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

"Ross, NS7F" wrote in message
oups.com...
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


http://www.youdoitelectronics.com

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?

Aluminum chassis are available ($10-$30 range depending on size) from
www.digikey.com, www.mouser.com, www.tubesandmore.com, etc.

Kitchen pans/baking trays can be surprisingly effective as well for a
lot less money.

A good hardware/welding store will have aluminum sheet and extrusions.
Home Depot etc. really suck in this area.

As far as full metal cabinets go, the above-named distributors will
have them by Hammond, Bud, etc., but you'll be shocked at the prices.
Recycled enclosures from other projects or picked up at hamfests are
quite affordable though.

McMaster-Carr has a lot of stuff, not discount prices, but excellent
selection and they ship to me overnight via UPS ground. They also have
a lot of plastics, tubes, etc. http://www.mcmaster-carr.com/

Tim KA0BTD

Tim Shoppa wrote:

snip
Aluminum chassis are available ($10-$30 range depending on size) from
www.digikey.com, www.mouser.com, www.tubesandmore.com, etc.

Kitchen pans/baking trays can be surprisingly effective as well for a
lot less money.

A good hardware/welding store will have aluminum sheet and extrusions.
Home Depot etc. really suck in this area.

Also, consider having enclosures made at a local sheet metal shop
(heating, cooling, ventilating); I've had them done for _very_
little money out of galvanized, and you can solder to them.

Regards,

Michael

Hello,

The aluminium that retail chassis are made from is a joke. Get some
1.6mm 5052-H14 from a local aluminium shop, a $30 brake and away you go.
You can make 5-7 for the cost of one retail ;-)


Cheers,
__
Gregg

On May 7, 3:45 am, geek wrote:
Hello,

The aluminium that retail chassis are made from is a joke. Get some
1.6mm 5052-H14 from a local aluminium shop, a $30 brake and away you go.
You can make 5-7 for the cost of one retail ;-)

A factor of 5:1 in price?

My local sources charge about $5 per sq ft for 0.040" 5052-H14
aluminum.

A 17x10x3 chassis needs about 3 square feet.

That's $15 for materials, not counting wastage because the local
source only sells it in 4x8 feet sheets :-). I compare that to $25 for
a Hammond chassis of the same size already made and spot welded, and I
don't see as big (5:1 or 7:1) of a disparity in prices as you do.

Now, I can get little (square foot or two) aluminum cutoffs at some
scrap piles for a lot cheaper, and those work great for tiny little
subchassis or miniboxes, even better to do it myself there because
dimensions are often critical.

Maybe I'm buying really super expensive aluminum and you know where to
get it for $1 or so a square foot. If so, tell me where!

Tim.

The aluminium that retail chassis are made from is a joke. Get some
1.6mm 5052-H14 from a local aluminium shop, a $30 brake and away you go.
You can make 5-7 for the cost of one retail ;-)

A factor of 5:1 in price?

My local sources charge about $5 per sq ft for 0.040" 5052-H14
aluminum.

A 17x10x3 chassis needs about 3 square feet.

That's $15 for materials, not counting wastage because the local
source only sells it in 4x8 feet sheets :-). I compare that to $25 for
a Hammond chassis of the same size already made and spot welded, and I
don't see as big (5:1 or 7:1) of a disparity in prices as you do.

Now, I can get little (square foot or two) aluminum cutoffs at some
scrap piles for a lot cheaper, and those work great for tiny little
subchassis or miniboxes, even better to do it myself there because
dimensions are often critical.

Maybe I'm buying really super expensive aluminum and you know where to
get it for $1 or so a square foot. If so, tell me where!
==========================
Over the years I bought some large size sheets double sided PCB material
at flea markets.
Provided there are no heavy transformers ,both chassis and enclosure can
be made of the material.
Under chassis screened compartments can be easily included.


Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

Hi Tim,

My local sources charge about $5 per sq ft for 0.040" 5052-H14
aluminum.

A 17x10x3 chassis needs about 3 square feet.

Bobs around between $2.75 and $3.15 CAD where I live in a trucking/farming
community. No shortage of full-sheet capable aluminium shops. Got 5 within
a 20 minute drive.


That's $15 for materials, not counting wastage because the local
source only sells it in 4x8 feet sheets :-). I compare that to $25 for
a Hammond chassis of the same size already made and spot welded, and I
don't see as big (5:1 or 7:1) of a disparity in prices as you do.

$25 for a 17x10x3 Hammond? You must be in the US. They are $45 here.

So, from my POV, buying retail chassis is just silly.

Cheers,

Gregg

geek wrote:
Hi Tim,

My local sources charge about $5 per sq ft for 0.040" 5052-H14
aluminum.

A 17x10x3 chassis needs about 3 square feet.

Bobs around between $2.75 and $3.15 CAD where I live in a trucking/farming
community. No shortage of full-sheet capable aluminium shops. Got 5 within
a 20 minute drive.

Ahah! The great land of ALCAN.

$25 for a 17x10x3 Hammond? You must be in the US. They are $45 here.

Strange thing is, Hammond is a Canadian company! I lived in Canada for
two years myself and could not explain the economics either.

Tim.

Hi Tim,

Strange thing is, Hammond is a Canadian company! I lived in Canada for
two years myself and could not explain the economics either.

Tim.

Our economics are like our politics - inexplicably stupid *rolls eyes*

It's cheaper for me to buy and import Hammond from Parts Express than it
is to buy from a dealer an hour away. Dumbfounds me too.

What IS a super deal are Chinese made rack mount cabs w/panel from RP
Electronics in Burnaby, BC.... thicker aluminium than the Hammond and $57
compared to ~$180 for the Hammond. I kicked one around (literally),
quality is comparable.

Cheers!

Gregg