Portsdown - front panel mounting the 7" screen

g8gtz · Post by **g8gtz** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 9:35 am

Looking for ideas on how to mount the 7" screen and Pi4 into an aluminum front panel - I don't want to expose the edge of the touch screen so will need to have a bezel around it.

What have other people done? And I don't have a 3D printer so please don't suggest that unless you are willing to print one!

Thanks

Noel - G8GTZ

m1cdq · Post by **m1cdq** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 10:38 am

you will only need to cut out the main hole in the middle and drill 4 holes for mounting.
Noel PM me your address I can print you one for free
the panel is sandwiched between screen and aluminium panel

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m1cdq · Post by **m1cdq** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:00 am

its the front panel from this design
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1585924

g8lce · Post by **g8lce** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:28 am

I bought a case for mine similar to this one from the Pihut.
https://thepihut.com/collections/raspbe ... -touch-pro
The thing about these cases is that they are the same size as the screen. Therefore a hole the same size as the screen would be the way to mount it in an aluminum front panel. Hard to cut though. I then thought about the way old cars had windscreens fitted with a rubber gasket around the glass. You could use a similar way to set the sceen into the panel if you can get a suitable 'gasket' which may be available via electronic shops (RS, Farnell etc.).

If you mean you don't want to see the black surround of the screen then mount the sreen behind a cut out hole with the screen glued or held against the front panel.

As you probably know I used an old AMX touchscreen case to mount a 7inch touchscreen in as well as the plastic one from the PiHut. The AMX one is heavy and the RPi 4 is in the base and the wires come out the back. It seems a better solution to the PiHut one which is very light and the wires come out the lefthand side. The PiHut one would be good if it was mounted to the top of a case holding the rest of the equipment and the RPi linked to the touchscreen from inside the case so the connections did not show.

Good Luck

Martin G8LCE

g0mjw · Post by **g0mjw** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:50 pm

The first one used a modified acrylic case. That's the one in that old power supply several of us got at McMichael.

For the second one I 3D printed a Bezel, in two halves I think, that allowed it to be mounted behind the panel but not quite touching it. Have you got a 3D printer? I have some bits left over from last time but they are orange.

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Mike

G4FRE · Post by **G4FRE** » Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:52 pm

I went for the quick and easy solution. I cut a hole in an ali budd chassis just big enough to see what needs to display and held each end in place with some plastic U channel from B and q with two M3 nuts and bolts. I avoided metal strip as i knew it would crack the expensive display

This has worked fine, including field trip on my Portsdown 2020, PiHPSDR and Langstone.

Having the display edges touching the chassis has not affected touch capabilities Langstone mount picture attached

Dave
G4fre

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radiogareth · Post by **radiogareth** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 2:03 pm

Prompted by Noels request I revisited my own design originally for a sloping desktop case that I used for my Portsdown/Langstone combo. It didn't take much tweaking to make a GP screen surround ideal for any front panel up to 3.2mm thick or indeed as a stand-alone 'screen protector' when you have a unboxed system sitting on your desk.
The bright green feet still fit with 12mm screws in place of the 6 for the feet originally. The touch-screen is recessed about 4mm yet 'fully accessible'.
.STL files available with or without the text labels. Message me if you want them - not for commercial use. Needs 4x2mmx12 screws and nuts, plus some 3mm hardware (4 off) of your choice to fix the bezel to your case.
Print time 4 hours or so at 0.2 layer height, plus an hour for each foot.
Pictures explain better....
Gareth G4XAT