Stacking Your PCB in Plastic Electronic Enclosures

Polycase — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:04:09 +0000

You know that cabinet in your kitchen where your food containers are kept? You’ve got to have them for leftovers but with all the various sizes, depths, colors, it’s quite the chaotic space. And what do you do with the covers? I’ve finally tackled my own kitchen and cleaned up this area. I’ve found that if I can stack all of the enclosures together, and slide the covers neatly next to the bowls, then it’s no longer a chaotic mess. And I can breath freely when I open the door.

I got the idea to stack these containers from a recent customer email. The customer liked the size of the DC-45, but the project he was working on required 2 PCBs. The 2 boards were used to control different operations. The question: can he stack the 2 boards within the DC-45 without causing any issues?

I let him know this would not present any issues. Providing he used spacers between the two boards to allow air between the boards, there would be plenty of room to stack them. The spacers would also act as support for mounting the PCBs together. Because the DC-45 has only one set of mounting bosses in the base, none in the cover, the customer would need to use another method for securing the second board. There would not be bosses for the top board to mount to. By using the spacers he would not need bosses for the second board. The spacers would also allow for air movement around the boards to prevent overheating.

An alternative would be to have us machine countersunk holes in the cover, and use separate stand-offs to secure the board. This method is the same as we use to move the location of mounting bosses for customers.

What’s your solution for using more than one PCB? Drop me a line, I’m always listening.

Your Genius Brings Polycase Innovations

Polycase — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:06:29 +0000

You know those new Microsoft commercials, where every day “ordinary” people are saying how Microsoft 7 was their idea? They’re starting to grow on me. I think it’s comical in the “flashback” portion, the person is always a more stereotypically “beautiful person.” Because we all want to see ourselves, as well as our world, as a better place. And that proves the entire premise behind the campaign: We took your ideas to make our product better.

We’ve all done it too. I love my counter top electric grill because it’s easy and allows me to grill in all weather and seasons. But, when I try to make a hot sandwich, it gets squished at that odd angle, because the lid flips open, rather than pulls up flat. So wouldn’t it be great if you could turn a dial to lift the lid and have a panini press too?

Genius ideas like that happen every day. People are always improving on wonderful, established products, that we use every day. Until someone said, “I love this product; I just wish it also did this.” And that’s how new inventions, or “new and improved” items come onto the market. Genius is the catalyst for change.

So tell me what you love about your Polycase plastic enclosure and what you’d love to change. Give your genius a chance to spread its wings and stretch a little bit.

Drop me a line in the comments. See a previous (or future) post that sparks your imagination, let me know!

Talk to me, I’m listening.

Polycase - Tech Talk » enclosures

Stacking Your PCB in Plastic Electronic Enclosures

Your Genius Brings Polycase Innovations