RF project boxes: Where?

[DaveM]

I could but I'd have to pry the last one out of a unit though so the camera
can catch it. Basically it looks like an oversized TV-tuner, with a lid that
has dozens of contact fingers so tight that you need a tool to pry it off (or
break fingernails).

It used to be no problem to buy them at electronics stores except that the
last one in this area has now vanished. It became a, gasp, cell phone shop :-(

Hi Joerg
I like to use die cast aluminum for RF projects. They're tight and easily
machined. Do you absolutely need a ferrous metal enclosure? If not, MPJA has a
good assortment of die cast boxes at http://www.mpja.com/products.asp?dept=245.

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

"In theory, there isn't any difference between theory and practice. In
practice, there is." - Yogi Berra

 

[[email protected]]

Ideas:

Can you use a regular box plus a gasket like the ones here?

http://www.tech-etch.com/

Or seal it with one of these methods:

http://www.parker.com/chomerics/tech/shielding_methods.htm#types

mw

Excess Solutions in Milpitas has those gaskets, fingers, etc. No
empty RF cases.
http://www.excesssolutions.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=about

I have never used the store via mail order, so I can't vouch for it. I
have bought items in the store, and things are often mislabeled. Since
I know what the stuff is, this is not an issue, but I don't know if
they would handle mail order properly.

BTW, copper RF fingers can be used as battery contacts.

 

[Rich Grise]

Must have been some tasty smokes ;-)

Yes, as a matter of fact, they were.

Usually I smoke Kools, but I've been wondering if a Kool is just
a mentholated Camel.

Thanks!
Rich

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Done that, many times. But after the umpteenth broken scroll saw blade
that gets old. I've got grandpa's old hand brake to bend the corners,
looks almost professional. When I want to be extra good and made a
copper box I give it a nice spit shine (but on my own time, not the
client's). I lucked out in finding two tubes of Wenol polishing paste at
a kitchen store, bought both of them that very millisecond.

I was in Home Depot a few years ago, and picked up a gallon can of
Brasso for $5. They were dropping everything but the smallest can. I
should have bought a couple cans at that price. The other 20+ cans were
gone early the next day.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Jeff L]

Done that, many times. But after the umpteenth broken scroll saw blade
that gets old. I've got grandpa's old hand brake to bend the corners,
looks almost professional. When I want to be extra good and made a
copper box I give it a nice spit shine (but on my own time, not the
client's). I lucked out in finding two tubes of Wenol polishing paste at
a kitchen store, bought both of them that very millisecond.

Try Autosol, if you can find it. Amazing stuff.

 

[Joerg]

Hi Joerg
I like to use die cast aluminum for RF projects. They're tight and easily
machined. Do you absolutely need a ferrous metal enclosure? If not, MPJA has a
good assortment of die cast boxes at http://www.mpja.com/products.asp?dept=245.

Dave, it's mostly because steel allows direct and short solder
contacting to the housing. Die cast is ok for not so noise critical
project but I haven't been too enthused about it when it comes to
filters and preamps.

 

[Joerg]

Try Autosol, if you can find it. Amazing stuff.

Thanks, I'll have to try that.

 

[Joerg]

Excess Solutions in Milpitas has those gaskets, fingers, etc. No
empty RF cases.
http://www.excesssolutions.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=about

I have never used the store via mail order, so I can't vouch for it. I
have bought items in the store, and things are often mislabeled. Since
I know what the stuff is, this is not an issue, but I don't know if
they would handle mail order properly.

BTW, copper RF fingers can be used as battery contacts.

Be careful. If it's beryllium copper, oxidizes a bit over time and then
gets scraped that may not be a good thing for your health and the health
of those around you.

 

[RST Engineering \(jw\)]

I've got worse news for you, Joerg. HSC down off of Madison in Sacramento
is going out of business next month.

Jim

 

[RST Engineering \(jw\)]

Come on down to Sierra on Friday morning, pay the $40 fee to audit my
tinbending electronics class, and use the good shears and brakes we have for
the students. Shim brass is cheap from the usual mailorder folks like
McMaster and you can have the exact box and lid you want a dozen to the
hour.

Jim

 

[Joerg]

Come on down to Sierra on Friday morning, pay the $40 fee to audit my
tinbending electronics class, and use the good shears and brakes we have for
the students. Shim brass is cheap from the usual mailorder folks like
McMaster and you can have the exact box and lid you want a dozen to the
hour.

Be careful with mail order places for stock. I needed a piece of
aluminum at a client, fast, so we ordered it. 86 (!) Dollars. I couldn't
believe it but they had already placed the order.

It often pays to find a local source for this stuff.

 

[Joerg]

I've got worse news for you, Joerg. HSC down off of Madison in Sacramento
is going out of business next month.

Oh drat. I guess that'll leave us with nothing now :-(

 

[Robert Latest]

I wonder why Digikey doesn't have any. I remember even being able to buy
this stuff at radio shack. "RF project box" or something like that. Ok,
they cost a lot more than at the large places but in a pinch this was so
great.

Do you mean boxes like these? Farnell carries them.

http://www.perancea.com/prod-fr.htm

robert

 

[Joerg]

Do you mean boxes like these? Farnell carries them.

http://www.perancea.com/prod-fr.htm

Almost. The "can and fingered lid" version is ok. Not quite as good as
the ones I had because there are voids between the fingers but still ok
I guess. Only problem is that we don't have a Fernell in the US. I'll
check with Newark whether they can order them. After all, they ordered
me a scope via Farnell-UK last month.

Thanks for the hint, Robert.

 

[[email protected]]

Sometimes here in Italy we can still find these, made by Teko
http://www.teko.it/Eng/ENCLOSURES/frame.htm (select... "RF")
It seems they have an US distributor, http://www.tekoenclosures.com/ .

Hope this helps,

LaCar.

 

[Joerg]

Sometimes here in Italy we can still find these, made by Teko
http://www.teko.it/Eng/ENCLOSURES/frame.htm (select... "RF")
It seems they have an US distributor, http://www.tekoenclosures.com/ .

Hope this helps,

Yes, it does, thanks. We had a thread a while ago over RF shields. I
didn't rememember that they also make the whole boxes. Their "RF boxes"
look very similar to the ones I had.