Retro VFO Enclosure

for the CalQRP Club “Retro VFO” PCB
Version 1.0  N2APB

 

Introduction

I was positively thrilled to be able to obtain one of the CalQRP Club’s latest monthly kits – the Retro VFO.  This design by Yin Shih (N9YS) is based of the original work of a Japanese ham (JF3HZB) who developed a novel and very attractive software method for displaying an “analog frequency dial” on a digital LCD screen, thus enabling hams all over the world to develop modern projects with a ‘retro’ look.  Yin and CalQRP collaborated to design a pcb-based kit with such a display that can work well in many of our homebrew projects.

But being a pcb-based project begs for having an enclosure to contain it, and the associated electronics with which we intend to integrate it!  While 3D-printed cases are being vogue, I decided to take another path to merge a convenient ‘partial’ form-factor I have on-hand, with a new capability that I brought online in my own ‘maker shop’.

First, the form-factor is roughly a 4-inch cube clamshell used in another project. But the front and rear panels of this clamshell were very dedicated to that special project (read: the controls and labels were hard-cut into the aluminum).  But what if I could easily replace those dedicated panels with easily replaceable and customizable ones in order to continue using the clamshell design?  This was “Ah Ha Moment #1”.

Next, the new technology brought online in my shop was a 40-watt CO2 laser etcher/cutter that I had been experimenting with over at the Knoxville Maker Club for several months.  Thinking of what I could do with this as applied to ham projects got me considering materials that I could use as a ‘front panel’.  I can’t cut aluminum but I can do plastic.  Then I found an acrylic material that was very similar to what’s used to make common name badges, whereby a machine grinds partway through the top black layer to expose a white layer beneath.  This was “Ah Ha Moment #2”

So in short, this kit is created by using a laser etcher to cut-and-etch two 4”x4” panels with labels and cutouts that fit to the Reto VFO PCB, and attach to an aluminum base plate, with a black powder coated clamshell fitting over the top!

What to do with all that space inside?  Man, the ideas for this can be literally endless … add buffer circuits to make a good standalone VFO (for modern or tube radios); add circuits and ovens to make a good signal generator; add the guts of a DC or superhet radio; add a battery inside; add a Softrock; turn it into an SDR; ... what else can you think of?

73, George N2APB
n2apb@midnightdesignsolutions.com
https://n2apb.com/retrovfocase.htm

   

  

 

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Site last updated: July 30, 2025