Getting the paint to stick to aluminum.

[j-pee]

how miraculous it could have been if jhferguson (OP) had reported back, say, on Feb 11, in 2013, what had happened that time around, using all the advice...

[GibsonGM]

He's been too busy mass-producing custom hand-painted enclosures...   

[Strategy]

I can't say I've tested this scientifically but I've observed on two recent paint jobs that I overestimated the speed of drying, or maybe a better way to put it is that if I followed the recommended dry times on the paint can instructions, this wasn't enough time really before doing a lot of work on the enclosure. On these projects, the paint was peel-ish (not as bad as the original poster's example, but not great adhesion) within the first few days, but after about 10 days I couldn't get the paint off unless applying a blade (I was intentionally experimenting with this to test durability). It's like the paint really took some time to 'cure' and 'settle' on. I now add multiple days to the stated drying time on the canister, especially giving a lot of time before adding on panel components like washers and nuts which will apply pressure to the painted surface.
Strategy

[anotherjim]

Don't use countersunk slot head screws/bolts. The ends of the slots act like cutters when you tighten them up.

[GibsonGM]

I'm a house painter; a little different as I mostly deal in latex, but I am old-school enough to know about oils and lacquers too.  Yes, paints will say "allow 24-48 hours to dry between coats" and things like that. The truth is, paints don't CURE for weeks.  Both acrylic and solvent based.

When I paint something, say your kitchen cabinets - you can touch them in a day.  But if you scrape them with a fingernail, we're back to square one. They will be vulnerable to this for a few WEEKS, depending on temperature.   Try painting a door outside when it's almost raining and 42F, LOL, you'll see some 'dry time'.

There is a lot of logic present when we see people talking about using old toaster ovens to bake their paint!  Just don't burn it