Moving a homebrew radio from an open bench into a proper enclosure is an important step toward a finished and usable transceiver. This blog post documents a temporary 3D-printed enclosure installation for the LARCSet, shared with the intention of helping and encouraging other builders in the community.
The enclosure design itself was created by Peter Marks. He generously designed and shared the STL files with the amateur radio community through the LARCSet files area on groups.io. The design reflects careful consideration of board layout, front-panel ergonomics, and practical 3D-printing constraints.
The photographs of the completed 3D-printed enclosure, however, were provided by Michael VE3WMB, who has installed his own LARCSet into this case. Michael has kindly given permission for his images to be used in this post for the benefit of other builders.
3D-Printed Enclosure Material and Test Fit
For this installation, the enclosure was 3D printed in PLA+, primarily as a test print. PLA+ offers easy printing, good surface finish, and reliable dimensional accuracy, making it suitable for initial evaluation and indoor shack use.For longer-term use, a future reprint in PETG is planned. PETG provides improved resistance to heat and UV exposure, making it a better material choice for radio enclosures that may experience warmer operating conditions.
Minor Mechanical Adjustments
This particular build uses a 10-turn tuning potentiometer, which required a small mechanical modification. The shaft diameter of the 10-turn potentiometer was larger than that of the kit-supplied control, so the front-panel hole for the tuning control had to be drilled out slightly.
Because a 10-turn potentiometer provides sufficiently fine tuning on its own, the additional hole intended for a separate fine-tuning control is not required. This observation has led to the idea of making minor front-panel tweaks before committing to a final print.
Updated Public Design on Tinkercad
Access to the enclosure design on Tinkercad was initially limited, but Peter Marks has since confirmed that the design is now public and continues to be refined.
The latest revision (V4) of the enclosure is available here:
LARCSet Box V4 – Tinkercad
https://www.tinkercad.com/things/iYOoIp4zqUI-larcset-box-v4/
Builders are encouraged to download and review this version, as it reflects ongoing improvements based on user feedback.
Credits and Community Sharing
- Enclosure design: Peter Marks
- 3D-printed enclosure build and photographs: Michael VE3WMB (used with permission)
This clear separation between design and implementation highlights the collaborative nature of the homebrew radio community. By sharing both design files and real-world build examples, contributors make it easier for others to successfully package their own LARCSet transceivers using 3D printing.
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