Category: Electronics

I keep adding more tools to my tool box, and expanding the knowledge of the tools already in use.  It is why I have some many projects going on.  I want to learn new things or more about things I already know.  I continue to invest in learning FreeCAD.  The tool amazes me, each time I use it.  I find it better and easier to use.  Practice practice practice…  Pick a tool and use it.   Well I’ve been tinkering with Tinkercad too, but with some residual AutoCAD skills from my school days.   I am more comfortable in the FreeCAD interface and methodologies.

I had always used OpenSCAD either standalone on in FreeCAD workbench, as my go to design tool.   Today I started testing an new module LCInterlocking for FreeCAD.  It is why the open source community is so great.   Great tool and then people invest their time to make modules for it to make it greater.   This tool seamlessly integrated into FreeCAD and has its own workbench and easy to follow video tutorials.

I still need to work on my Industrial Design but the new box has better tab strength and a slot for all connection access.  It is a little less visually appealing, but I though the original revision the tabs were too small.  The kerf  on the cut was too tight and the box was very tight to assemble.  I may need to adjust the laser cutter’s focal length to prevent tapper in the cuts.

I know what your thinking.  I should have added a place to include the switches in the box with access like these.   That is why you build projects to learn new tools and how to best utilize them.  I will just use the painter’s tape to hold them on top for now.

I am not an industrial designer, but I need to refresh some of the basics basics.  I had gotten a driver board for some old LCD screens that were salvaged from a Lenovo W510 laptop which overheated.  It was a great panel with high resolution and good black.    The driver board was great and easy to use, but lacked any case.  I have been using it as an extra display for configuring my Ordoid and Raspberry Pi’s prior to adding them to the cluster.    I found it much handier that a full monitor for quick an easy configuration.

Now that I have a laser cutter I can make custom cases for project so I don’t have to leave things like the driver board on my desk like a hazard.  I mainly use FreeCAD, but prefer OpenSCAD for 3D part creation .  I have not yet reviewed  or updated sheet metal fabrication and card stock box techniques into the CAD world.  I had learned back in the mechanical drafting classes taken in my past.  Yes I’m old enough to have taken pencil and paper drafting classes.   I guess that will have to be updated.   What to do to create plans for cases….

I headed over to MakerCase to build a box.    If you have not used their tool it is super easy, and has great results as you can see.   However, my ability to measure and line up the ports was lacking.    I also missed the check box for “inside dimensions”  so a bit tight.  My only reservation about the tool is there is not size control on the output.    That is a minor inconvenience that InkScape fixed right up.

I wonder if I should do a rev 0.2….   For another day….