Canadian PCB/Case Group Buy

[raychmond]

Anyone who lives in Canada and would like to group buy, share ordering info or laser cutting experience can post here.

I live in Waterloo region and I am placing the order through JLCPCB right now. I may need 2 or 3 boards myself, so I can share the extra 2 - 3 PCBs with anyone in this region or even GTA.

I'm looking for the laser cutter in this region. I know there is 1 laser cutter in one of the local libraries, but I couldn't find it.

Thanks,

[raychmond]

@stonepreston
I found the 3-pcs transparent acrylic sheets on amazon.ca, link is here

Can you please confirm whether 3-pcs is good enough for the case? I know your BOM shows 4-pcs.

Thank you!

[stonepreston]

I used 4 pieces. 3 might be enough if you don't have to cut an extra layer ( I explain why you might need an extra layer in the MCAD repo). I think its highly likely you are going to need 4

[stonepreston]

that being said, you might have an acrylic distributor around you. Theres tons around me but I live in a large city. Thats cheaper than amazon for suer

[raychmond]

I will check that and share with our Canadian friends here.

[Dp666me]

I ordered a board but I havent gotten the case yet. I ordered mine from JLCPCB. For the case I hope to use a library that has one by me. I did contact a welding shop that had a acrylic cutter but they havent gotten a price for me yet. The hardest part has been the keys, and the screen I had to get them from here. https://shop.pimoroni.com/ it was the cheapest I could find even though it's from the UK

[Dp666me]

They came back and I have to change my order. Ill grab you a some boards and then I can mail it to you

[raychmond]

If you are talking about the key switches, I've got some 5-pin from amazon.ca (link) and some 3-pin from aliexpress.com (link). I think both should be fine. But I haven't confirmed yet.

You should definitely order the screen from pimoroni.com directly. They are the best with lowest shipping fee to Canada.

[stonepreston]

@raychmond Id go 5 pin. They provide much more stability and make alignment a lot easier, but 3 pins work too

[raychmond]

@stonepreston Will do 5 pins. Thank you for confirming that. I have plenty of key switches, diodes, encoders and joysticks. I happen to have a spare teensy 4.1 and a PI 4B. What a coincidence!

[kc3lai]

@raychmond I'm also in the Waterloo region. Have you already placed order for the PCB? how much would it be for a board? I may get 2 or 3?

[kc3lai]

awesome. thanks!

[raychmond]

@kc3lai Have you found how to make the case BTW?

[kc3lai]

nope not yet. I can't start building until I get rpi4

[raychmond]

You can follow @rpilocator on Twitter. You may be able to buy one pretty quickly.

[raychmond]

@kc3lai
adafruit.com may have rpi4B 4G today. They usually have stocks on Wednesday at 11:00am.

[Dylan-Grove]

I still have 4 PCBs left from my order if anyone wants one. Based in Alberta but I can ship if you pay for it.

[Dp666me]

I still have 4 PCBs left from my order if anyone wants one. Based in Alberta but I can ship if you pay for it.

I'm in Alberta too. Why did you do for your case?

[Dylan-Grove]

I still have 4 PCBs left from my order if anyone wants one. Based in Alberta but I can ship if you pay for it.

I'm in Alberta too. Why did you do for your case?

I just printed it with my 3d printer. It's not super pretty and I had ro cut the prices in half in order to fit on the printer but I think it'll do. Can always upgrade to acrylic later.

If you want a PCB, I'm in Edmonton if you want to meet up!

[Dp666me]

I still have 4 PCBs left from my order if anyone wants one. Based in Alberta but I can ship if you pay for it.

I'm in Alberta too. Why did you do for your case?

I just printed it with my 3d printer. It's not super pretty and I had ro cut the prices in half in order to fit on the printer but I think it'll do. Can always upgrade to acrylic later.

If you want a PCB, I'm in Edmonton if you want to meet up!

Yeah I have 5 in Edmonton already. Too bad we could of shared earlier. Could I buy a case off of you?

[raychmond]

Hopefully some people in Canada later could find our post here, so you guys can share your PCBs.

[raychmond]

I've got my 5 pc PCB yesterday.
@kc3lai, how many do you want? Please leave a contact info, so we can discuss how you can pick it up?
@Dylan-git @Dp666me I believe you guys all received your orders as well.

[kc3lai]

@raychmond I can be reached via kevin.c.lai at gmail.

[raychmond]

I still don't find readily available laser cutter locally. I'm 3D printing the cases right now. If it turns out to be successful, I will share the .stl files because I modified them to be able to 3D print on my printer (220mmx220mm). I think most people have this sized 3D printer.

[Dylan-Grove]

I 3d printed mine, just don't make the mistake I did of making the cut on the same spot on all of the parts. Makes it a little flimsy.

[Dp666me]

I 3d printed mine, just don't make the mistake I did of making the cut on the same spot on all of the parts. Makes it a little flimsy.

What about having the top and bottom from a cut acrylic and printing the middle?

[Dylan-Grove]

What about having the top and bottom from a cut acrylic and printing the middle?

That would work. Honestly you might want to redesign the STL files so that it's one solid peice. Having a bunch of layers doesn't look very good.

I'm trying to design my own metal enclosure that would end up being thinner by like 10mm. It's going to require modifying the Pi to remove the USB ports and using a different touch screen, but I think it will look much better than the one in the build guide. Only problem is learning FreeCAD which is as easy as I had hoped.

[TVDMsfhs1]

@kc3lai, @Dylan-git, @Dp666me, @raychmond - Sorry for the 4 way ping- I'm looking for a LMN3 PCB if anyone still has one. I'm in Calgary but I may be able to swing an Edmonton location if needed. timothyofthebuckets AT gmail dot com

[TVDMsfhs1]

@Dylan-Grove @Dp666me that's Great . Any chance either of you are close to groat road and 118th NW? I have a cousin living there for a mail box drop off OR I could come grab it next time I'm up there.
i'd be happy to pay for the board + shipping too if your willing to throw it in the mail to me. What ever is easiest.

Email me if any of that works for you!

[Dp666me]

I can ship the board to you next weekend. I can't see your email?

[TVDMsfhs1]

I can ship the board to you next weekend. I can't see your email?

Amazing - Thank you!
email: timothyofthebuckets AT gmail DOT com
If you email me, I will send you the address

[TVDMsfhs1]

@Dp666me just checking you got my email address from the last post. Excited to build this thing when it arrives. Thanks again

timothyofthebuckets AT gmail

[Dp666me]

I sent a few emails nothing back