PROTECT MEASUREMENT ELECTRONICS WITH ROBUST PLASTIC ENCLOSURES

PRECISION ACCURACY IS ALL-IMPORTANT

There can be no compromise in test and measurement: precision accuracy is everything. And that accuracy depends on sensitive, finely calibrated electronics. So they must be protected at all costs – cocooned to prevent external factors from affecting performance.

Specifying a dependable enclosure  is crucial to the performance of your test and measurement device. The enclosure must be sufficiently sturdy to safeguard your electronics and ensure data validity. This durability will also prolong the operation longevity of your device – especially in harsh outdoor or industrial environments.

But sheer resilience is not enough: there are other equally important considerations. The enclosure must also look smart and modern – reflecting the innovative high-value technology that it houses. Get this right and end-users will be more likely to pick your device, rather than a rival product.

Ergonomics are crucial too. A well-designed housing will ensure your test and measurement equipment is comfortable to view and operate. This is vital for handheld devices such as multimeters or data loggers in particular. Aesthetics and ergonomics play a critical dual role: device users are attracted by the look…and then hooked by the feel.

SPECIFYING THE RIGHT PLASTIC ENCLOSURE

There are certain key criteria that every plastic enclosure should offer designers of test and measurement electronics:

• ergonomic design for safe, fatigue-free measurement and precise operation
• easy reading of displays
• application-oriented accessories – providing practical solutions to a broad spectrum of additional requirements
• dependable protection – even in harsh environments and emergency situations.

Here are some vital considerations:

Ingress protection (IP rating) – the level of protection needed depends on the environment in which the measuring device will be used: the harsher the environmental conditions, the greater the protection needed. Furthermore, temperature and pressure fluctuations can create condensation in hermetically sealed electrical and electronic enclosures, necessitating the use of pressure compensation elements. These ensure constant ventilation and adjustment of the pressure inside the enclosure.

Material – plastic enclosures offer a good balance of strength, weight and cost. They also provide flexibility with regard to shape and colour. But different plastics have varying levels of impact strength, UV, chemical and flammability resistance, depending on the composition of the material. So it’s important to specify the plastic. Look for strong, UV-stable plastic blends such as ASA+PC-FR, and a good flammability resistance such as UL 94 V-0. Read our guide to plastics to find out more.

Size – it’s obvious that the enclosure should have sufficient capacity but here’s an important caveat: specify the enclosure first, before you finalise PCB layout. That may sound counterintuitive but specifying an enclosure after the layout has been decided could increase the size of your finished product by up to 30%. Discover the other benefits of an ‘enclosure first’ approach in this handy guide.

TYPES OF ENCLOSURES FOR TEST AND MEASUREMENT

Measurement comprises a huge and ever-growing range of applications, driven in no small part by the rapid rise of Industry 4.0/IIoT and its insatiable appetite for data. Requirements are diverse: electronics designers need enclosures for every eventuality, from handheld and desktop devices to small wall- or pole-mounted units for smart automated measurement. And these devices must all be able to integrate into the end-user’s wider infrastructure.

This sector has always been important for OKW. So even before Industry 4.0, our range of standard plastic enclosures was already large. And in recent years it has grown significantly with a host of new models aimed at test and measurement (IIoT in particular). When it comes to enclosure design and the frequency of product launches, the pace of innovation has accelerated dramatically.

All these enclosures must strike a fine balance. They must have technical features geared towards solving a specific challenge – and yet they must remain sufficiently versatile to meet the demands of a wide range of applications.

Here are some examples…

NEW SOLID-BOX ENCLOSURES FOR INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS

Regular readers of this blog can’t have failed to notice the arrival of SOLID-BOX – OKW’s tough new enclosures for industrial settings or protected outdoor locations.  With IK 08 impact resistance and IP 66/IP 67 ingress protection, SOLID-BOX is very strong indeed.

These smart, highly polished PC+ABS (UL 94 V-0) housings are designed for desktop and wall-mounted electronics. Two deeply recessed areas in the base protect connectors and interfaces, while flush-fitting trims on the lid conceal all the fixings. The tamperproof Torx assembly screws are captive to prevent them from dropping out during installation, and there two types of hinges (accessories) to hold the lid in place while it’s open.

View SOLID-BOX range >>

PROTEC INSTRUMENT ENCLOSURES – CHOOSE FROM THREE VERSIONS

PROTEC (IP 65 optional) is perfect for table-top calibration devices. These desktop and wall-mount enclosures are characterised by their square operating area which is inclined by 20° for ergonomic viewing and operation.

This area is recessed for the integration of a membrane keypad, touchscreen or other controls. These high-quality ASA+PC (UL 94 V-0) enclosures are available in three variants:

• Version I has a deep recessed interface area at the rear to protect connectors, interfaces, switches and cables.
• Version II – as version I, but the recessed interface area has a snap-on, flush-fit cover.
• Version III – again as version I, but with a screw-on deep cover that provides extra space.

View PROTEC range >>

SMALL, FAST-FIT ENCLOSURES FOR SMART SENSORS/INSTRUMENTS

MINI-DATA-BOX

Smart, simple MINI-DATA-BOX (IP 65 optional) can be specified with or without flanges that enable it to be cable-tied to poles/rails or screwed to flat surfaces either indoors or outdoors. This makes it ideal for large networks of IIoT sensors.

There are two square (40 x 40 mm and 50 x 50 mm) and two rectangular 40 x 60 mm and 50 x 70 mm plan sizes in heights of 15 mm and 20 mm. The housings are moulded from flame-retardant, UV-stable ASA+PC-FR (UL 94 V-0) in traffic white (RAL 9016) and anthracite grey (RAL 7016). The flanged version is also available in a new two-colour combination: traffic grey A (RAL 7042) base with a traffic white top.

View MIN-DATA-BOX range >>

EASYTEC

Need fast-fit sensor enclosures in larger plan sizes? Try EASYTEC (IP 65 optional) – it also features flanges for rapid installation with cable ties or screws. However, unlike MINI-DATA-BOX, There is no flangeless version of EASYTEC.

View EASYTEC range >>

ROBUST HANDHELD ENCLOSURES FOR TEST AND MEASUREMENT

DATEC-COMPACT

DATEC-COMPACT (IP 65) is excellent for multimeter-style devices because it’s very durable and yet also comfortable to hold. On versions with a battery compartment, SD cards and USB connectors can be inserted within the sealed compartment.

These ASA+PC-FR enclosures are assembled with Torx screws to deter tampering, making them a good choice for test and measurement electronics used in healthcare. Docking stations and wall holders are available as accessories for all three sizes of DATEC-COMPACT – making storage, charging and data transfer very easy. Accessories also include contacts for charging.

View DATEC-COMPACT range >>

SOFT-CASE

Alternatively, SOFT-CASE is recommended for wide-format applications. These ergonomically contoured enclosures have a generous interface area for displays. They’re available in either ABS or PMMA as standard, offering the option of an infrared-permeable plastic for wireless remote control applications.

View SOFT-CASE range >>

CARRYTEC

For larger devices, there is capacious CARRYTEC. These cases are moulded in ABS or UV-stable ASA+PC-FR for outdoor use. They’re available in sizes S, M, M (Slim) and L from 222 x 205 x 80 mm to 348 x 303 x 117 mm. Each has an integrated handle for easy portability. Still need more space? Side bags (accessories) allow users to carry probes and other measuring equipment. These probes can remain connected to the main unit at all times for rapid deployment and stowage.

View CARRYTEC range >>

SPECIFY YOUR ENCLOSURES FULLY CUSTOMISED

All OKW enclosures can be customised. Every standard model has been created with specific applications in mind, so very few modifications are needed because. This makes customisation quick and cost-effective.

Virtually every customer specifies some form of customisation for their chosen enclosure. It usually involves:

• CNC machining of apertures for interfaces, controls, LEDs or a display
• printing of legends, logos or photo-quality graphics.

Other customisation services include:

• lacquering – including new transparent soft-touch lacquer that creates a huge choice of colours
• laser marking – which is particularly useful for very small machine-readable QR codes, barcodes, DataMatrix codes, and consecutive numbering
• photo-quality decor foils with cutouts for displays
• special materials – such as V-0 plastic, or bespoke colours straight from the mould
• EMC shielding – in-house aluminium plating of plastic parts to stop RFI/EMI
• installation/assembly of accessories.

View our full range of customisation services >>

FURTHER READING

• How To Specify Customised Plastic Enclosures For Your Electronics. Read more…
• Rejuvenate Your Products With New Enclosures. Read more…

GET EXPERT TECHNICAL ADVICE

Phone or email OKW  for specialist advice on how to specify the best standard or customised enclosures for test and measurement electronics. Request a sample  of your preferred enclosure.