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[Steve-White]

In need of a small lightweight rack for a scope and signal generator, I searched far and wide.  Used the forum search engine as well.

Then......it occurred to me.....wait a minute, hold the press.

Having some model building experience and laser engraving equipment.....why, I can just make something up myself.  So, did a quick drawing using the xTool software that comes with the lasers.  Used 1/4" birch plywood and 1/2" bamboo dowel stock.  Cut everything out including the 1/2" dowels with a 40W blue laser.  Laminated 2x sheets of the 1/4" ply together for the side panels.  Front to back there are 5x 1/2" dowels under the shelves for support.

Roughly 15" tall and 13.5" wide and a foot deep.  Rattle canned it with RusttOleum light blue similar to old Techtronics or HP test gear.

I'll add a picture of it with test gear once the paint dries.

[Steve-White]

DELETED

[Steve-White]

With the test gear in it.  Considering a dab of RTV or zip ties to secure the gear in the rack.

[Scott Holtzman]

With the test gear in it.  Considering a dab of RTV or zip ties to secure the gear in the rack.

Looks great Steve.  Nice job on the lamination. 


What is the model number of the signal generator?  I am still using old telco line generators on my bench.  They work well but have limited patterns.

[Steve-White]

Looks great Steve.  Nice job on the lamination. 

What is the model number of the signal generator?  I am still using old telco line generators on my bench.  They work well but have limited patterns.

SIGLENT SDG 1032X:  https://siglentna.com/product/sdg1032x/

Thanks Scott.  First time CNC woodworking project.  The learning curve has began.  Next project will get indexing cuts and alignment lines burned into the wood.  That will simplify and speed up the assembly process.  Overall, it went together fairly quickly.  Rouchly an hour or so of cutting time in the honeycomb.

Now to find a suitable cover for it to keep it clean when not in use.A small generator or kitchen appliance cover should work well.

[Brian Jojade]

Info on this laser you used to cut?

[Steve-White]

Info on this laser you used to cut?

XTOOL D1 PRO with their once optional 40W Blue Laser.  XTOOL Creative Space software which is a free download.  Set to 100% power, feed rate 3mm/second.  Cuts real clean, nice fit on holes for dowel stock.

For some reason the 40W blue laser is unavailable.  If you are interested, I also have 20W Blue Lasers for the XTOOL D1 PRO and will test on a piece of 1/4" Birch Plywood to see if the 20W will cut it.  It probably will.

EDIT:  Just tested the 20W Blue XTOOL D1 PRO laser on the 1/4" Birch Plywood and it zipped right through it at a setting of 100% and rate of 3mm/second.  May even go faster.  Should have done some more testing, looks like I used a lot more power than necessary.  Setup and did one more test cut on the 1/4" Birch ply, this time 5mm/sec and it cut but I had to gently separate it.  So, 3 or 4mm/sec with the 20W Blue Laser and you're good on 1/4" ply.

Picture attached.  I cut off the small piece pictured.  The vertical cut on the lower left of the wood panel.  Testing the 40W Blue Laser when it arrived, I cut through some 3/4" Oak plywood with it.

[Ike Zimbel]

With the test gear in it.  Considering a dab of RTV or zip ties to secure the gear in the rack.

Nice!

[Steve-White]

Project is nearing completion.  Paint has dried/cured to a point that it can be handled.

Time to put some non-skid non-marking feet under it.  Here's a method I learned the basics for many years ago when a neighbor showed me how to make silicon lid cover seals for waterproof radio boxes in RC model boats.  I refined the method a bit to make feet, which works well for some projects such as this one.

Just put a bead or dollop of RTV where you want the feet to be, set spacers under the item to give the desired thickness and set it down on a piece of aluminum foil or masking tape on a flat surface.  Let it cure a couple of days, trim with razor blade or xacto knife or similar as needed.

Pictured.

[Steve-White]

Finished it up today.  Weighs in at 20.2lbs without the cover on it.  Used a dollop of RTV under the feet and zip ties around the handles to secure equipment to the rack.

Pictures attached.

[ProSoundWeb Community]