ENCLOSURES
How Electronics Design Engineers Are Safeguarding Today’s Pocket Electronics with Smart Compact Enclosures
Pocket electronics generate the same high user expectations as handheld and wearable devices. Any gadget that is important enough to carry around in clothing for long periods must be compact, comfortable and attractive.
T
hese devices may not be in continuous contact with the skin, but they come close to it. Perhaps only a pocket lining separates the unit from the user, so be meticulous when specifying the enclosure.
It must be small and convenient with no sharp edges that could snag, just lots of soft contours that make the device a pleasure to hold, operate and carry around on a daily basis.
Versatility is also essential because not every user will carry their personal electronics in the same way. A pocket enclosure may be attached to a key ring or it may have to a strap or belt.
enclosures such as BODY-CASE (IP 65), which mm watch strap, but is equally at home when suspended from a lanyard or carried loose. The tactile nature of pocket enclosures makes specifying the right materials vital. Soft-touch plastics such as TPV serve well as an intermediate ring between the main body shells. These rings provide ingress protection, added grip and a stripe of colourful branding. In enclosures such as award-winning MINITEC, the rings offer a lot more besides. Unlike BODY-CASE, which relies on an accessory kit to add an optional eyelet, MINITEC’s range of permutations includes a series of interchangeable SEBS/TPE sections that enable the attachment of straps, lanyards and key rings.
The choice of plastic for the main body will always be an important decision. ABS has long been popular because it is reasonably strong (200 joules/metre), has good resistance to heat and many chemicals, and is easy to
However, in recent years ABS has been superseded by ASA which has similar properties, but is much more resistant to damaging UV rays. This is a worthwhile feature, even if the enclosure is to be tucked away safely in a dark pocket. Blends such as ASA+PC
the elegance expected of modern personal electronics. This sheen makes the housing easy to keep clean, a crucial consideration for medical and wellness electronics. in infrared-permeable PMMA as standard. The absence of PMMA from a range need not be specify it as a custom material. What kind of battery will your electronics directly to the PCB for applications such as
28 FEBRUARY 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
an enclosure range enables complementary products to share the same design language. How will your enclosure be assembled? How often will it need to be opened? Will it house medical electronics? If so, the enclosure will need tamperproof Torx screws, a requirement for the healthcare sector.
selection of accessories. Handy extras such as charging stations, belt/pocket clips and wall holders will make your device even more appealing to end users.”
Virtually every off-the-shelf enclosure will need customising, usually machining of apertures and printing of legends and logos. Advanced CNC technology has sped up the machining process, while photo-quality digital printing has lower set-up costs than traditional methods, making customisation increasingly viable for low-volume orders.
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