[HBR] Chassis Questions

[Bill Higgs]

In building my HBR, I faced the same issues: flimsy but expensive chassis.
I found at a hamfest for, I think $1.00, an obsolete digital widget of some
sort (printer server, maybe?) with the typical u-shaped cabinet. The top
cover was of heavy-gauge aluminum, and together with a front and rear panel
cut from scrap aluminum plate (or cut from another scrapped cabinet,
perhaps) and some extruded aluminum angle from Home Depot, I had a quite
sturdy and serviceable chassis and panel. Thick enough to be tapped,
actually.

I also added some triangular braces between the front panel and the
chassis. The most important stability issue regards the tuning cap and
associated inductor and circuitry; that they be rigid in regards to each
other. I've also had good success with thinner chassis and stiffening the
assembly with aluminum heat sink stock (also can shield the oscillator, by
the way).

73,

-Bill

NT4C