The Ultimate Guide to Machined Enclosures

If you are working on a machined enclosures project or you are looking for answers about what materials can be used and what process can be employed, then this guide is for you. This FAQs guide will answer your every question regarding machined enclosure and how can we help you achieve big.

CNC machining vs sheet metal fabrication, how to choose for my enclosures?

Choosing the best manufacturing process for your enclosures depends upon their functionalities and applications. CNC machining and sheet metal fabrications are two distinctive methods to produce machined enclosures. Let’s find out the difference between these two processes and materials we can use in these processes for machined enclosure production.

CNC machining electronics enclosures

It is the most versatile process of making electronics enclosures. CNC machining centers can cut the plastic or metal and transform it into a part that is an exact copy of the design in a CAD file. The advantage of using CNC machining is repeatability, once you created an enclosure you can screate highly complex enclosures. Manufacturers use the CNC machining technique for smooth curves, asymmetrical structures, and complex features. It is costly as compared to other techniques like sheet metal fabrication but it is highly effective in producing enclosures.

Material can be used in the CNC machining process:

• Stainless steel
• Aluminum
• Acetal
• Acrylic

Sheet metal electronics enclosures

This method is employed to create enclosures for multiple devices used in various applications. Sheet metal enclosure and casings are durable, easy to make, and affordable. They are used in both indoor and outdoor applications and other industrial devices. Desktop computers casings are also created with the help of sheet metal fabrications. With just three bends you can turn the sheet of metal into an open-ended box with the sheet metal fabrications and then punching and stamping a few holes turns it into a functional box and you are halfway through your enclosure. This makes it an easy process for the production of the enclosures. Aluminum 5052 is valuable material because of its extreme bending capability without cracking.

Material can be used in the sheet metal fabrication process:

• Aluminum
• Stainless Steel
• Steel

What are the advantages of machined enclosures?

Machined enclosures are used in different kinds of industries and now it has become a multi-dollar industry because of their multi-purpose uses. Many manufacturers use these enclosures to house sensitive components of the devices. So if you going forward with your enclosure project we have gathered some advantages of the machined enclosures.

• An electrical enclosure is a box that protects the electronic or electrical equipment inside and prevents electrical shock.
• Enclosures are rated to provide protection against hazardous and non-hazardous conditions along with other environmental factors.
• Stainless steel enclosures have corrosion-resistant properties and can protect sensitive equipment from rain, hail, and wind.
• Customized enclosures can add value to your product such as adding custom-color powder coat finish will help your product differentiate in the market and also help you in marketing your product.
• It protects the electrical equipment in diverse buildings, utility, and industrial applications.
• Machined enclosures protect the equipment from electromagnetic waves and radio frequency interference.
• They are used in different industries for the protection of circuit breakers, switches, control panels, contractors, distribution boards, panel boards.

What are the applications of machined enclosures?

Machined enclosures are used in multiple applications and provide impeccable protection and durability to the devices and protect components from electromagnetic radiations. Below are some of the applications of the machined enclosures.

Medical Devices

Medical devices require a high set of standards and devices reliability. They need high-end sophisticated housings for their equipment that are fulfilled by machined enclosures. These enclosures are usually made up of aluminum material because of its durability and hardness. Enclosures are used in housings of ventilators, heart monitors, imaging equipment, and other delicate instruments.

Consumer Electronics

Machined enclosures are also used in consumer electronics in the form of cell phone housings, laptop enclosures, tablet bodies, and they are also seen in small handled devices, remote controls, power banks cases, and many other devices. Machined enclosures are easily designed and also have a pleasing aesthetic appearance that makes them a good choice to be used in consumer electronics while maintaining reliability and fail-proof housing.

Industrial Equipment Housing

The degree of protection required by the industrial equipment is very high. These equipment should work properly when exposed to unconventional environmental conditions such as high heat, corrosive environments, and high wear conditions that’s where the machined enclosures become necessary to protect these equipment. Some of the equipment that uses machined enclosures in industrial applications are control boxes, telecommunication cases, control panels, solar battery storage, and many more.

What are materials can be used in machined enclosures?

Enclosures for electrical and electronic devices are of different sizes and they perform their specific functions. The device’s materials are selected by engineers and designers according to the functions of the device. To make a perfect choice it is necessary to know the attributes, strengths, and weaknesses of each material. Let’s have the look at the range of materials that can be used in the manufacturing of the machined enclosures.

Stainless Steel

It is the type of steel that is alloyed with manganese and chromium to increase its durability. This combination makes stainless steel extremely resistant to many factors such as staining, scratching, pitting, and corrosion which might be the major problems with some other metallic materials. This composition also gives it an aesthetically pleasing look with an attractive metallic sheen. There are multiple grades of stainless steel that can be used in the manufacturing of the enclosures but 304 stainless steel is the most common.

Carbon Steel

It is also the type of steel that is used in more general applications than stainless steel. Carbon Steel doesn’t contain chromium and manganese content as stainless steel which means it is less resistant to corrosion and also less expensive as compared to stainless steel. Carbon steel is less prone to denting and can be coated to improve corrosion resistance. Thus, making it an extremely durable material with good resistance to being used in a wide variety of applications.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a hard, lightweight, and shiny metal that is extracted from bauxite ores. It is an extremely regarded material to be used in the enclosure due to its toughness and natural corrosion resistance with an impeccably aesthetic appearance. Aluminum shares many of its properties with stainless steel but it is easier to cut and has less weight which makes it a better option. It also has natural RF shielding properties that block electromagnetic radiation to penetrates into the material.

Polycarbonate

It is an extremely durable plastic material that can be turned into many shapes. Polycarbonate is known in the enclosure industry due to its resistance capability in a range of environmental conditions. It is durable enough to be used in outdoor applications and aesthetically pleasing enough to be used in any workplace setting. Polycarbonate is the most used enclosure material in the electronics and electrical industry.

What machining techniques can be used for enclosures?

Enclosures are manufactured by different machining techniques depending upon the application of the enclosure. Below mentioned are some of the techniques used in enclosure machining.

CNC Machining

It is a subtractive manufacturing technique that uses a digital file that directs the machine to shape the workpiece. It is a highly repeatable method and can be used to create identical copies simultaneously. This process can be used in both plastic and metal enclosures. CNC machining enables greater geometrical complexity and provides good part tolerance. The enclosure created through CNC machining with a single metal workpiece will not display any seams, making the enclosure clean and aesthetically appealing.

Injection Molding

This method is normally used to produce simple enclosures from the rigid and non-rigid plastics used in controllers, electronic keys, kiosks displays, and many other products. This process rapidly fills the metal molds with molten plastic to produce large volume production of the identical enclosures. Injection molding is a very repetitive process.

Tooling time and expense increase the lead time and cost of the injection-molded enclosures but enclosures become cost-effective when they are produced in large volumes through injection molding. Insert molding a technique similar to injection molding, makes electronics to be embedded into the enclosure for extra protection.

3D Printing

It is an additive manufacturing process that uses CAD files to produce one layer of the material at a time. 3D printing provides greater geometrical freedom and enables more features such as curved internal channels which is extremely difficult to create from other techniques.

This process allows the electronics to be fully enclosed with their casings and eliminates the need for extra assembly. With the help of 3D printing, both plastic and metal enclosures can be produced. This process is ideal for prototyping and small volume production but not suggested for large volume productions.

Are machined enclosures suitable for mass production?

Yes, the machined enclosures are suitable for mass production and there are different machining techniques for the mass-production. One of the common techniques used for the mass production of plastic machined enclosures is the injection molding process because it offers incomparable production speed and a variety of mechanical and visual possibilities.

Does DEK offer custom machined enclosures?

Yes, DEK is proud to deliver turnkey custom machined enclosure solutions in different materials. We don’t only provide custom machined enclosures but the exact cutouts your applications call for and we provide them quickly.

We believe in providing high-quality enclosures that house and protect your sensitive equipment. To achieve this exact standard and accuracy with the performance we use our technological machinery that quickly turns the material block into a reliable enclosure that meets your specifications.

Does DEK offer custom electronic enclosures?

Yes. Benefit from DEK’s extensive customizing service for electronic enclosures. We supply fully furnished custom-produced electronic enclosures will all the necessary requirements already added. Our extremely experienced engineers can manufacture high-quality enclosures from the material of your choice with unique fabricated parts.

We also have the capability to produce special internal components and assemblies from the drawings and specifications you provide. In addition to this, we also offer finishing options of different kinds and digital printing.

Does DEK offer custom telecom enclosures?

Yes, DEK offers many types of enclosures used in the telecommunication industry. We provide many types of custom telecom enclosures that meet your specific and unique needs for your sensitive devices. We are constantly developing our technology to bring you refined and high-quality telecommunication weatherproof enclosures.

We are dedicated to improving our manufacturing process to increase the performance of the enclosures and deliver the best product that is expected from us. If you are looking for cabinetry and enclosures for your telecommunication devices fill out our form or call us to get started with your project.

Why choose DEK?

DEK machines bespoke enclosures for different industrial applications for our clients across the world. Our top-notch machinery with an experienced engineering team takes your every design and specification need and turns it into the best possible enclosure that protects your devices and equipment against all odds.

With more than 20+ years of CNC machining experience along with handling 100’s of clients from all over the world, we believe in our capabilities to provide you with machined enclosures that are of utmost quality and precise according to your needs. Make us our trusted partner for your customized enclosure project to make this project a successful one and delight your customers with the finest quality product.