ENCLOSURES
advanced plastic enclosures The ideal plastic enclosure should do much more than simply safeguard your electronics. It must elegantly showcase your technology, making it more desirable and engaging for users.
What to look for in today’s E
nclosure aesthetics and ergonomics have evolved rapidly in recent years. Off-the-shelf housings no longer look ‘standard’. Their cutting-edge designs make applications – and yet they are versatile enough for a variety of roles. Furthermore, ordering customised enclosures that are ‘production line ready’ for the installation of your components has never been easier. Advances in machining, photo-quality digital printing and laser marking have made customisation more cost-effective, even for low-volume orders. It has never been easier to specify your perfect enclosure at a tempting price point. But conversely, the vast range of standard models can be bewildering – and there are some important guidelines to bear in mind when selecting a housing.
OKW Enclosures marketing director Robert Cox says: “It helps to specify the enclosure before sound counterintuitive but it concentrates the mind.
more compact housing. Getting it wrong – specifying an enclosure after the layout has been decided – could increase the size of Where and how will your enclosure be used? Will it be handheld, wearable, desk- based or wall mounted? Will it be attached to a DIN rail or a suspension arm? Every enclosure should be ergonomic but the bar is set high for handheld and wearable housings that may be in contact with the body for extended periods.
How will the end user operate your device?
Will it feature a touch screen, a membrane keypad or push buttons and switches? Will it need a recessed operating area to protect a keypad or display? And where is the split-line? If it’s midway between top and bottom, that might make it harder to mount connectors and interfaces. Think about an off-centre split-line if you need to install
controls along the sides.
How will your device be powered? Cable or battery? Not all enclosure manufacturers provide fully functioning battery compartments that will accept push-in contacts. Some manufacturers supply cases with a compartment but no battery holder or contacts.
There are three main options for battery compartments: a battery cradle that can be screwed into an enclosure (offering a choice compartment that is moulded into the or, a plug-in battery compartment that can slide in and out.
Battery contacts must conform to DIN EN 14 JULY/AUGUST 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
be inserted wrongly. By law, the polarity of the cells must be moulded into the battery compartment is not always suitable. For medical applications, the lid must have tampering or battery theft.
How will your housing be assembled?
Will it need to be reopened, and if so, how often? Many enclosure designs conceal the assembly screws, either by positioning them on the underside or by hiding them beneath clip-on trims. Some applications – such as medical electronics – require tamperproof Torx assembly screws. Snap-together
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