Use these electronic enclosure design guidelines to select a box that can withstand the conditions of your application while also ensuring smooth operation of the device and any aesthetic qualities your brand may require. if you have a 1 part to insert in a panel, make the cutout 1.006 to 1.010). electrics These types of materials are used where there is a need for soft case enclosures. Plastic enclosures are waterproof and can be used in humid environments where they can be exposed to water, snow, or rain without causing damage to them. Nuts can accept screws (an arrangement that is much more robust than tapped sheet metal), standoffs can be inserted for mounting circuit boards and studs can be used for mounting connectors. An example is enclosures used in laptops to cover the motherboards and processors. The common material types used for fabricating electronic enclosures are metals and plastics, hence the names metal enclosures and plastic enclosures. There are any number of operations that are performed in the creation of a finished sheet metal product Radiofrequency (RF) shielding is the practice of blocking radiofrequency electromagnetic signals that cause radio frequency interference (RFI). Plastic is much easier to shape with proprietary molds and provides corrosion immunity; your manufacturer can easily customize it to create unique shapes. By using the minimum bend dimension value for your minimum closeness of cutout to a bend, you will ensure you run into no issues.I often get asked by customers how far a cutout should be from a bend. Digital Printing and Silkscreening are finishing techniques that will give your design a professional look and feel. A computer used for industrial purposes is exposed to the same impacts but to a greater extent. These factors include: Product requirements refer to the features, functions, and behavioral patterns that a product (in this case electronic product) should have. Required fields are marked *, You may use these HTML tags and attributes:

. pcb guidelines layout better routing horizontal vertical This is an advantage because the same program used to manufacture a plastic enclosure can be used to fabricate a metal enclosure. There is a lot of dirt and debris produced in industries and these enclosures save well in such instances because metals are stronger and can withstand hard conditions that are in many industries. The resulting continuously joined seams are useful for weatherproofing and reducing EMI leakage, as well for achieving a seamless look and feel. What is a box build? NEMA enclosures can be made from common enclosure designs such as the junction box, free-standing, trough, floor mount, wall mount, and free-standing with leg kit design. The system should not be affected by emissions from other systems or equipment such as electromagnetic fields created by other circuits. Some are made from plastics such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). In many buildings, there are enclosures made with metals and are used in equipment such as fuse boxes, meter boxes, etc. Some of the considerations when choosing an electronic enclosure are: Electronic devices have become popular in our daily lives and are found in almost all industries. This value is driven by the material type, thickness and tooling used to bend or bend radius required. Examples of portable enclosures include car remote controllers, laptop covers, electronic mice, tv remote controllers, etc. Keep in mind that if you choose to work with stocked materials, we can build your enclosure, parts or components in 2-3 days. Thats why, over the past decade, weve created resource material to share our knowledge of sheet metal and enclosures, including this sheet metal design guide. These methods of closing aluminum enclosures can be combined for an effective enclosure if need be. An insulator is a material that does not conduct electrical currents like plastic and rubber. They are commonly made from glass and plastic materials since these are commonly used for colorless products. Generally, cutouts should stay a minimum distance away from the bend radii, because a cutout too close to a bend radius runs the risk of the cutout stretching or flaring. In heavy manufacturing industries computer enclosures are supposed to be designed to protect the computer from flying debris, unwanted temperature ranges, and protection from moving machinery and workers. Aluminum, galvanized steel, and stainless steel are often used because of their durable and strong properties. Protocase delivers a whole new experience to engineers and design professionals by delivering custom electronic enclosures with unmatched speed, simplicity, and service. Computers are often enclosed in unibody enclosures made from aluminum for protection. It is a type of disturbance originating from external forces which tend to interfere with the electrical and electronic circuits and their components. As the designer, you control this by specifying a bend radius which is the radius of the inside surface of the bend (the outside radius is just the inside radius plus the metal thickness). Enclosures can also be classified according to their application. When Polycarbonate is combined with Acrylonitrile Styrene Acryl Ester, this enables the enclosure to have flame resistance, withstand high temperatures, ensure resistance to weather and chemicals, survive in impact-ridden environments, and make the product usable for outdoor environments. The initial costs associated with buying sheet metal fabrication machinery and tools are high but as the production volume increases a rapid decrease in cost per part is expected. They protect the screens from unwanted sunlight, impacts, liquid splashes, etc.

This device will not last long as it can be easily damaged by the near environment and will be hazardous to the users. A longer-lasting product or custom-branded product may make higher up-front costs worth it. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is used to manufacture plastic enclosures and is very effective, especially when used in environments where resistivity to chemicals is required and shielding from impacts. When selecting the material, always take into consideration the end user's application. Other common sources of electromagnetic forces include toaster ovens, automobile ignition systems, thunderstorms, electric blankets, the sun, computer monitors, etc. Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining is a type of machine that uses subtractive machining processes by reading CAD files to direct a cutting tool on the workpiece to cut the material according to the CAD program. This information is usually contained in the special document known as the product requirement document (PRD) and is read by people so that they understand how the product will function. The design of the computer enclosure should consider: Computer enclosures that are found in cars must be designed in such a way that they prevent damage from vibrations and shocks experienced during car movement and engine rotations associated. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. HDPE is known for its cold resistance, liquid and corrosion resistance, longevity, extreme heat resistance, and low production costs. Besides their flexibility, plastic materials have light weights and can be used to design portable devices.

This research should be done and will help in selecting an appropriate material type. Otherwise, cutouts may not be big enough, and your parts will not fit. Ideally, you should only design with radii that can actually be built; you can check out our bend radius capabilities chart here and match our equipment and tooling constraints to your design. The National Electronics Manufacturers Association (NEMA) assists electronic manufacturers and professionals by providing ratings in the configurations that will determine if a certain material in an enclosure is suitable for an application. The system does not cause interference to other systems or equipment surrounding it. Accidents from workers and machinery may happen at any time but with these boxes, further damage like an explosion and other electrical faults can be prevented from happening. Unlike threaded fasteners, spot welding leaves little trace of the joint. Often referred to as PEM brand self-clinching fasteners (PEM stands for PennEngineering & Manufacturing Corp.), self-clinching fasteners are extremely useful and have solved a lot of component-mounting problems through the years. While digital printing has become the default choice for many designers, each process has its own strengths, which may make one or the other better suited for your specific application. Enclosures, Material Bend Radii and Minimum Bend Size Chart, what to do when cutouts and components need to be placed close to a bend, Black Powdercoat Options for RAL 9005 Jet Black Substitute, Problem Solving with Protocase CNC Machining: How We Repaired a LVD ToolCell Bending Machine, How to Decipher Self-Clinching Fastener Codes, 6 Ways We Improved Protocase Designer With Release 4.6, Electronic Enclosure Design 101 Sheet Metal Design Guide, What to Do When Cutouts and Other Components Need to Be Placed Close to a Bend, Weve Updated the How to Design Custom Enclosures for Motherboards Resource. At Protocase, your enclosure is custom built for you, meaning you can specify just about any cutout you wish. Self-clinching fastenersare threaded nuts, studs, standoffs and other styles that are pressed into sheet metal to provide solid fastening points. ECMs that specialize in design assistance help you create an enclosure that allows proper transmission while also providing protection for your devices.

Want to go further than Enclosure Design 101? My hope is this will act as a how-to guide to help you get started, as well as save time and unnecessary redesigns in the long run. We typically plate Protocase custom-fabricated copper bus bars.

Underwater, the water-tightness of the enclosure becomes important as well. Protocase stocks all of the metals generally used to make enclosures, including aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel (cold-rolled steel or galvanneal) and copper. The sizes vary for example in substations (Electrical and power distributions) most enclosures used are very big and there are also very small metallic enclosures such as those used in consumer light switch fixtures. For more information on our materials and services, visit:www.protocase.com. In our everyday lives, common devices which are susceptible to interference include cell phones, FM radios, televisions, computers, etc. The diagram below shows the ways in which emissions are spread in electrical and electronic devices. To specify powdercoat, simply choose a powdercoat with appropriate color and texture for your needs, and attach a note to the design you are submitting. Common examples of plastic enclosures are found in calculators, remote controls, desktop computers, laptop computers, wireless internet controllers, coolers, game controllers, and televisions. (Contact us if you need help with this). Cabinet enclosures are mainly used to protect equipment associated with video and audio productions such as cameras and television. Thoughtful planning and testing must go into the design of any industrial electronic enclosure. Other different dimensions can be used depending on the specific design of the enclosure. If you must place a cutout close to a bend, I recommend contacting us, as we can work together to meet your design requirements. These types of enclosures usually have a hinged solid lid door. This section lists the benefits of using them as enclosures, but the benefits are not limited to these two only. These are made of plastic to eliminate the chances of short-circuiting between components. The simple rule of thumb is to make sure the cutout is the distance equal to the minimum bend radius away from the bend. The design of Aluminum electronic enclosures requires an understanding of: Aluminum enclosures are made from aluminum, although other materials can be used for enclosures. See Protocases standard tolerances here. Both digital printing and silkscreening can be applied to flat panels, parts, and assembled enclosures. We make sure that your enviroment is the clean comfortable background to the rest of your life.We also deal in sales of cleaning equipment, machines, tools, chemical and materials all over the regions in Ghana. Most laptops are made from thin and lightweight metals. The specifications and power ratings should be taken into consideration as well as noting the components that release heat such as regulators, resistors, LED, power circuits, etc. If you use Protocase Designer, the templates will do this automatically for you. We use devices like cell phones, radios, microwaves, remote control, laptops, etc on a daily basis and the information provided in this article will give either the consumer or the manufacturer of these devices some insight on how best to interact with these electronic enclosures. They are naturally occurring, and they are certified biodegradable. Spot welding is compatible with all of our stocked cold-rolled steel, stainless steel, and galvanneal. The common materials used for NEMA enclosures are polycarbonate and steel and aluminum alloys such as the 316 Stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, 5022 Aluminum powder coating with carbon steel. Customizable Diecast They are used to protect and contain electronic components for outdoor and indoor applications. Read my blog post about what to do when cutouts and components need to be placed close to a bend. However, we often see creative cutout designs, including company logos, brands, or product names, and creativity around ventilation cutouts, thereby combining form and function. Metal boxes are commonly used as fuse boxes and outdoor electrical meters. Think of the bill of materials as your blueprint for your electronics manufacturing supplier.

If you find this useful, you should also check out our other material on the Protocase resources page here. Aluminum and Stainless steel are the metals that are commonly used for electronic enclosures. They can take many shapes such as box, cylindrical, rectangular cylindrical depending on the use and the ability of the manufacturer to punch the metals. The word EMI stands for electromagnetic interference. The assembly, when fully finished, is a completed product that operates as it was meant to, with a practical enclosure that meets the needs of the application. They block radio frequencies from passing through them. They can determine if an enclosure type is suitable for indoor or outdoor applications. They can be made from different material types at different sizes depending on the use, purpose, environment, design, cost, etc. Boxes with touch screens and clear windows are examples of display enclosures that are commonly used nowadays. Below are some examples of self-clinching fasteners. EMI enclosures can be built from several metals, such as solid metals and perforated metals. The diagram below shows an electronic enclosure protecting the components inside. PCB layout can provide modeling that will allow optimal space considerations while also checking for interference issues.

In CMT, the wire is heated enough to melt the tip and transfer occurs by physical contact. Many properties can be attained but combining materials and such enclosures is usually expensive and durable. Dimensions are an important part of your final product. Sanitation Support Services has been structured to be more proactive and client sensitive. Sanitation Support Services is a multifaceted company that seeks to provide solutions in cleaning, Support and Supply of cleaning equipment for our valued clients across Africa and the outside countries. As the CNC Engineering and Design Services Technical Services Manager, Christa manages a team of engineers and technologists in the CNC Machining Division.

Sheet metal enclosures and parts are bent with a press brake or a folder. Consider whether youd like a branded theme for your product and if its reasonable for your order volume. This article will take an in-depth look at electronic enclosures. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium, and sometimes nickel and is resistant to corrosion. Sheet metal fabrication is the process of converting flat metal sheets of aluminum or steel into metallic structures by folding, assembling, or folding the sheets. The article will bring more detail on topics such as: This chapter will discuss what electronic enclosures are and how they are made. The process on CNC machines is repeatable if the program files are still accessible to the machine. the corner) of an enclosure. Hint: Check out our cutout library, which can be found on our website here and in Protocase Designer. Other materials that can be used include acrylic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene ethylene butadiene styrene (SEBS), and polyamide (PA). When we apply chromate to the metal substrate, it creates a corrosion-resistant and durable surface (similar to stainless steel) that exhibits stable electrical conductivity. (Note that, although gauges are given for aluminum, they are typically not used for aluminum; the actual thickness of the aluminum is more internationally recognized). The fewer possible points of entry for water, the better. Your email address will not be published. Anodizing is an electro-chemical process used to prepare the surface of non-ferrous metals, most commonly aluminum, to make the surface harder and less likely to corrode. However, these devices are used in many conditions, some are harsh, some are favorable. Metals are effective to use as enclosures in high heat-producing circuits. However, we also plate client-supplied parts if needed. These are structures made from aluminum to protect electronic components from damage such as interference. Sometimes the best electronic enclosures are brought about by combining the different properties in materials to bring the best enclosure. Consider several factors when choosing the proper material for your electronics build box: Custom molds are available, but the design must be fully finished before molds can be created. This method is mainly used when manufacturing simple enclosures like car remote controls, tv remote controllers, gamepads, kiosk displays, calculators, etc. In these processes, semi-finished metal products are reshaped and joined IQS Directory To fabricate enclosures most manufacturers use are plastic and metal, which are discussed below. Specifically, the extra material must be removed in order to prevent bends from interfering with each other; this is called a corner relief (corner trim in CAD). Choose carefully -- selecting an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) design partner with proven PCB and enclosure experience will improve your odds of success.

They can withstand harsh and rigorous operating conditions. The wall thickness of the shell is very important because if it is too thin, the enclosure may be prone to damage from harsh conditions, and if the wall is too thick, the enclosure may trap hot air, which may be hazardous to the entire device. In some cases, manufacturers spray these metals on top of another material such as plastic. Most electronic enclosures are box-shaped but there are cases where irregular shapes are used and modifications should be done for an effective design. Once the electronic components have been modeled, the enclosure shell can be drawn or drafted by considering the parts arrangements. Refer to our Material Bend Radii and Minimum Bend Size Chart for this value. As a first step in designing an enclosure, you need to choose the type of metal you will use and its thickness. Available in a variety of colors, gloss levels, and textures, powdercoat is widely recognized as the industry standard for painting metal, as it provides a cost-effective high quality, highly durable finish. If this information can be obtained from the PRD, the designer is expected to know what material to use for the enclosure, the associated costs, suitable manufacturing process, etc. Customers may want devices that are compact and easy to carry, or bulky and hard to miss. They are cost-effective and fire-resistant. It is great to see that a Cape Breton Company has emerged to be a 5052 Aluminum is ideal for sheet metal enclosures and parts, since it can be bent to a tight radius without cracking, as well as easily welded and machined.

Tumbled Finish Smoothens and imparts non-directional finish via tumbling in abrasive medium (similar aesthetic to frosted glass). Aluminum has a lower stiffness than steel and in certain circumstances; a thicker gauge may be required to have the same strength as steel and meet your design needs. CMSs Transparency in Coverage (TIC) rule: Highmark has published the Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Matric Limited. This will still be classified as an EMI enclosure. Grained Finish Part is de-burred, and then given a specific linear grain direction via brushing. Depending on the specific NEMA rating, devices in a NEMA enclosure are protected in EMI shielding is a technique of creating a barrier that prevents leakage of strong electromagnetic fields that can interfere with sensitive devices and signals. In industries, these boxes protect and keep sensitive and fragile electronic components from accidental impacts, debris and dirt and keep them from contamination. It is also heat resistant, water-resistant, impact-resistant, flame resistant, and highly insulative. No Finish Part is de-burred with no additional finishing, and may exhibit small scratches or swirl marks. Most of them are made of plastic and metallic materials. Plastic enclosures are more appropriate for wireless devices, but some wireless devices need a metal enclosure for other reasons, such as corrosion resistance. Many outdoor electronic enclosures and desktop enclosures are made from metal sheet fabrication. One of the major challenges for a designer who is not completely familiar with sheet metal is what gauge to use, as they all seem the same on paper unless you have the benefit of experience. They have similar designs and production methods except for other differences like density, corrosion, cost, etc. These structures are known as electronic enclosures. Parts like the Central Processing Unit (CPU) are sensitive and in some cases, the enclosures are made with engravings, footpads, and removable stands so that the computers can be shifted if need be. Carbon Neutral Bioplastic is a new type of plastic that is biodegradable. Plastic enclosures refer to a container that is used to protect or house electronic components. Thanks so much, Randy - appreciate your kind words. In some cases, customization must be done to allow for contours, curves, and complex shapes to be part of the design. Computer enclosures are designed based on the environment in which the computer is going to operate, for example a home computer is exposed to dust, exposure to liquids, and impacts from the accident. This process can be done effectively using a software program. Before choosing an appropriate manufacturing process for the enclosure it is important to do a 3D CAD model of the enclosure to give room for modifications if there is misalignment. The most used metal enclosures are made from aluminum and stainless steel, especially in cases where portability and weight are not important considerations. This blog will highlight five key design concepts: metal selection, metal bending, self-clinching fasteners, welding, and finishing. Below are some of the common materials that are used in fabricating plastic electronic enclosures. The gauges shown are based on American CRS sheet steel manufacturers gauge thickness. As the name intel, wall-mounted enclosures are mounted on the wall while protecting electronic equipment from damage, contaminations, heat, and other hazardous environments. Metal is the material of choice for many products that need to be durable and cost-effective, but work with your ECM to ensure that the shape you've chosen is easily manufacturable. A plastic enclosure can be used in applications where the enclosure is not supposed to be a conductor. They are called metal enclosures and are used to protect components from accident impacts, prevent them from contaminations like dust, dirt, and other hazardous conditions. These are usually molded in various shapes according to the product requirements. Work with your design or product development team to ensure that the size and dimensions of your device meet its design-for-manufacturability needs. Researchers consider stainless steel as a green material and it is recyclable. We have wide a network of offices in all major locations to help you with the services we offer, With the help of our worldwide partners we provide you with all sanitation and cleaning needs. In other enclosures, there are internal gaskets used as well continuous flanges for complete closure of the box and this protects the device from dirt, dust, and moisture. document.write(new Date().getFullYear());. They give product specifications that the product must conform with and must be taken into consideration when designing a proper enclosure. In electronics, EMI is also known as Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). ABS has poor resistivity to ultraviolet (UV) light and is effective for indoor enclosures. They are easily customizable into any shape and size because of the flexibility of plastics materials. Such devices include car remotes, game controllers, cell phones, chargers, etc. Our clients, our priority. Thus, you will ensure there will be no issues. For more intensive and heavy-duty applications high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is usually used because it is a strong thermoplastic material. In cases where insulation is required, plastic enclosures are usually the best to use. Aluminum enclosures and stainless steel enclosures are all referred to as the types of metal boxes. Before production of the actual enclosure, it is essential to compare the CAD and BOM to avoid communication issues. This information will help create a model for electronic enclosures that compliments and fulfills the enclosure requirements. A microwave door is an example of an EMI enclosure where the door blocks the microwaves from leaving the device. To come up with an ideal enclosure the designer needs to have in-depth knowledge of how the components inside the enclosure will be arranged. However, in MIG welding, the filler metal transfers via sputtering at very high temperature. Study the aesthetic practices of industry competitors before making decisions that affect the appearance and usability of the product. Choosing the right enclosure is critical for the success of your electronic device, whether that's a wireless industrial control, a piece of medical equipment, or part of an energy distribution system. The electronic circuit to be protected must be studied and understood such that one knows the amount of heat dissipated by the electronic parts inside.