Laser Cut Clip Together Mono Amplifier Case

Why not have a go at making this nifty clip together acrylic case. This is a super easy project, showcasing design, materials, and a small amount of soldering. The design files for the project are available, so you can quickly cut one for yourself.

The website Thingiverse is used as it's where this simple clip together box design was first found. The design works well with acrylic and extremely well with manufactured woods like laser friendly MDF and Ply. Grab the files here.

A step-by-step guide on how to assemble this project follows. The original project was cut from Acid Green Perspex, this tutorial uses Gold Metallic Perspex. It is photographed on Orange Perspex Sheet. We used one of our amplifier kits for the build, you can find a pre-built mono amplifier kit here.

Supplies

MonoAmpClip.dxf
Download

Step 1: Prepare the File for Laser Cutting

The file provided is a dxf, this is Drawing Interchange Format, or Drawing Exchange Format. Which is a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) data file format developed by a design company called Autodesk. With the specific reason to enable data interoperability between AutoCAD and other programs. It has become somewhat of a standard for CAD files used for laser cutting, and most laser cutter software packages will read it.

The file is colour coded so it is possible to cut the internal parts first, so they won't fall into your laser cutter. The settings shown are for a 40W laser cutter.

Step 2: Cut Out the Design

Each laser cutter will vary, but we trust you will know how to operate your laser cutter. The next stage is to cut the design.

There is a stage here where the protective coating is removed. The laser cutter does the work for you. It would be possible to cut using a fret saw, but that would require a lot more work.

Step 3: Prepare the Mono Amplifier Kit

This could be done while the laser cutter is cutting the box. For speed, the pre-built Mono Amplifier kit was used. In this kit, the majority of the soldering is done, and only the speaker, battery box, and headphone jack need soldering onto the board. This was made easier by adding a light coating of solder to the ends of the wires once they were stripped ready to solder in, otherwise threading the stripped wire through the strain relief holes was a little tricky. The assembled Mono Amplifier Kit looks like this.

Step 4: The Laser Cut Parts

Once the laser cutter has finished cutting, you should have all of the parts shown in the above photograph.

Step 5: Beggining Assembly

The first step in assembly is to thread through the battery cage and headphone jack through the L-shaped part of the case. This is the middle part of the case, it holds the back of the speaker and also the PCB for the mono amp.

Step 6: Adding the Nuts

With the wires threaded through screws, the nuts can then be added to the corners of the PCB to prepare it for mounting on the L shaped part.

Step 7: Attaching PCB to L Part

With the screws in the corner of the PCB it can then be attached to the L shaped part with four more M3 nuts.

Step 8: Box Assembly

The next parts of assembly involve laying parts out on the desk and also working out for yourself how it goes together. The images that follow will show you, but it will be easiest if you have worked it out for yourself first.

Step 9: Bringing L Part and Assembly Together

Next, the L shaped part is added to the assembly. Also, ensure the speaker is lined up with the holes on the front of the box and slotted into the circular part of the L shaped part.

Step 10: Adding 2nd Side

Slot and hold the second side into place.

Step 11: Adding the Door

Now add the door, which will also act as a battery compartment. Adding the hinged part for the battery cage can be a little fiddly, the next step pulls everything together.

Step 12: Adding First End Part

Next, add one of the end parts, these are both the same, so either will do. Then, clip the larger hole over the solid lug.

Step 13: Clipping End Part in Place

With a soft click, the end part will hold the assembly together, hopefully, all of the side parts have also kept themselves together.

Step 14: The Headphone Jack

Now that the hinged door can be used, flip it up and slide the headphone jack through one of the holes on the side. This is so you can easily connect the Mono Amp to your phone.