Kitronik Mono Amp Mini Guitar Amplifier Enclosure

2022-09-01 | By Kitronik Maker

License: See Original Project

Courtesy of Kitronik

Guide by Kitronik Maker

Prepare to rock with Emma's Guitar Amplifier-style enclosure for our Mono Amp Kit! ‎‎"It features an interesting experiment in making a speaker mesh from ‎polypropylene, which worked quite well if I do say so myself!"‎

Why not substitute the Kitronik name for your own, or your schools? (Or maybe a ‎nice compliment about your D&T teacher?)‎

We Used:‎

Kitronik Mono Amplifier Kit
‎3mm Black Perspex®
Black on White Laser Engraving Laminate
‎0.8mm Black Polypropylene
‎4 x 6mm Spacers
‎4 x 10mm M3 Pan Head Screws
‎4 x M3 Hex Nuts
A Laser Cutter
This DXF file

Customising: ‎

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If you want to change the name/logo to something more personal to you, just load ‎the DXF into your favourite CAD software and make your edits.‎‎ ‎

Step 1 - To the Laser Cutter:‎

laser_2

Start by loading up the DXF file we have provided onto your laser cutter software, ‎and cut it all out in the following order:‎‎

First engrave everything in purple on the Laser Laminate, then cut around the ‎outside.‎‎
Then cut out the speaker mesh from polypropylene, shaded on the diagram in ‎blue. Make sure to cut the inner holes before the outside.‎‎ ‎
Lastly, everything on the diagram that is shaded in black should be cut from 3mm ‎black Acrylic, which can be any kind. We used black Perspex®. Make sure that ‎you engrave the battery door first - you can customise this with your own text if ‎you’d like!‎‎ ‎

Step 2 - Building the Mono Amp:‎

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Now put together the mono amplifier kit, using the in-depth instructions here. As ‎per the image below, make sure to solder the speaker to the wire through the panel ‎with the circle in, which will become the supporting piece behind the speaker inside ‎the enclosure.‎‎

‎Step 3 - Attaching the Kit To The Panels:‎

attach_4

Attach the PCB to the back panel (with the four holes at the top, and the long ‎rectangular battery door at the bottom. Use the four spacers, with the four 10mm ‎M3 screws and four hex nuts to hold the PCB off of the acrylic. As per the below ‎image, make sure you thread the jack cable through the hole at the bottom of the ‎side panel - this can go on whichever side you want! (Here I also had already ‎attached the battery door - this step can happen whenever you fancy it.)‎‎

‎Step 4 - Gluing Together the Enclosure:‎

glue_5

Start gluing your sides and inner panel! We’ve used Tensol which is pretty serious ‎stuff, but you can use anything you want like superglue or hard plastics glue. ‎Beware though - superglue is likely to leave a frosting effect around where you ‎apply it, and tensol and hard plastic glue melt the plastic and may cause it to ‎bubble. You’ll want to test your acrylic with different adhesives on scrap pieces to ‎see which is best for you.‎‎ ‎

Step 5 - Adding the Front Panel:‎

add_6