SPECIFYING THE RIGHT PLASTIC ENCLOSURE FOR ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

If you’re specifying a plastic enclosure for your electronic instrumentation (rather than a metal one), then you need to be sure it’ll be tough enough. Sensitive instruments need the right protection if they’re to remain accurate.

Aesthetics are crucial too. Cutting-edge instrumentation deserves an enclosure that truly reflects the high value of the electronics inside. And that enclosure has to keep looking good – even though the device may be used intensively.

There are other important considerations:

• availability in standard sizes
• ease of assembly and installation of components
• ventilation options
• portability
• customisation to your precise requirements.

Here are five of our leading plastic enclosures for instrumentation…

EURO CASE – LARGE INSTRUMENT ENCLOSURES

Smart, robust and easy to assemble – EURO CASE has a great deal to commend it, and that’s before you get into the detail. These large enclosures clip together : no screws are needed. That makes it easy to snap in additional panels to add extra height or ventilation slots.

Injection-moulded reinforcing ribs add extra torsional rigidity – making these cases much stronger than their light weight may initially suggest. Specify EURO CASE with:

• non-slip feet for desktop use
• tilt feet to give users a more comfortable angle for viewing/operation
• a tilt/swivel carrying handle that doubles as a desk stand – offering a choice of angles for viewing/operation.

EURO CASE is a proven design that has been very popular for subrack applications but now tends to be specified for single-board electronics. Applications include measuring and control, peripheral devices, laboratory equipment and medical/wellness.

These off-white ABS (UL 94 HB) enclosures are available in two standard widths (42 TE and 63 TE) and in four heights: 1U, 2U, 3U and 6U. Additional side panels are available in three sizes: 0.5U, 1U and 2U. (1U = 44.45 mm.)

View EURO-CASE range >>

MEDITEC – LARGE ENCLOSURES FOR HEALTHCARE INSTRUMENTATION (AND MORE)

MEDITEC desktop and portable instrument enclosures can be specified with or without a sloping front. This model is similar to EURO CASE in its design and construction; again there are the strengthening ribs, the easy assembly technique, the ABS (UL 94 HB) and the snap-in ventilation panels.

But this time these ventilation panels are offered in a choice of colours – either in off-white to match the main case body, or in a healthcare-centric lagoon green as a contrast. MEDITEC is available in:

• four plan sizes to accommodate Eurocard-sized PCBs (double and extended)
• two standard heights – they are increased by adding side panels.  

Optional sloping front panels enable the easy viewing of displays and controls. There’s also an infill panel which should be ordered if you’ve specified a sloping front and are boosting the height with side panels.

Stacking elements (accessory) allow the secure ‘sandwiching’ of several devices. Accessories and system elements also include brackets for wall mounting and a tilt/swivel carry handle for easy portability and superior ergonomics.

View MEDITEC range >>

MOTEC – MODERN DESKTOP ENCLOSURES WITH WIDE FRONT PANELS

MOTEC is similar to MEDITEC in appearance, and it also offers clip together assembly, snap-in panels and the option of a sloping front. But it’s smaller, more compact. MOTEC also provides added protection against tampering. Once assembled, these ABS (UP 94 HB) housings can be reopened only with a flat screwdriver, for added security.

Fitting an aluminium front panel (accessory) is easy; one simply inserts it in the accommodating groove. Or you could specify the sloping front version which has an ABS panel recessed for a membrane keypad.

Inside the enclosure, there are the normal screw pillars for circuit boards and other components – and also guide grooves for sliding in PCBs and partitions. As with the other enclosures listed above, a tilt/swivel carry handle is also available (on two sizes – 205 x 140 x 75 mm and 235 x 165 x 85 mm).

View MOTEC range >>

SHELL-TYPE CASES – UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENT ENCLOSURES

Want a wide choice of enclosure variants? Our SHELL-TYPE cases offer 51 different models based on these three types:

• Type V – with an open front for a panel (accessory)
• Type O – with open front and rear for panels (accessories)
• Type G – with closed front and rear (also available with a recessed top).

These universal instrument enclosures are very versatile, offering a wealth of options including battery compartments (AA, 9 V), tilt foot bars for desktop use and a choice of wall-mounting brackets and suspension elements. Types V and O with the open front offer a generous recess to protect controls. Red PMMA front panels (accessory) are available for remote control applications.

Robust tongue-and-groove construction helps to keep these housings tough and resistant to water ingress (IP 65 optional). Inside there are PCB mounting pillars and – like MOTEC – there are also internal guides for circuit boards or partitions. A wide range of accessories includes a belt/pocket clip and ring eyelets.

View SHELL-TYPE range >>

EVOTEC – DESIGNER ENCLOSURES FOR TABLE-TOP ELECTRONICS

EVOTEC is the most modern of the enclosures listed here. Its soft contours and bevels deliver excellent ergonomics and elegant aesthetics – in both the flat-top and sloping-top versions.

All six of the flat-top plan sizes are supplied with a smooth top; four of these sizes are available in two heights. The desktop versions (which feature a 12° inclined operating area) are available in three sizes, all of which can be specified with a recessed top. The two largest sizes also offer a smooth top.

Unlike the other enclosures in this blog post, EVOTEC is moulded as standard from ASA+PC-FR (UL 94 V-0). ASA is more UV stable than ABS – and blending in polycarbonate adds extra strength. (PC is the plastic of choice for manufacturing riot shields and CDs.) Tamperproof Torx assembly screws come as standard – making EVOTEC an ideal choice for housing medical devices. IP 65 protection is optional.

View EVOTEC range >>

SPECIFY CUSTOMISED ENCLOSURES FOR INSTRUMENTATION

Specifying a standard enclosure and asking for it to be supplied fully customised is the smart way to avoid all the time and costs associated with developing a bespoke housing. You get the enclosure you want, the way you want it – very quickly and cost effectively, because all the tooling is already in place.

Long gone are the days when standard enclosures looked standard. Today there are so many different shapes and sizes to choose from – many of them designed for highly specialised applications – that they look bespoke before they’ve even left the shelf.

That means less customisation is needed. All it takes is a few apertures for controls and interfaces, some logos and legends, perhaps some lacquering or a decor foil, and suddenly that standard enclosure is unique to your application.

And best of all, today’s digital printing and laser marking technology helps to make customisation available in very small batches. That’s ideal for instrumentation which tends to be manufactured in lower volumes.

View OKW customising services >>

FURTHER READING

• How To Specify Customised Plastic Enclosures For Your Electronics. Read more… 
• Update Your Electronic Enclosures To Rejuvenate Your Products. Read more…
• Compare OKW’s Desktop/Tabletop Enclosures For Medical Devices. Read more…
• Compare Plastic Enclosures For Desktop Electronics. Read more…

GET EXPERT ADVICE, REQUEST SAMPLES

Contact us for specialist advice on specifying the perfect enclosure for your electronic instrumentation. Request a sample.