building wooden cases for several different module sizes

[erich]

The little modular system I'm sloooowly building will (hopefully) end up with a few cyndustries(modcan format A) modules, a few cwejman modules, a few motm modules (the patch panels are a godsend, when using all these different formats), and maybe even a few modcan format B modules. But not many of each. So the cases are a huge problem, I won't have enough modules of one size to make it worth buying a case from a company, because all the cases are going to have a bunch of empty space (with the exception of cyndustries stuff, which you can actually buy a small case THANK YOU CYNTHIA) So I'm thinking of getting someone who is a woodworker to help me with small cases. wondered if anyone had any advice I don't own a single case, but have a few modules waiting to be put into a case and used. I wouldn't think it would be to hard to build small cases, but I wanted to throw this out to the collective experience on the forum.

Thanks in advance

[EdisonRex]

Good topic.

You could build one case with different size rows, or you could build a series of small cases, perhaps stackable.

I think from a point of view of a cabinet builder, it's more effort to build a number of small cabinets, especially if you want them to stay together and look good. But also, because different module styles have different power requirements, there is a great argument for building different cases too. The +-15 vs +-12 problem is only part of it; the connectors, patch systems, etc are all considerations.

Before the Great Crash of 2007, we had pictures of tons of modular systems, many of which (a great many, if I recall) had home built cases. I think I remember some with multiple formats in them.

That said, I like the thought of a series of small, one row cabinets, each built for 6 modules of a given type. Power supplies for each cabinet should be minimal since 6 modules isn't very big.

[erich]

I don't really care if it looks good, I just want flexibility. I'm all for the smaller cases so I don't have gaping holes in a huge cabinet wasting space. As far as closing the backs, I of course will leave (or make) holes big enough to make connections (I may be packing a few modules at a time up and taking them somewhere) but how much do I need to worry about dust? Should I try to put holes for connection on the bottom of the cases? And do I need to think about heat at all? This is probably overly paranoid, but hey, thats me.

[EdisonRex]

Most modules don't create much in the way of heat. You can leave the back open if you want too. I suppose you can worry about dust but I have a vacuum cleaner with the usual attachments to ferret out dust in my studio and computers. Electrically, dust isn't usually an issue. Thermally, it can be, but again most modules don't make much heat anyway.

Cheap and cheerful, you can make a couple of plywood boxes.

[thermionicjunky]

Each of those formats will fit in a standard 19 inch rack.

I've been considering these:
http://www.handmadestudioracks.com/Products-Nice_Racks_Studio_Racks.html

[erich]

You are both always alot of help.

Thanks

[elektro80]

Plywood or MDF or whatever. It´s pretty easy to build a case/cabinet.
There is a quick tutorial on making a dotcom clone case here:
http://www.synthesizers.com/diycabinet.html
MOTM modules kinda goes OK into the dotcom cabinets but the width is different. Anyways, you can build this the way you need it to be.

[Funky40]