Every project eventually needs a home. You can stuff your PCB into a generic plastic box from Amazon, drill some ugly holes, and call it done. Or you can spend an extra hour in CAD and end up with something that fits perfectly and looks great.
The Case Against Generic Cases
Generic enclosures have a few problems:
- Wrong size — either too big (wasted space) or too small (nothing fits)
- No mounting points for your specific board
- Connector cutouts never line up
- They look generic because they are
My Workflow
- Measure everything with calipers — board dimensions, connector positions, component heights
- Model in OpenSCAD or FreeCAD — parametric design makes iteration fast
- Print a test fit in draft mode (0.3mm layers, 15% infill)
- Iterate — usually takes 2-3 revisions
- Final print at higher quality with the right material
Material Choice Matters
- PLA — fine for indoor, low-heat projects
- PETG — better heat resistance, slightly flexible
- ASA — outdoor-rated, UV resistant
Is It Worth the Time?
Absolutely. The first enclosure takes a while, but you build up a library of parametric designs. After a few projects, you're knocking them out in 20 minutes of CAD time.
Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about a project that looks finished.