Help with parts selection (USB device)

Community PCB Design
1

My project is moving along well and I need to decide on a few parts for a final product. I’m having a problem selecting an enclosure and USB connector.

Basically, it’s a small USB device based on the UBW which reads the output of glass electrodes. The board will be approx 1"x 2" with a USB connector and a BNC connector for electrode input.

I’ve been searching for enclosures for the device so I can finalize the board footprint, but the only enclosure I’ve found is this:

New Age Enclosures - USB Device

http://www.newageenclosures.com/cart.ph … l&p=25&c=5

This enclosure is for sale at Mouser. Looks OK. I can probably drill my own BNC hole, but on the USB side, it’s only available machined for a Type A male connector.

So far, the only Type A male connector I can find is the one at SparkFun for $1.50 ea. In addition to cost issues, I’m also concerned about being able to reflow a Type A male connector in a poor man’s reflow oven. I also don’t see a lot of projects using Type A male connectors. So using a surface mount usb-mini socket sounds much better … but the enclosure would have a big gaping hole and that’s a problem.

And now my real question … does anyone know of a good available usb device enclosure (any type) which would allow for a more cost effective USB connector? It also looks like New Age Enclosures would produce exactly what I need if I were to order QTY 1000 or something, but that’s not practical.

Any advice? Thanks.

–Chris

2

If you aren’t sure about reflow, why not just use a TH part. Mouser has a number of them.

3

Yeah, I thought about that too… If I can find a cheaper Type A connector, that might do it. I also thought about using a small generic Hammond box but I’d have to mill the openings myself, which might not be easy.

4

I’ve worked with Polycase before - they will do holes, routing/milling, and silkscreening of their standard size cases for “pennies”. I’ve done 50 up orders which only added about $3 tooling cost per case (plus some small NRE). For the low volume, it was a great deal.

Its not a perfect fit for your application, but you either spend the big bucks on custom plastics or you compromise…

5

you know, a mini-USB connector isn’t that big. I bet it would not be hard to nibble out a hole that is not completely butt-ugly.

Is this a 1-off or a small production run?

6

… for small production. Today I’m thinking that perhaps the device would work best with some type of a pigtail USB connector (similar to a memory card reader, etc.). I could probably make the pigtails myself for cheap and would be able to drill a simple hole in the case myself. I think a pigtail would add value to the product because the end user wouldn’t need to purchase a USB cable in addition to the product. Any experience building products with a pigtail?

I am leaning toward polycase … thanks for that suggestion!