3. Enclosure (cabinet) - mi-pogo/MeshBox GitHub Wiki
The following parts have been used in order to build the MeshBox enclosure.
- Wood panels (L x W x H = 250 x 600 x 18 mm) - 6 pieces.
Actually, only 5 were used for building the MeshBox enclosure, the 6th one being kept as spare. Before any operation, it is strongly recommended to season the wood in order to avoid the appearance of any cracks into your panels. In my case I kept the panels in free air, inside the house, for 3 months.
- Wood glue
- Silicone (for wood panels sealing)
- Sealing adhesive tape (for speakers)
- Passive radiators - 2 pcs.
Although is not actually a part of the case itself, it's not an electrical part either -> therefore, I decided to include it as part of the enclosure. Its purpose is similar to that of an bass reflex tube, to retrieve the back wave of the active speaker. The size/diameter must be approximately equal to that of speakers, 130 mm in this case.
- Mesh structured grilles for speakers and passive radiators - 4 pcs
It must have the size to fit onto 130 mm speakers / radiators.
- Screws and drive-in nuts M4 type for speakers, passive radiators and perforated frame (see below) - 20 pcs in total.
- 3D printed face and back plates - 1 pcs for each
These are used to enclose the electronic compartment of the MeshBox case. One is mounted on the front wood panel and the other is mounted on the back wood panel. The front one has cutout diameters to fit the size of buttons and rotary encoders and a square hole to fit the display. The back one has cutout diameters to fit the size of power button and DC power jack, a square hole for Raspberry Pi ports and multiple parallel slits for cooling purpose. And of course, both, front and back plates, have holes for wood screws to fasten the plates onto the wooden case on the area of electronic compartment. For more details related to their shape and dimensions please see here their technical drawings: MeshBox Front Plate and MeshBox Back Plate .
- Wood screws 3mm for face and back plates - 4 pcs each
- Metallic perforated frame
It serves to mount the display and the other electronic components inside the dedicated compartment. The diameter of holes is 2mm.
- Rubber feet pads - 4 pcs
Sizes are: 35mm (diameter) x 10mm (height).
- Screws and drive-in nuts M6 type for rubber feet pads - 4 pcs
Assembly
Wood panels were cut at the specified dimensions (see drawings...) to obtain the following elements of MeshBox Enclosure:
- MeshBox Front & Back panels
Each of these panels (front and back) contain two holes for speakers or passive radiators (front or back) and one square hole for the electronic compartment. They do not contain holes for speaker tightening screws because their position could vary between models and makers. Also it could be a difference between front and back panels, in the cutout diameter for speakers and passive radiators respectively. Please refer to the technical sheet of your speakers / radiators for the cutout diameters and screw holes and perform based on it. In case of MeshBox these diameters were equal for both. The cutout dimensions (W x H) for the electronics compartiment are also equal for front and back. See here the technical drawings in both 2D and 3D CAD .
- MeshBox Top panel
For the top panel see here the technical drawings in both 2D and 3D CAD .
- MeshBox Bottom panel
Bottom panel has multiple holes aligned to the area of electronic compartment for cooling purpose. It has also four holes in the corners for the screws which tighten the rubber feets. See here the technical drawings in both 2D and 3D CAD .
- MeshBox Sides panels
These panels are used as side panels and inner separators between speakers' and electronic compartments. See here their technical drawings in both 2D and 3D CAD .
- And now, all on the table.
- After glueing, all assembled together.
Before glueing, make sure you have put all drive-in nuts (for speakers, radiators, perforated frame and rubber feets) in place.
- After sanding and painting.
The MeshBox enclosure was left to dry for several days, then silicon was applied at all inner joints of speaker enclosures.
- Electronics were mounted on the perforated frame.
Its dimensions, shape and holes were determined to fit the components (Raspberry + HiFiBerry, power regulator, power splitters, buttons, rotary encoders and wirings) inside the electronic compartment having as reference the 3D printed front and back plates. For electrical connections please follow the electrical schematic of MeshBox in the hardware section .
- Display was mounted.
Care must be taken to align the display to the 3D printed front plate.
- Finally, speakers, grilles and 3D printed front and back plates were installed and MeshBox came to its final look.
Also knobs and buttons were inserted into their places.
And the back view...
Now, sit back and enjoy listening to your favorite music !
(guess what... mine is 70s and 80s :) )