Project cases from radioshack

Retromaster · Post by **Retromaster** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:59 pm

I have been to radioshack many times and noticed they had many project boxes in many different sizes that can hold circuit boards. It's just that I don't know how to fit an entire motherboard into one small one, so you could use a bigger one or cut the board in half, and then put the controls above it. they'd be perfect for portables and they're plastic

Turbo Tax 1.0 · Post by **Turbo Tax 1.0** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:47 pm

it'd be wicked hard almost impossible to cut a board in half and wire it together. but what kind of mobo are you triying to fit inside one? mini snes or maybe psone will probably fit they have some really small boards

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:29 pm

As turbo said, mobo splicing is a pretty hard task. I recommend getting a project box that fits your motherboard specifically; it may be a bit larger, but a much less daunting task. Especially when you're working with multi-layer board like SNES, where traces can be almost impossible to find.

Good luck!

CTFan

Krepticor · Post by **Krepticor** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:47 am

well If you are worried about the thickness you could always shave an inch or so

I say this because I went to rat-shack for a project box once and it was a bit to thick for my taste, however, after about an inch of shaving, it would have worked out nicely

If you do shave it I recommend a dremel tool with a cutting disc
Also, to perfect you lines and measurement, always calculate a 1/16th of an inch thicker (you can always get rid of more but adding on is a be-otch)
Also, use either painter's tape or masking tape to draw you cut-line
After you would cut file it down with a rough file, then sand it down smooth with progressively finer grit sandpaper

And that should be it for ya!

~Krepticor

Post by **bicostp** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:51 am

1. <img src="http://www.skytroniks.com/images/databa ... es/wtf.gif"> Duh. We all know about the Rat Shack project boxes. They'll do in a pinch, but they can be undesireable for portables because they are made out of soft plastic and they don't come in very ergonomic sizes. (Honestly, this forum's been around for a long time, we've seen / used a lot of that common stuff.

2. There are some motherboards you may be able to cut in half and get to work again, but many of the smaller boards are multi-layered, as TT said. That means in addition to having traces on the top and bottom, they also have traces inside the fiberglass motherboard. You would have to be some sort of soldering prodigy to even have a chance at getting those put back together.

Retromaster · Post by **Retromaster** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:11 pm

I meant this can be for atari 2600s motherboards that you can cut down to 4x4 squares easily with minimal rewiring. and do you know what else bicostp? some of the users on this site live with their mothers and hardly leave the house except for milk and wizards and warrior trading cards so I must educate them in rebelling and going to radioshack to do something amazing with their atari

oh, hang on a second...........................Now Ma wants grandchildren.......

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:05 pm

I can't fit my SNES mobo into their largest case, but I've now cut off the edges (via sawing w/ a razor blade) which was mostly useless ground area. All I have left is the small section w/ the fuse.

BTW, my screen is actually wider than the case itself, so I've had to cut a hole on the left side of it where the screen will stick out a few centimeters.

Retromaster · Post by **Retromaster** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:16 pm

So now I know if an SNES will fit......But first I need to get an SNES...........Was the screen a PS1 5'' display?

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:37 pm

Retromaster wrote:I meant this can be for atari 2600s motherboards that you can cut down to 4x4 squares easily with minimal rewiring.

Nope - I've tried that idea. I haven't found a single box at RadioShack that's wider than 4 inches that isn't a humongous beast of a box. They have several 3x5" boxes, but the next size up is like 5x7" but it's also 2 or 3 inches thick.

The closest they have is a 6x4x2" box, but that 4" is just a bit too small - the board has to be able to fit inside the box.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:46 pm

No, I think it's 7". I pulled it from a car.

Retromaster · Post by **Retromaster** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:49 pm

-joe-"next size up is like 5x7" but it's also 2 or 3 inches thick"

what you can do is take a band saw or hack saw and cut a couple inches off the thickness and then put the lid back on.

Retromaster · Post by **Retromaster** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:53 pm

a2600a -"No, I think it's 7". I pulled it from a car."

This gives me an idea of what I can do with a portable DVD player I have lying around...