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Cutouts in a project case — Parallax Forums

Cutouts in a project case

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2001-10-06 22:28 in General Discussion
Guys,


I know this question isn't related to basic stamps. My project has a 2 digit
7seg display. I need to cut out a window to see this display in a small
plastic project box. My question is very simply what's the best way to cut
out a hole on these project boxes? Dremel, hot knife, rotozip? And pointers
on this subject would be appreciated.


Thanks

Tim

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-09-30 23:03
    I nibbler... available at radio shack, harbor freight, maybe sears...
    makes real nice square cuts.

    Mark
    Original Message
    From: Tim [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=j8Gs51k0vnwQutwMD4OSdj9vHE3_1QyZWtHfNn5Hb5NRcZ70VcSP8C9PAPhdRcq5q37Zg7riG-ggK8NWfnhW]timevex@o...[/url
    Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 4:53 PM
    To: Basicstamps
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Cutouts in a project case

    Guys,


    I know this question isn't related to basic stamps. My project has a 2
    digit
    7seg display. I need to cut out a window to see this display in a small
    plastic project box. My question is very simply what's the best way to
    cut
    out a hole on these project boxes? Dremel, hot knife, rotozip? And
    pointers
    on this subject would be appreciated.


    Thanks

    Tim


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-10-01 00:17
    A sabre saw with a fine tooth blade makes clean, quick cuts that can be
    very accurate. Need to drill a 1/4" hole somewhere in the square for the
    blade to go through. A nibbler works well on soft plastic, it cracks
    the hard stuff.


    regards,


    Leroy

    Tim wrote:
    >
    > Guys,
    >
    > I know this question isn't related to basic stamps. My project has a 2 digit
    > 7seg display. I need to cut out a window to see this display in a small
    > plastic project box. My question is very simply what's the best way to cut
    > out a hole on these project boxes? Dremel, hot knife, rotozip? And pointers
    > on this subject would be appreciated.
    >
    > Thanks
    >
    > Tim
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-10-01 02:01
    I would offer my opinion on how I do it, but one of the "experts," who
    always post corrections but never direct responses, would find fault with
    it.
    Original Message

    > I know this question isn't related to basic stamps. My project has a 2
    digit
    > 7seg display. I need to cut out a window to see this display in a small
    > plastic project box. My question is very simply what's the best way to cut
    > out a hole on these project boxes? Dremel, hot knife, rotozip? And
    pointers
    > on this subject would be appreciated.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-10-01 03:42
    Is it ABS plastic? Fast-moving saws tend to melt the plastic, and
    some cutters will crack or craze it. How about this--the saw on a
    Swiss Army Knife. No kidding. Very sharp. Either follow some lines
    very carefully, or make a "window" guide for the saw. Followed by a
    fine file to smooth or bevel the edges. Other plastics you might
    encounter are styrene (softer) and polycarbonate (tougher).

    -- Tracy



    >Guys,
    >
    >
    >I know this question isn't related to basic stamps. My project has a 2 digit
    >7seg display. I need to cut out a window to see this display in a small
    >plastic project box. My question is very simply what's the best way to cut
    >out a hole on these project boxes? Dremel, hot knife, rotozip? And pointers
    >on this subject would be appreciated.
    >
    >
    >Thanks
    >
    >Tim
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-10-01 04:10
    I've used a wood burning iron. It was basically a soldering iron, but I
    think it got hotter. I can't say the smell was very pleasing, but it sure
    left a nice clean hole.

    -John

    At 05:53 PM 9/30/01 -0400, you wrote:
    >Guys,
    >
    >
    >I know this question isn't related to basic stamps. My project has a 2 digit
    >7seg display. I need to cut out a window to see this display in a small
    >plastic project box. My question is very simply what's the best way to cut
    >out a hole on these project boxes? Dremel, hot knife, rotozip? And pointers
    >on this subject would be appreciated.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-10-01 17:20
    Hi Rodent,

    i think you're wrong for not posting a response. ;-)
    (just couldn't resist)


    In soft plastic I would draw my lines, then
    drill a few big holes and then use a knife to
    whittle it square. for a one-off box it is the cheapest
    way. it takes more time, but for two holes, less
    time than to run to Radio Shack.

    Also, almost any hand saw with a small blade
    will work and will be faster than carving, but
    not all of us have saws and nibblers and such.

    Dave






    --- In basicstamps@y..., Rodent <daweasel@s...> wrote:
    > I would offer my opinion on how I do it, but one of the "experts,"
    who
    > always post corrections but never direct responses, would find
    fault with
    > it.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > > I know this question isn't related to basic stamps. My project
    has a 2
    > digit
    > > 7seg display. I need to cut out a window to see this display in a
    small
    > > plastic project box. My question is very simply what's the best
    way to cut
    > > out a hole on these project boxes? Dremel, hot knife, rotozip? And
    > pointers
    > > on this subject would be appreciated.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-10-06 22:28
    For rectangular cuts, I wood chisels. Four whacks on a chisel with a
    hammer, with a wooden board backing the plastic, produces a neat opening in
    minimal time. Low-cost sets of 3 chisels of different blade widths are
    available.

    Dennis
    Original Message
    From: Tim [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=i2xVjaUTL2FJlZwV3-h7UHzbBwPXCGFb4qnmMp98upRLvHb4LyXU_B-1u0POUvordHCdoCJUV37N8_U]timevex@o...[/url
    Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 2:53 PM
    To: Basicstamps
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Cutouts in a project case


    Guys,


    I know this question isn't related to basic stamps. My project has a 2 digit
    7seg display. I need to cut out a window to see this display in a small
    plastic project box. My question is very simply what's the best way to cut
    out a hole on these project boxes? Dremel, hot knife, rotozip? And pointers
    on this subject would be appreciated.


    Thanks

    Tim


    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.


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