On May 6, 4:36?pm, "Ross, NS7F" wrote:
I would like to build some tube transmitters and am curious where
other people get their chassis? Article 1 (The Novice Special, from
the arrl website) calls for LMB SQ-1 cabinet (8.5 x 4.5 x 4.5 in)
which "comes complete with chassis and front panel".
Article 2 (A Three-Band One-Tube Novice Transmitter, from Dec '57 QST)
calls for a 2 x 7 x 13 in aluminum chassis enclosed in a 7 x 9 x 15 in
aluminum box.
Any suggestions?
Thanks and 73,
Ross, NS7F

If you've been around electronics a while, you might remember the
"SeeZak" line of modular chassis sides and tops. LMB-Heeger
carries that same thing now: www.lmbheeger.com

Click on "OmniChassis" on their Products link page.

Chassis sides (sold in pairs) come in 2", 3", or 4" height with
lengths from [height] to 17" in increments of one inch. The
material is aluminum, 0.040" think. Chassis tops and bottoms
come in all dimensions from 4" x 4" to 17" x 17". Top/bottoms
are fastened to side pieces with small sheet metal screws
(holes provided) at one-inch increments. Side piece ends
snap together, final fastening by the screws through top/bottom
panels to the bent-over edges of side pieces.

Top/bottom panels thicknesses are 0.040", 0.050", or 0.063"
depending on their overall dimensions (13" x 13" and bigger
are 0.063" thick). One can use the smaller-length side pieces
to form in-chassis walls for shielding or extra mechanical
support. An advantage in hole drilling of tops/bottoms is that
panels can be mounted on scrap plywood for support (such
as in drill press) or punched via industrial punch presses
(hard to find those presses now).

Not cheap but they don't cost an arm and a leg either.
Another advantage is that making a mistake on hole
locations isn't a scrap-out of a whole chassis or klugey
retrofit...just use another panel or side piece. While the
aluminum alloy is "softer" than 2024, an assembly is as
robust mechanically as any fully-formed chassis bought as
a unit. I find them very useful in making near-production
quality prototypes since they turn out as neat as any
full-chassis version.

73, Len AF6AY