Thread: Designing a double-din case for 2003 WRX

Originally Posted by Providence

Wow that looks great! How are you going to get power to it, mount the PSU elsewhere or in the DIN area?

I'm thinking of using the Opus 150w, which I believe is fairly small.. I'll be able to tuck it up somewhere.


If I get the Commell LV-671, I probably will be able to just get a 12v regulator or something, as the board can run from 12-volts.

I roughed out a simple box that's sized 180x180x100mm - I'll add in the various cutouts and such in a bit.

This was done with eMachine Shop.

The cost for one simple box was about $145 - however, if I order more than one set, the cost drops significantly.


The material I picked was Aluminum 6061-T6, 2mm thick, and will be laser cut, if anybody's interested.

The box should fit any Mini-ITX board sized 170x170mm, with 5mm clearance on all 4 sides.


Would anybody else be interested in a group buy?

The cost drops to about $50/box if I order 5 - prices may vary a bit with the finished product.

Edit: Updated for material thickness (2mm vs 1mm), picture, and cost.

I to have been modeling my own lcd housing for the lilliput 7" using emachineshop. I need to get a case so i am definetly interested in a grp purchase since it is much cheaper. I hope more are interested in this.

Slightly more developed - it's got:

• Mini-ITX spaced mounting holes, tapped with 6-32 threads for standoffs.
• Hole in the back for an ATX-size I/O shield.
• Roughed-out hole for 2 PCI slots.

Refinements to continue.

Current cost for Quantity 5 is $55.92 each.

Includes surface treating of a brushed surface, clear anodized, with the anodizing baked on. Color anodizing is optional, but they'd all have to be the same color.

Is that just for the case w/lcd housing? I am just working on the lcd housing. I have 2 differant models one is a laser cut/bend the other is cmill. Cost differance is about twice the price for the cmill version, and prices vary depending on finishings. If your model is a computer housing only, I dont think anodizing is worth it cause, its behind the dash?? i might be missing out on something here but thats my opinion.

desing ref. http://www.tmz.com/wrx/build3.htm

(Both designs might not be 100% acurrate in measurements cause i dont have LCD yet and have yet to take apart dash)




My opinion on the 2 is the cmill will fit fuller and flusher with trim. You might not be able to see it but, the Cmill design has a bevel around the screen unlike the laser cut. I just made the laser/bend model as a cheap alternative. When buying in bulk even 2-5 ppl makes a big $$ diferance.

Originally Posted by CousinOpey

Is that just for the case w/lcd housing? I am just working on the lcd housing. I have 2 differant models one is a laser cut/bend the other is cmill. Cost differance is about twice the price for the cmill version, and prices vary depending on finishings. If your model is a computer housing only, I dont think anodizing is worth it cause, its behind the dash?? i might be missing out on something here but thats my opinion.

That price was for the parts as you saw, just the box, so far.

As far as the anodizing, it's probably not worth the trouble, though a light polish might be good to deburr edges.

I'm trying to get the majority of pieces machined as simple laser cuts, taps, and bends.. Some of the smaller bends, like for flanges and such, I may have them just cut, and I'll hand-bend myself.

Work in progress, still more things to cut like venting holes, cable access, etc.

Originally Posted by CousinOpey
Cmill design (Both designs might not be 100% acurrate in measurements cause i dont have LCD yet and have yet to take apart dash)
[url

http://www.geocities.com/cousin_opey/Cmill.jpg[/url]

Laser/Bend
http://www.geocities.com/cousin_opey/LaserCutBend.jpg

My opinion on the 2 is the cmill will fit fuller and flusher with trim. You might not be able to see it but, the Cmill design has a bevel around the screen unlike the laser cut. I just made the laser/bend model as a cheap alternative. When buying in bulk even 2-5 ppl makes a big $$ diferance.

Image links don't seem to work with Geocities - opening them in another window works, but you should be able to add the pics directly to the post.

Edit the post, and then go down to Manage Attachments - upload them both.