Post by thread:[OT]:Casing for electronics items.

Hi all, I am designing a item that would benefit from a custom molded case. However I don`t really know how to go about doing this.. Any suggestions?? While I`m on the subject does anybody know of a plastic/glass like material that can be turned opaque/clear via voltage/current.. I have searched the internet extensivly and can find nothing.. I know it exists as I saw it on Tommorows World once. Thanks for any help.

At 09:28 PM 6/15/00 +0100, you wrote: >Hi all, > I am designing a item that would benefit from a custom molded case. >However I don`t really know how to go about doing this.. Any suggestions?? Just have dimensioned drawings made up, have a mold made up and checked out, and have it run. Depending on the size, shape, slides required, materials, finish, desired mold life, number of cavities (per part) and number of parts, the molds might cost in the low 10 (of) K $ or ten times that for a large high quality mold (like for a monitor). It takes at least a few weeks to get an injection mold made. I've done this more than a dozen times, (using offshore moldmakers at times). Hint: ALWAYS retain control and/or possession of the physical mold. Once you have the mold, parts are cheap, basically material cost per pound plus machine time plus setup. Because it is a bit expensive, it acts as a kind of barrier to entry for small companies, which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. If you can't justify this with your quantities/prices then you can look at having standard enclosures modified. This is expensive, but you can buy smaller quantities and little tooling cost. Best regards, =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" spam_OUTspeffTakeThisOuTinterlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com Contributions invited->The AVR-gcc FAQ is at: http://www.bluecollarlinux.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Andrew Seddon wrote: > > Hi all, > I am designing a item that would benefit from a custom molded case. > However I don`t really know how to go about doing this.. Any suggestions?? > While I`m on the subject does anybody know of a plastic/glass like material > that can be turned opaque/clear via voltage/current.. I have searched the > internet extensivly and can find nothing.. I know it exists as I saw it on > Tommorows World once. > > Thanks for any help. I remember seeing electronically dimmed windows on some home show along time ago.. but that's about it. Damon Hopkins

Andrew Seddon wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > I am designing a item that would benefit from a custom molded case. > > However I don`t really know how to go about doing this.. Any suggestions?? > > While I`m on the subject does anybody know of a plastic/glass like material > > that can be turned opaque/clear via voltage/current.. I have searched the > > internet extensivly and can find nothing.. I know it exists as I saw it on > > Tommorows World once. > > http://www.aoptic.com Only thing is.. I couldnt get them to send me a quote... you might have more luck. The surprising thing is, some of the LCD shutters can transition clear to dark, dark to clear in 100uS _____________________________ Lance Allen Technical Officer Uni of Auckland Psych Dept New Zealand http://www.psych.auckland.ac.nz _____________________________

On Thu, 15 Jun 2000, Damon Hopkins wrote: > Andrew Seddon wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > I am designing a item that would benefit from a custom molded case. > > However I don`t really know how to go about doing this.. Any suggestions?? > > While I`m on the subject does anybody know of a plastic/glass like material > > that can be turned opaque/clear via voltage/current.. I have searched the > > internet extensivly and can find nothing.. I know it exists as I saw it on > > Tommorows World once. > > > > Thanks for any help. > I remember seeing electronically dimmed windows on some home show along > time ago.. but that's about it. Which is extremely, way cool and something I've been predicting for car windows for a long time. The one you saw (I saw it too) was a giant LCD. Probably tousands of dollars, but well worth it just for sheer geek appeal, don't you think? Dale --- The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..." -- Isaac Asimov

Andrew, At least one version of the panels you describe can be found in Houston at Electronics Parts Outlet (EPO). When I was in there last week, they had several in a bin on the floor and best I can recall were roughly 8 X 10" in size. Do not remember the price but my thought at the time was "not bad" but could not come up with a reasonable excuse to buy one. You might get lucky and find some left. http://www.epo-houston.com/main.htm Regards, Bruce .....qseaKILLspam@spam@alpha1.net {Original Message removed}

<x-flowed>Polaroid makes the LCD stuff, also, you can get welding goggles that do what you want. >From: Andrew Seddon <seddonaKILLspamHOTMAIL.COM> >Reply-To: pic microcontroller discussion list <.....PICLISTKILLspam.....MITVMA.MIT.EDU> >To: EraseMEPICLISTspam_OUTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU >Subject: [OT]:Casing for electronics items. >Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 21:28:56 +0100 > >Hi all, > I am designing a item that would benefit from a custom molded case. >However I don`t really know how to go about doing this.. Any suggestions?? >While I`m on the subject does anybody know of a plastic/glass like material >that can be turned opaque/clear via voltage/current.. I have searched the >internet extensivly and can find nothing.. I know it exists as I saw it on >Tommorows World once. > >Thanks for any help. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com </x-flowed>

> Which is extremely, way cool and something I've been predicting for car > windows for a long time. The one you saw (I saw it too) was a giant LCD. > Probably tousands of dollars, but well worth it just for sheer geek > appeal, don't you think? > Is that what it was! I didn`t realise. Unfortunately that is pretty crappy for my application. I really just wanted a sheet of plastic or something like that.. I am sure somebody must make it as you can get plastics that emit light etc.. Its just a matter of finding the damm company, then getting them to sell me a single sheet rather than there minimum order of 20 billion or whatever it may be.. I`m not bitter honest!

At 10:36 PM 6/15/00 +0100, you wrote: >> Which is extremely, way cool and something I've been predicting for car > >Is that what it was! I didn`t realise. Unfortunately that is pretty crappy >for my application. I really just wanted a sheet of plastic or something >like that.. I am sure somebody must make it as you can get plastics that >emit light etc.. Its just a matter of finding the damm company, then getting >them to sell me a single sheet rather than there minimum order of 20 billion >or whatever it may be.. I`m not bitter honest! Polaroid has been doing work in plastic LCD's for many years, they may have a sample kit or whatever available. Best regards, =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" speffspam_OUTinterlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com Contributions invited->The AVR-gcc FAQ is at: http://www.bluecollarlinux.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=