Amalgamod - ABS Flight Case

meatbeatz · Post by **meatbeatz** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:30 am

Hi,

Here's a prototype of a flight case I have in the works. There's a few minor details to be worked out but otherwise these are go. They'll be available to Aussie wigglers within a few weeks and OS a few weeks after that. Prices are yet to be confirmed as I'm still working out distribution etc.

Features:

* Meets carry-on size AND weight restrictions of almost all domestic/international airlines.
* Available in 6U/7U/12U @ 102HP.
* Ultra lightweight - highest HP/weight ratio of any case on the market.
* Thermoformed/chemically welded ABS construction.
* Deep enough for most modules (110mm excl. busboard).
* Lid can be closed while patched (68mm).
* Stands in vertical position.
* Available with powered or passive busboard.
* Fixing point for carry strap.
* Optional ABS folding stand (fits in lid of 7U).
* 1U utility row is compatible with Pulp Logic tiles.

The final version will include extra fixing holes to allow for doubling the capacity of the case. Simply purchase an extra rack, busboard and a few screws - install a rack in the lid and drop the base rack down to allow for knob height. Obviously you would sacrifice allowable module depth, ability to be closed while patched and possibly carry-on weight limit (depending on airline) by doing this.

It's great to finally have this assembled. Cramming this amount of HP into under 7kgs (fully loaded) was a challenge to say the least! Apologies for poor quality phone pics. Your feedback, comments and questions are more than welcome.

Thanks,
Ian.

richard · Post by **richard** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:39 am

this looks great - very practical

spbaker · Post by **spbaker** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:40 am

what a beautiful thing!
could that extra 1ru be modded to fit a 1ru efx rack or audio interface?

so stoked to know it can be closed up patched!

ballpark cost? with/without power?

meatbeatz · Post by **meatbeatz** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:08 am

Thanks guys!

spbaker wrote:what a beautiful thing!
could that extra 1ru be modded to fit a 1ru efx rack or audio interface?

so stoked to know it can be closed up patched!

ballpark cost? with/without power?

I could make up a couple of brackets so that a 19"/1RU could be installed. As long as the unit itself fits depth-wise I could see it working. You might need to make up some right angle cables though. I have a few 1U utilities in mind for this but it may take a few months before they materialize. Pricing is still TBC as I'm in the process of working out distribution etc. I think it's safe to say that they'll be comparable to other carry cases of this size.

I should add that these can be custom ordered in any size you like and can be made to suit Buchla and Serge boats too.

randomseed · Post by **randomseed** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:10 am

Having the 1U accept rack gear would be so worth it.

meatbeatz wrote:Thanks guys!

spbaker wrote:what a beautiful thing!
could that extra 1ru be modded to fit a 1ru efx rack or audio interface?

so stoked to know it can be closed up patched!

ballpark cost? with/without power?
I could make up a couple of brackets so that a 19"/1RU could be installed. As long as the unit itself fits depth-wise I could see it working. You might need to make up some right angle cables though. I have a few 1U utilities in mind for this but it may take a few months before they materialize. Pricing is still TBC as I'm in the process of working out distribution etc. I think it's safe to say that they'll be comparable to other carry cases of this size.

I should add that these can be custom ordered in any size you like and can be made to suit Buchla and Serge boats too.

vurma · Post by **vurma** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:21 am

Oh dear.. All these awesome looking cases popping up everywhere.

ollepetersson · Post by **ollepetersson** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:50 pm

Looks awesome!

Is a custom 6U/176HP case possible to make?

Cheers,
/Olle

an_onion · Post by **an_onion** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:31 pm

Looks really nice! Are you going to sell these in the US? What kind of power are you planning to install in them?

Matos · Post by **Matos** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:53 pm

Looks great. Here's hoping the us distribution pans out.

reignbear · Post by **reignbear** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:57 pm

these look amazing, almost exactly what i want out of a case! perfect for light travel. I'll be very curious about the pricing/availability in the US.

meatbeatz · Post by **meatbeatz** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:52 pm

ollepetersson wrote:Is a custom 6U/176HP case possible to make?

No problemo. I can turn these over relatively quickly.

sempervirent · Post by **sempervirent** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 9:50 am

Looks good Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚Â I have been expecting someone to make something like the Lunchbox, with the 1U row, but larger. Using those screws that tap into the side of the rails, instead of a folding bracket like the Monorocket cases, makes assembly easier too.

grape tony · Post by **grape tony** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:27 pm

look cool!

these gonna be un powered?

curious as to what prices are looking like!

way cool man!

hpsounds · Post by **hpsounds** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:32 pm

Looks very nice and well engineered !

D/A A/D · Post by **D/A A/D** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:56 pm

LOVE the spot for the 1u tiles, as I tried to make a lunchbox rig - and failed.

synthrotek · Post by **synthrotek** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 3:27 pm

Sick, more 1U!!!!
Our case JUST RELEASED also have room for 1U

meatbeatz · Post by **meatbeatz** » Tue Jun 25, 2013 11:13 pm

grape tony wrote:look cool!

these gonna be un powered?

curious as to what prices are looking like!

way cool man!

Thanks!

They'll be available with and without power. There will be the option of a Make Noise busboard or the upcoming Elby ED series of passive and powered boards. The ED specs will be announced in a couple of weeks.

I'm doing my best to make these priced as competitively as possible and currently working out US, UK and EU distribution. Based on my sums the price will be comparable to other cases of this format however at a fraction of the weight

meatbeatz · Post by **meatbeatz** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:35 am

synthrotek wrote:Sick, more 1U!!!!
Our case JUST RELEASED also have room for 1U

Hmm.. Thanks.

JohnLRice · Post by **JohnLRice** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:52 am

Nice job!

I've been plotting to make something similar for the last few months, possibly even to sell but . . . I'm a slow procrastinating perfectionist so it may be a while . . . .

meatbeatz · Post by **meatbeatz** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 2:20 am

JohnLRice wrote:Nice job! I've been plotting to make something similar for the last few months, possibly even to sell but . . . I'm a slow procrastinating perfectionist so it may be a while . . . .

Thanks John. haha same here! As a fellow procrastinating perfectionist I fully understand

This took 6 months of experimenting. I'm embarrassed to admit the design went through 30 odd revisions to get right. I explored every route including aluminium, carbon fibre, HPDE, polycarbonate, coreflute, you name it, to bring the weight down. The manufacturing of the shell is borderline impossible due to forming the 2mm ABS skin without distortion. If I had used 3mm it would have add 500 grams to the weight which would've been cutting it too fine to weigh under 7kg loaded. As the majority of airlines outside the US have a 7kg weight limit, I couldn't really spruik this as being a "carry-on" flight case unless it could safely weigh in at under 7kg fully loaded (remembering patch cables weigh a bit too). This is the first case of this size that actually meets international "carry-on" size AND weight restrictions. If you are lucky enough to have a 10kg or more carry-on allowance then you can always drop another rack or your laptop in the lid.

If I could have met these specs by dropping a rack in an off the shelf case, I would have saved myself lots of these:

and these

meatbeatz · Post by **meatbeatz** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 2:35 am

Ok, I've just come back from the post office with some weight results:

7U/102HP - without aluminium frame = 1.75kg!!
7U/102HP - as seen in the pic above w/alum frame & tapped strips = 3.1kg
6U/102HP - w/alum frame & tapped strips = 2.6kg!

7U/102HP - loaded with modules as seen in the pic above (no psu) = 5.3kg

This leaves plenty of headroom for heavier modules, busboard, cables, ipad etc.

The main purpose of this design was to make a briefcase with the highest HP/weight ratio possible without compromising strength and of course... sexiness. I was a tad worried as I watched the scale count upwards but they actually turned out lighter than expected (phew!) making these around half the weight of similar sized modular briefcases.

JohnLRice · Post by **JohnLRice** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 3:10 am

I'll share a couple design thoughts with you that you, or anyone else reading this, might consider doing. (I'm unemployed and should hog it to myself but, I love the Muff's community!

)

I'm also planning on doing thick side rails as you have but, I'm pondering on two features to make the product more attractive to a wider audience (to sell MOAR!

):

1) having the side rail mount mounting holes spaced equally from the ends so the whole thing can be easily flipped around 180 degrees. Some folks may want the 'short' row at the top and some at the bottom.

2) have cross rail mounting points for as many formats as possible; euro plus maybe frac, 5U, 4U, Mattson Mini etc. That way, you only have to manufacture ONE side rail (taper the holes on both sides) so you can have cheaper manufacturing by ordering a higher quantity of just one item and at the same time you open up the possibility of the case being used by more people by just putting in different rails. (even simple wood ones if needed)

Best of luck!

6.4 Billion · Post by **6.4 Billion** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 3:37 am

Nice design. You can get close to that weight using a zero case, but definitely won't save any money.

Hainbach · Post by **Hainbach** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 4:33 am

Awesome!

meatbeatz · Post by **meatbeatz** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 6:46 am

JohnLRice wrote:(I'm unemployed and should hog it to myself but, I love the Muff's community! )

Unemployed? Another thing we have in common! Aww..

JohnLRice wrote:1) having the side rail mount mounting holes spaced equally from the ends so the whole thing can be easily flipped around 180 degrees. Some folks may want the 'short' row at the top and some at the bottom.

2) have cross rail mounting points for as many formats as possible; euro plus maybe frac, 5U, 4U, Mattson Mini etc. That way, you only have to manufacture ONE side rail (taper the holes on both sides) so you can have cheaper manufacturing by ordering a higher quantity of just one item and at the same time you open up the possibility of the case being used by more people by just putting in different rails. (even simple wood ones if needed)

With all my spare time (

) I've considered this and found a tipping point between quantity price break and multi purpose design. If you look at the rail side plate, I have an extra set of flush nuts installed so that I can cut a 7U down to a 6U, therefore doubling my quantities. I did try to incorporate Frac, 4U and 5U mounting points but there is a slight difference between the center holes of Euro and Frac and the extra cost involved in installing countersunk holes for 4U and 5U (on the rare occasion that people would request 4U/5U) outweighed the savings. Also most 4U Buchla/Serge folk already have their electronics and panel mounted in a boat and have no need for rails/side plates. Down the track I'll do up a batch of 4U/5U plates but til then I'll make them to order.

I'm a keen subscriber to your Youtube vids. Love your work. Keep 'em comin!

MUFF WIGGLER

MUFF WIGGLER

Amalgamod - ABS Flight Case

Amalgamod - ABS Flight Case