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Rave in a briefcase

Thrifted briefcase, dumpster dived rails, electronics out of an old skiff, panel lasercutted out of a broken frame

tilloTillo
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After playing around some time with Eurorack I decided I want a portable case that I just can grab and take somewhere to jam.

Eurorack case in a briefcase I found in a thrift shop, using rails I tech-dumpster-dived and scrap wood, and a scraped powersupply / MIDI interface.


Since space is limited, I installed different multifunction module

niftypanel.dxf

dxf of the frontpanel holding the electronics from the nifty case

AutoCAD DXF - 214.96 kB - 05/24/2022 at 21:14

Download

  • 1 × Briefcase I found one which was 84HP in the inside
  • 4 × 84HP Eurorack rails I found some in the dumpster where I used to work. They came with threaded strips
  • 1 × Cre8audio Niftycase Was my first case, comes with powersupply, MIDI In and audio out
  • 1 × Scrap wood

  • Overhaul

    Tillo • 01/05/2023 at 08:34 • 0 comments

    After some months of use and adding some more power hungry modules I decided to overhaul the whole thing.

    • I made some PSU a while back, using a QUI DC/DC converter.
    • There's those handy USB-PD module from China which are capable of deliver 20V and a reasonable current if connected to proper USB-PD PSU.
    • If I mount the rails a bit different, I'm able to squeeze in a 1U row as well.

    Unfortunately one of those PSU had some issues. so I made new ones, this time directly using ±12V DC output modules instead the ±15V DC and 7812/7912 I had before. Just more caps. My rack is less LOOK MOM NO COMPUTER and LOOK MOM A BEOWULF CLUSTER OR ARMS anyway.

    During the build time, I found there's no USB-PD eurorack power module available easily. That's probably my next project, since the ability to power your rack from a beefy powerbank when ambient DAW less jamming in the woods seems pretty handy to me, and today most laptops a USB-PD powered anyway.

  • Stupid me found this today

    Tillo • 05/27/2022 at 09:48 • 0 comments

    For another next build, or if you pick up a briefcase which don't fit your rails so good. I found those today for quite a reasonable price. 

    https://www.etsy.com/ch/listing/266275709/hulle-bugelsets?click_key=3dd7af737fb83120682b77c1d57100abee8d2932%3A266275709&click_sum=c7ce6fec&ref=sim_strv-3&variation0=2190176709

    I maybe gonna get some for a reboot of my  modular modular case.

  • File uploaded

    Tillo • 05/24/2022 at 21:25 • 0 comments

    I uploaded the dxf for the front panel holding the elecrronics from the nitfty case.  Missing the holes of my headphone stereo output, since I drilled it afterwards. It can maybe used to make a 1U panel as well, it almost look like 1U but its not.

    Lost the standoff which hold both the rails unfortunately but those schould be done fitting your briefcase and pieces of wood anyway.

View all 3 project logs

  • 1
    Briefcase

    I saw somebody selling a briefcase eurorack case on some auction plattform. Realizing I could do myself, I went trifting for a cheap briefcase. 

    Some tipps here

    • Take some rails with you. If possible mount some 3U or 1U modules or blinds. 
    • Keep in mind to have some depth for the modules *. As well as some space for knobs.

    * I for example would recommend the Super Disting EX in a rather small build. Because it gives you a lot of possibilities in only 8HP.  But it has a depth of 50 mm.

  • 2
    Rails

    I went for 2x3U.

    I screwed a piece of roofing battens into the case and the bottom rail directly onto them. 

    The middle rails are just screwed together and are laid onto some standoff I laser cutted out of some scrap wood.

    The top rail I screwed onto some pieces of roofing battens as well.

    The rails are held together by the modules in the case.

  • 3
    Powersupply / MIDI / Audio Out

    Next thing was the PSU.

    Since I had a spare NiftyCase laying around, and they have a PSU / MIDI In and Audio Out already in the case, I decided to just canibalize this.

    The NiftyCase electronics consists of two PCBs, connected with a ribon cable. I laser cutted a panel out of some MDF used from the back of a broken image frame (from back in the days when the swedish furniture store had frames with back that wasn't cardboard). 

    Later I realized, that the Audio out is only mono. So I drilled some holes to mount a 1U Intelijel Headephones out.

    The PSU / MIDI / Audio unit is just screwed onto the pieces of roofing battens the top rail is screwed onto, and rests on some laser cutted plywood at the far side of the brief case.

View all 3 instructions

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Discussions

bguengerich wrote 06/22/2022 at 16:27 • point

Fun concept and great execution! I want one now!

  Are you sure? yes | no

bfsmith07 wrote 06/22/2022 at 15:58 • point

DUDE, this is seriously awesome.  Good job man, I love seeing old discarded gear turned into something amazing!!  

  Are you sure? yes | no

Arya wrote 05/04/2022 at 11:39 • point

niceee! absolutely do upload some pictures, at the very least!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Tillo wrote 05/24/2022 at 21:16 • point

done  ;)

  Are you sure? yes | no

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