Popular Modular Enclosure Features

With the growing number of control equipment that is critical to business on the factory floor and in the plant, numerous supervisors require modular, flexible housing for their highly sensitive electronic devices. To offer more flexibility and reduce the footprint of users, modular design enclosures consist of a fundamental structure that consists of an internal steel frame, which is supported by an exterior “skin” that can be made of a variety of materials.

In the beginning, with a little review of the enclosure surrounding and the electronics that will be housed inside modular enclosures, users can enjoy various popular material and design options:

1. Table of Contents

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   Environmental Protection

Just like traditional unibody designs, modular enclosures can be certified to rugged industry standards (NEMA 250, UL 50/50E), giving them the same environmental-protective ratings (3R, 12, 4, 4X, etc.).

While a myriad of physical stressors are present in a factory or plant setting, modular enclosures are able to handle all of them with a wide range of building materials. Before you decide on a selection of materials, it is important to consider whether the environment of the enclosure is likely to be impacted by such stresses as impact, tampering mold, water leaks, corrosion, or another possibility of harm. It’s also important to consider designing the enclosure with any future modifications with future changes in the back of your mind.

Metallic, or not?

Naturally, the specifications for enclosures (durability and life expectancy, etc.) depend on the type of construction material. When planning the installation, think about how much strength and impact resistance is required to provide the required protection from the environment for the electronics inside:

• The enclosures made of metal are able to provide the strength, density, and weight to withstand more weight and are the most durable choice. Carbon steel painted with paint, as well as stainless steel of Type 304 and 316, provide excellent protection from unwanted access as well as environmental corrosion. Contrary to non-metallic enclosures they’re more secure and resistant to tampering. If damaged, the panel can be easily repaired thanks to the modular structure principle.
• Metal-free enclosures are the tiniest but generally less robust option which makes them suitable for pole- or wall-mounted installations. Fiberglass-reinforced polyester enclosures are lightweight and resist corrosion and impact, while polycarbonate enclosures are also impacted- and corrosion-resistant and tend to be more UV-resistant than fiberglass versions for overall longer product life.

Review of construction materials

Carbon Steel: Carbon steel painted with paint is the most common element of the design of indoor enclosures, because of its high quality and price. The paint gives a semi-durable coating. However, generally stainless is the superior option for harsh environments.

Steel stainless: Two common types that are often used to construct enclosures include:

• Type 304 the content of chrome in steel increases the durability of enclosures by preventing the oxidation process and corrosive materials like acids. Because water is a mild acid, Type 304 is also employed for enclosures that are going to be subjected to washdown processes.
• Type316 The molybdenum-rich content of steel offers additional protection against corrosion generally, regardless of the source, like humidity or indoor sources like dangerous substances.

Polycarbonate Strong and light Polycarbonate (thermoplastic polymer) enclosures provide good durability as well as UV protection, which makes an ideal option in outdoor applications. Many people like them for their portability and can be resized to fit smaller electronic devices.

Fiberglass-reinforced polyester: These enclosures give strong protection to the contents within while also holding up well against corrosion, although lengthy UV exposure will alter its finish (but not its integrity).

Make sure you properly evaluate the environmental parameters, including:

• Local weather conditions (Temperature/RH/Solar)
• The most destructive substances are gas, particles, and the vapor
• Every enclosure assembly contains parts that have a specific level of resistance (i.e., windows, doors, gaskets, windows). Be aware of this so that you can be aware of weak points where corrosion may get in.

1. Climate Control

One of the benefits offered by modular designs One of the main advantages is the capacity to be segregated.

One of the major advantages that modular enclosures have is their capacity to be separated to store different pieces of IT equipment, such as servers and other smart gadgets. If you need indoor controls for the temperature of your electronics, a lot of modular enclosures include thermal isolation equipment.

A function of compartmentalization, thermal isolation allows users to store different types of electronic equipment, each with its own cooling requirements, all in the same enclosure. This means that there is no requirement to purchase multiple cabinets and climate control systems. For instance, one could install a small cooling system that can thermally isolate the inside or maintain it below ambient temperatures rather than a more extensive system, thus reducing the power usage.

• Metal enclosures: In the case of a metallic enclosure, it is possible to dissipate heat or be absorbed, due to the thermal properties of carbon or stainless steel. Stainless steel is appropriate for use in areas that require keeping inside cool.
• Polycarbonate and fiberglass enclosures, in contrast, offer a lower rate of thermal transfer, sealing in heat, like insulation. This could make them more suitable for keeping electronics below their operating temperatures in cold regions.

1. EMI/RF Shielding

The interference of radio frequencies (RFI)–always present when working with certain electronic and communications equipment, is set to grow due to the massive number of wireless devices being used in the industry. If not addressed the electrical signals could interfere with the operation and performance. Also, electromagnetic interference is the result of welding equipment and many electronic devices that have contactors that switch, which can cause small sparks or small arcs, which release electromagnetic energy.

In certain enclosures, the users must be aware of electromagnetic interference from outside and/or keep the devices inside from interfering with nearby devices. Different enclosures can provide different levels of protection from electromagnetic interference and RF interference from outside:

• Aluminum enclosures provide some degree of protection from the radio as well as EMI signals. They additionally “quarantine” electronics within so that external signals are not able to reach them, and vice versa.
• non-metallic enclosures (of the kinds mentioned above) can’t shield against EMI on their own. However, a metallic coating can be added to the interior or the outside of fiberglass or polycarbonate enclosures to provide efficient EMI and RF isolation, based on whether you want to block out the “noise” or keep it from getting into the enclosure.

1. Visual Transparency

A view window could save users a lot of time, otherwise, they would have to open the enclosure to examine the electronics within. Windows can also offer the ability to view indicators or dashboards that show the most critical process parameters.

There are a variety of window materials offered for various uses. Glass is not recommended for modern enclosure windows because of the higher price as well as its weight and absence of insulation. Modern and more robust alternatives include:

• Acrylic (or Plexiglas) is a less expensive material with an extremely soft surface that is resistant to scratching and impact. Since it is a flexible material acrylic is able to crack without breaking and provides excellent clarity and also filtering ultraviolet light. Acrylic also provides excellent weather resistance.
• The material is polycarbonate (or Lexan) Lexan is a more costly material however is more resistant to chipping and tampering than acrylic. Polycarbonate windows have more temperature stability and are equipped with seals that are watertight. In terms of aesthetics, however, it’s more susceptible to scratches and aging to yellow. But, there are coatings available to improve its resistance to scratch as well as weathering and light transmission.

1. Ease of Modification

Modular designs enable users to swap out parts to get new ones or modify panels using safe ergonomic methods, increasing the safety of workers while saving time and money.

When you select an enclosure, ensure to consider future changes. While steel with a thick gauge provides excellent protection, its brittleness makes it time-consuming and hard to cut and alter. Unibody enclosures are more substantial and more difficult to alter than modular enclosures that are less heavy and provide more options for panel and door positions.

When you have a modular enclosure, you don’t have to cut or weld material initially. They are designed to be able to be modified in accordance with your requirements, they come with turnkey solutions that can be used interchangeably with standard panels, which eliminates the requirement for having metal cutting tools available to modify the design.

Because of their design, one of the major advantages of modular enclosures is the simplicity of setting up. While modular enclosures come in a standard size, the users can choose to add different access and entry points at the rear, front, or on the side depending on the requirements of their use. Other mounting panels, as well as different door sizes, are also options. Modular enclosures can also be scalable within the same space. They are particularly beneficial for floors in plants with limited space. Modular designs allow users to put all their compact equipment within the same cabinet, which saves space as well as makes maintenance easier.

If necessary, reconfiguration is much more straightforward to carry out in the field using an enclosure for equipment that is modular as opposed to a single-piece design. Made up of components that can be easily changed, modular designs make it simple to swap components out for new ones, without having to cut or weld metal, which can save time and cost of labor. This flexibility is also beneficial when the enclosure is designed to be a part of a machine that is already in use. Users can connect multiple frames to make flexible configurations, such as top-to-bottom side-to-side, back-to-back, and side-to-back.

Summary

Whatever the setting or use, Modular enclosures provide solid protection for electronic equipment in industrial settings. Both electrical and physical threats can be effectively remediated by choosing the appropriate building materials and designs. In addition, their small footprint and ease of configuration suggest they have flexible and future-proof solutions.