POLL-DISCUSSION - How Familiar Are You in Modifying An Electrical Enclosure?

Back in my early days, we had to do this type of modification all of the time.

I would pick up a metal box and then drill and punch the appropriate holes, insert the fasteners and wire things up.

This is not something I do often, the experts at work would tell me “stay in your lane, bro”, but sometimes you’re at a remote site and fixes have to be done.

I've specified and built lots of electronics enclosures - all aspects. I've never actually studied the electrical "code" so I don't work on high voltage electrical boxes, but I had a summer job as an electrician's helper way back, and I've picked up more of it along the way. 

Cut outs of various sizes: using drills, stepper bits for larger holes and coping/jewellery saws for even larger openings, eg LCDs, or square openings.  It’s easier to actually buy enclosures with end panels, design the layout required with cutouts and get a PCB manufacturer to create them out of 1.6mm aluminium.  The hardest thing actually seems to be sourcing a suitable enclosure in the first place: searching using site filters is frustrating.

To be fair, I have/had no job that required any interacting with enclosures so I’ve been limited to home projects.

I've modified lots of boxes by simple machining of holes.

I've been involved inn designing custom enclosures ( a long time ago).

I've never used the services of one of the box manufacturers offering extensive customisation.

MK

I moved away from an aviation installation career in 1996. Bare metal rack to customized installed racks, complete with equipment was the groups role. 

I do as much as I can while building alpha version panels and/or test panels.  Production or mod shop work , the techs prefer to help me , and I like it that way - they have more practice and do a better job than I do.