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05-18-2009, 04:20 PM
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#1
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Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 44
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How to cut a USB rectangle in a dashboard
I have a couple of these: http://www.datapro.net/products/usb-...e-a-cable.html
And i want to fit them to (cut a long story short) a dashboard piece thats plastic and screw into it so the only thing visible is the female USB socket and the two attaching screws.
If i invest in a dremmel router attachment will that cut the perfect rectangle?
It's going to be on show so I don't want the rectangle holes to look gash. Any other options?
I don't mind buying a different USB socket if it's going to be easier.
Cheers
Last edited by MichaelPlace; 05-18-2009 at 04:22 PM.
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05-18-2009, 04:56 PM
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#2
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Constant Bitrate
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 200
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I made a metal plate for my dash that has 2 USB ports on it, using cables very much like in your picture, but taken from a PCI slot card faceplate.
I used the PCI faceplate as a template and drew the rectangle holes, then used a dremel tool to make the openings. The first one I did looked like crap but I learned how to slow down and move more carefully. The second one came out pretty good, although not perfect, but good enough for me. I used a flat file to square out the corners since they were rounded from the dremel metal cutting bit.
Good luck!
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05-18-2009, 05:23 PM
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#3
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Raw Wave
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: War-Town, GA.
Posts: 1,915
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Quote: Originally Posted by MichaelPlace 
I don't mind buying a different USB socket if it's going to be easier.
I found these to be a lot more forgiving; you can make the hole undersized then file down untill the usb (female) end can wedge-in.
http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-AAE2C.html
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05-18-2009, 10:13 PM
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#4
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What can I say? I like serial.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Florence Yall, BFKY
Posts: 2,162
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It almost always looks better when you work from the back side. Well, you can mess up more.
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05-18-2009, 11:37 PM
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#5
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Sheepdog
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Posts: 1,446
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You have to be VERY careful with the Dremel, or you can overrun your lines. It's best to practice in some scrap similar to the dash.
Another approach that's less likely to produce a mistake (and the resulting expletives) is to simply drill two (or three) properly placed holes and file out the space between them. The drill diameter should be the the same as the width of the hole you want. Using a centerpunch on the dash to make dimples that mark the hole locations so the drill bit doesn't wander. You may have to hold a backer board in the area where you use the centerpunch.
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05-19-2009, 05:16 AM
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#6
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Variable Bitrate
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kristiansand, Norway
Posts: 292
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Be very carefull with doing this with a dremmel... You need skills and steady hands...
If you have not used a dremmel before... This is not the first thing to try it on... practice ALOT before you plan to do it on the actual panel. 
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06-06-2009, 02:50 PM
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#7
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Hey, you're trying for the goal by going the other way around, you're crazzzyyyy!
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Miami
Posts: 4,170
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Quote: Originally Posted by MichaelPlace I have a couple of these: http://www.datapro.net/products/usb-...e-a-cable.html
And i want to fit them to (cut a long story short) a dashboard piece thats plastic and screw into it so the only thing visible is the female USB socket and the two attaching screws.
If i invest in a dremmel router attachment will that cut the perfect rectangle?
It's going to be on show so I don't want the rectangle holes to look gash. Any other options?
I don't mind buying a different USB socket if it's going to be easier.
Cheers
OMFG, I'm glad I came across this post, I have been looking for something like this. My setup has 4 USB ports and 6 additional USB each for the independent systems. I have 6 extensions going to my center console but wasn't sure if they made the cable you pointed out. Now I can hide the 4-port hub also..... Thanx a bunch!
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06-06-2009, 03:32 PM
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#8
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Maximum Bitrate
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 620
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For the record, HiJackZX1, there are much cheaper cables available at FrontX. Someone else posted the website a while back, and I ordered some USB extension cables from them for my dash. The look the exact same, are very good quality, and cheaper.
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06-06-2009, 03:46 PM
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#9
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Hey, you're trying for the goal by going the other way around, you're crazzzyyyy!
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Miami
Posts: 4,170
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Quote: Originally Posted by colin For the record, HiJackZX1, there are much cheaper cables available at FrontX. Someone else posted the website a while back, and I ordered some USB extension cables from them for my dash. The look the exact same, are very good quality, and cheaper.
Yea I saw that. FrontX has theirs for 7.00 a piece. What I needed was the name of this cable, which I didnt know till I found this post.
__________________
HiJack ZX1 CFSC
CAR PC ITEMS [ 35%]
INSTALL OF MULTI PC SYSTEM [ 35%]
BUG WORKOUT [ 0%]
INTERIOR MODS [ 45%]
HiJackZX1 Work Log
HiJackZX1 Website!
Please build up my REP.
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