PCBs: bare or encased?

[MintyTheCat]

Hello all,

I was wondering how many of you have some kind of case for your PCBs or not.

One of my boards has an issue and it has made me push that task upwards on the 'ToDo List'

I was thinking of using a standard PC case of some sort - any ideas?

Cheers,

Minty.

[Artemio]

I use cardboard boxes, inside I use foam cut from electronics to fit them snuggly. Antistatic bags or bubble wrap sometimes

example

[BuckoA51]

I use cardboard boxes, inside I use foam cut from electronics to fit them snuggly. Antistatic bags or bubble wrap sometimes

example

[Xyga]

i like my pcbs the way i like my women - naked and vulnerable

[MintyTheCat]

I use cardboard boxes, inside I use foam cut from electronics to fit them snuggly. Antistatic bags or bubble wrap sometimes

example

Nice collection, Artemio.

That's an idea. I was not planning on expanding the PCB collection too much so something more pricey and durable is an option.

This is down to my tatsujin ou PCB having an issue

Cheers,

Minty.

[Strikers1945guy]

I use U-LINE anti static boxes. They look sexy and do the job. Don't have a pic (although I only have like 10 PCBs left). Here is the website I buy them from.

http://www.uline.ca/BL_2355/ESD-Protective-Shippers

[Pasky]

They're also extremely expensive.

[MintyTheCat]

I use U-LINE anti static boxes. They look sexy and do the job. Don't have a pic (although I only have like 10 PCBs left). Here is the website I buy them from.

http://www.uline.ca/BL_2355/ESD-Protective-Shippers

I use these in my work too. Often PCBs arrive in these things or similar.

I am looking for a permanent, never removed, just plug in the Super Gun type of case. As such, I was thinking of using a fairly standard PC case. I only have a few PCBs so the higher cost is not much of an issue to me.

Cheers, Strikers1945guy - that is an option for many PCB collectors.

Cheers,

Minty.

[Crafty+Mech]

USPS Priority mail boxes, or the Express Mail boxes for longer boards.

I add Velcro tabs so the boxes can be closed/opened easily.

Stack great, boxes are free, velcro is cheap.

[Stompp]

A friend of mine made me cardboard boxes to fit the Billy bookshelves from IKEA (35x26x6 cm)


Bigger PCB's get to be on display - kinda

[system11]

I am looking for a permanent, never removed, just plug in the Super Gun type of case. As such, I was thinking of using a fairly standard PC case. I only have a few PCBs so the higher cost is not much of an issue to me.

A bad idea, although not as bad as those fucking idiots who run them in bubblewrap with a hole cut in the top for the dip switches. True story. If you just want to physically protect them then fit PCB feet, screw them down to pieces of wood and then fit legs in the 4 corners of the wood and fit a drilled sheet of metal or mesh as a roof. Don't close the sides.

Kind of like this:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3U7ETAItX6E/U ... op+214.jpg

[MintyTheCat]

I am looking for a permanent, never removed, just plug in the Super Gun type of case. As such, I was thinking of using a fairly standard PC case. I only have a few PCBs so the higher cost is not much of an issue to me.

A bad idea, although not as bad as those fucking idiots who run them in bubblewrap with a hole cut in the top for the dip switches. True story. If you just want to physically protect them then fit PCB feet, screw them down to pieces of wood and then fit legs in the 4 corners of the wood and fit a drilled sheet of metal or mesh as a roof. Don't close the sides.

Kind of like this:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3U7ETAItX6E/U ... op+214.jpg

That's an idea: spacers & acrylic - yep, that'll work for me, cheers.

[Stan]

Is acrylic generally antistatic or only certain types?

[_rm_]

I like the ghetto labels

[Stompp]

Spoiler

I like the ghetto labels

[system11]

Is acrylic generally antistatic or only certain types?

That's why my suggestion was a wood base and a metal mesh/drilled lid - let's more air rise too.

[BubbaMc]

I use cardboard boxes, inside I use foam cut from electronics to fit them snuggly. Antistatic bags or bubble wrap sometimes

example

Very nice.

Do they need to be removed from the box in order to hook up a JAMMA connector? Can we get a look inside a box?

Cheers

[system11]

I use cardboard boxes, inside I use foam cut from electronics to fit them snuggly. Antistatic bags or bubble wrap sometimes

example

Very nice.

Do they need to be removed from the box in order to hook up a JAMMA connector? Can we get a look inside a box?

Cheers

Yes they would do, you should never run a PCB inside bubble wrap, or a box. If you construct some kind of enclosure to protect during storage and you want to be able to use the board in there, it should allow as much air around the PCB as possible, these things can get quite hot, heating/cooling cycles (or simply overheating) can cause failure.

At the end of the day unless you're willing to treat PCBs like the most delicate china, you should just use MAME or multigame boards.

[rtw]

As time goes by PCBs "warp". Taking a 25 year old PCB and screwing it to a rigid surface can cause cracks in the substrate.

And as system11 says, never run a PCB enclosed in bubble wrap.

As for storage I use these:

http://www.clasohlson.com/no/SmartStore ... r341552002

50x39x18

Inside I have the PCBs wrapped in 2 layers of antistatic bubble-wrap.

[Daytime Dreamer]

On topic:

PCB feet are easy to locate. (just type "pcb feet" on ebay for example)

Any ideas where to locate a board surcafe that would be ideal to drill in order to mount the PCB through the feet?

[brentsg]

As much as I play my games the past couple of years, I might have all my PCBs encased in amber so they can enjoy them in a thousand years.

I actually fired up the AK home edition for some after-bar action last weekend, and so a friend who now thinks I'm nuts could play. I think his exact question was, "why would you play something like this."

[MintyTheCat]

"why would you play something like this."

He's not a disciple but a worthy conversion challenge

Relics they are. For me personally having too many would seem like too much of a burden so I limit myself to less than five