 1/8", all from 6061 a friend on another site got from his metal supplier as scrap.... had to wait for pieces the right size and so forth but all was 50 bucks. Still had to get heat sinks, and do all the drilling, tapping and so forth, many hours of hand hurting, tons of aluminum shavings everywhere.
Cheapest way out is Chinese chassis, but you will need to drill and tap the sinks, plus crappy specs will likely require you to sand nice flat spots where the mosfets go.
May as well get 4U basic box with thin front panel (replace later) for 180.00.
I cant tell you how pleased I have been with the Deluxe 4U and Deluxe 5U chassis from the store. little or no drilling, heat sinks pre drilled and tapped, very nice. Plus the 10 mm front panel along with the milled aluminum handles make the amp appear quite professional, instead of something out of Frankenstein's laboratory. Also highly recommended is the back panel parts kit. All the screws, spacers, brass stand offs that screw into heatsinks, then are threaded on the top as well to attach boards, etc. Soldering and wiring are the only tasks!
I guess if you build you own, you can buy parts as you go, heat sinks, then aluminum sheet,etc. Me, I will save up for these Deluxe chassis for my builds!
Russellc
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MY requirement is to build mono-blocs so the standard Store cases are not suitable for purpose.
Drilling and tapping heatsinks with hand tools is far from easy (and with added difficulties should tools break); a good CNC prepared heat-sink makes life a lot easier for those with no more than hand-tools.
I can have 7mm sheet cut to size, drilled and tapped by a local shop for very little money, whereas having a guaranteed CNC job done, particularly on heat-sinks, is quite expensive. As the Stores suppliers are already set up for and producing prepared h-sinks, they could well be the most cost-efficient source for those who have non-standard needs - such as mono-bloc cases.
Arguing the case for the Store's full stereo case is all very well, but to plead an already proven case as the only viable option is not what this thread was supposed to be about. It was intended to gauge support for alternative options - such as mono-bloc construction.
Having said that it appears that there is little support for such a venture, just a few nay-sayers have responded, so I guess that it will not happen without the Store actively marketing this option.
Drilling and tapping heatsinks with hand tools is far from easy (and with added difficulties should tools break); a good CNC prepared heat-sink makes life a lot easier for those with no more than hand-tools.
I can have 7mm sheet cut to size, drilled and tapped by a local shop for very little money, whereas having a guaranteed CNC job done, particularly on heat-sinks, is quite expensive. As the Stores suppliers are already set up for and producing prepared h-sinks, they could well be the most cost-efficient source for those who have non-standard needs - such as mono-bloc cases.
Arguing the case for the Store's full stereo case is all very well, but to plead an already proven case as the only viable option is not what this thread was supposed to be about. It was intended to gauge support for alternative options - such as mono-bloc construction.
Having said that it appears that there is little support for such a venture, just a few nay-sayers have responded, so I guess that it will not happen without the Store actively marketing this option.
Not wanting to take away from the DIYAudio store, but i found it cheaper for me to order an enclosure directly from here https://www.modushop.biz/site/ , you can also buy parts of the enclosures if you only want the heat sinks.
They don't come pre dilled/tapped is the only catch, but its not a difficult job, i used a pillar drill to make the holes so they were nice and straight, then a steady hand to tap the threads.
They don't come pre dilled/tapped is the only catch, but its not a difficult job, i used a pillar drill to make the holes so they were nice and straight, then a steady hand to tap the threads.
May as well get 4U basic box with thin front panel (replace later) for 180.00.
I cant tell you how pleased I have been with the Deluxe 4U and Deluxe 5U chassis from the store. little or no drilling, heat sinks pre drilled and tapped, very nice. Plus the 10 mm front panel along with the milled aluminum handles make the amp appear quite professional, instead of something out of Frankenstein's laboratory. Also highly recommended is the back panel parts kit. All the screws, spacers, brass stand offs that screw into heatsinks, then are threaded on the top as well to attach boards, etc. Soldering and wiring are the only tasks!
I guess if you build you own, you can buy parts as you go, heat sinks, then aluminum sheet,etc. Me, I will save up for these Deluxe chassis for my builds!
Russellc[/QUOTE]
The Gentleman's way to build. Where is the extra fun.
I cant tell you how pleased I have been with the Deluxe 4U and Deluxe 5U chassis from the store. little or no drilling, heat sinks pre drilled and tapped, very nice. Plus the 10 mm front panel along with the milled aluminum handles make the amp appear quite professional, instead of something out of Frankenstein's laboratory. Also highly recommended is the back panel parts kit. All the screws, spacers, brass stand offs that screw into heatsinks, then are threaded on the top as well to attach boards, etc. Soldering and wiring are the only tasks!
I guess if you build you own, you can buy parts as you go, heat sinks, then aluminum sheet,etc. Me, I will save up for these Deluxe chassis for my builds!
Russellc[/QUOTE]
The Gentleman's way to build. Where is the extra fun.
So...you are all determined that I be denied a mono-bloc solution and that I must follow the herd?
I just hope that when you reach your mid 70s those who advocate a stereo case do not have bad tendonitis in elbows, shoulder problems etc or get a hernia - I have all of these and the post hernia repair period is no great fun...I don't want another. [Add the weight of a twin power supply, a 4/5U case and the size and you have a lump which you feel disinclined to move! Mono blocs - say 40% weight saving - more easily managed bulk......] for me there is no argument as to which way to go.
Aside from the practical there is a great deal more elegance in mono blocs than in an anonomonstrous black box.
EDIT Forgot to mention that I also have heart problem
@AndrewT:
I actually did start thinking the same at almost the same moment as you posted! Chilly here today!
I just hope that when you reach your mid 70s those who advocate a stereo case do not have bad tendonitis in elbows, shoulder problems etc or get a hernia - I have all of these and the post hernia repair period is no great fun
...I don't want another. [Add the weight of a twin power supply, a 4/5U case and the size and you have a lump which you feel disinclined to move! Mono blocs - say 40% weight saving - more easily managed bulk......] for me there is no argument as to which way to go.Aside from the practical there is a great deal more elegance in mono blocs than in an anonomonstrous black box
.EDIT Forgot to mention that I also have heart problem
@AndrewT:
I actually did start thinking the same at almost the same moment as you posted! Chilly here today!
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OK.. Metal Supermarket 'Cuts'.. accurately.. to customer's drawing sizes.
They have a fully equipped metal shop for this and do it while one waits.
For Free.. if buying or 10$ flat fee if not.
They also do bending, folding, turning, fabricating etc as well, no notion of how much that costs tho. Presumably hourly?
Clever business model. Glad I tripped over it.
Basically did all this to utilise a pair of deep finned Heatsinks I have
Certainly not to save coin, although I did have that delusion.. initially
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So...you are all determined that I be denied a mono-bloc solution and that I must follow the herd?
Aside from the practical there is a great deal more elegance in mono blocs than in an anonomonstrous black box
EDIT Forgot to mention that I also have heart problem
@AndrewT:
I actually did start thinking the same at almost the same moment as you posted! Chilly here today!
Gallery (both of them) have some Very nicely crafted Boxes .. several hours worth of inspirational viewing..
Only Oobstacle in DIYing IMO is sourcing suitable (in design and heat dissipation ) heatsinks, everything else follows and is fairly straightforward
Do spend a lot of time with Sketchup or similar to zero in on a design ..First.. mandatory imo.
So...you are all determined that I be denied a mono-bloc solution and that I must follow the herd?
I'm supporting you here.
I can make you a drilling template made out of 4mm Aluminium plate, if that helps you out.
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