Mother X4 enclosure

[kribjo]

Hi,


Anyone have a good solution for an enclosure for a Mother X4? My MotherX4 with added cards are unboxed and I would like to have it boxed.


Regards,


Bjørn

[||C|-|E||]

I was thinking the same, since I plan to buy one. Ideally we could try to have something 3D printed, it is not very difficult if we design and create a proper model of the case. Another option would be to use something like Legos 

[TFM]

I assume it's 'just' about finding the right box in the huge commercial offers of plastic boxes.

[radu14m]

Im using a transparent box.
Its a box for keeping the small collored  paper, stikers 

[OXBRIDGE]

looks great - where do I get one

[CraigsBar]

Im using a transparent box.
Its a box for keeping the small collored  paper, stikers 

I use mine nude, because I need to reach the MF2 Remake buttons.

[Bryce]

I don't own an MX-4 (I've had my own one since the 80s ), but if I wanted to make a case, I'd just buy something like this: TEKO TN 11.29: Kunststoffgehäuse TEKNET 11.29, dunkelgrau bei reichelt and cut slots in the top to match the connectors on the top, a slot at the end for the flat cable to CPC and a hole in the side for the 5V. That way it's protected from shorts from metal on the desk, but you still have access to all switches.

Bryce.

@Oxbridge: What looks good? Can you see some picture/link in this thread that I don't?

[TFM]

The link is as transparent as his box! 

[radu14m]

here it is


yesterday i did not put the link, so that now is not transparent anymore !

[||C|-|E||]

The box is transparent anyway  I like your enclosure! it even has a gap for the power cable 

[radu14m]

the gap is perfect.
i put under the MX4 a bubble bag, for isolation and to rise it a bit...

[TotO]

Nice, but you don't have to isolate the PCB against plastic or wood. 

[||C|-|E||]

What I always do, even when I do not put an enclosure (most of the time) is to install some PCB spacers. Then, the board does not touch anything and it is safer. I have tons because they are deadly cheap and very convenient. In many cases I even stack the PCBs on top of each other.

[Bryce]

Unfortunately, TotO only put two mounting holes on the MX4 and they're both at the same end of the board, so this isn't really possible in this case.

Bryce.

[radu14m]

 quote author=TotO link=topic=10831.msg106036#msg106036 date=1438760220]
Nice, but you don't have to isolate the PCB against plastic or wood. 

[size=78%][[/size] quote[size=78%]][/size]

The underside of the X4 ( where the soldering points are ) is not perfect plan, and you must put something softer under it, to avoid balancing and to level it.
Also, small metal pieces can get accidentally under the pcb, so that i use this bubble bag.
You can also use other material, if you think is needed.

I always prefer to put something under the boards, to protect them.

[C|-|E]]: i like the ideea of spacer, i will try to get some too and then i will add them to my construction
Also a green led can be added udner the pcb

[radu14m]

 quote author=Bryce link=topic=10831.msg106058#msg106058 date=1438770889]
Unfortunately, TotO only put two mounting holes on the MX4 and they're both at the same end of the board, so this isn't really possible in this case.

Bryce.


[ quote]


i think that is not a problem to drill another 2 holes,on the other side.
did you check if there any traces around ?

[||C|-|E||]

When I only have two mounting holes I use one of these plastic bases (the black one that is below the RPi)



The Raspberry Pi has the same problem, only two mounting holes, but I managed solve it, more or less 

[Bryce]

I'm still working on solving that problem further for you. I have a prototype built and I'm currently doing the software to replace that Rpi with a tiny PCB (so tiny it doesn't need mounting holes!)

Bryce.

[||C|-|E||]

Thank you Bryce, that would be great! I managed to made the things tidier now, basically installing proper cables that can be folded. However, having something much smaller would be great

[Bryce]

More discussion on that in the other thread: Crappy VGA image quality.

Bryce.

[TotO]

Unfortunately, TotO only put two mounting holes on the MX4 and they're both at the same end of the board, so this isn't really possible in this

I have put 4 mounting holes for fixing the board, but two are hidden under the interlock connector.

[Bryce]

Ah, didn't know that. Then well done, that's how it should be

Bryce.

[TotO]

Yes... But now, I have not really tested if it is easy to reach them with screws. 

[||C|-|E||]

I will test it when I order the board, do not worry! 

[Bryce]

Can you post or link to a picture of the board from above?

Bryce.