Enclosures
ROLEC’s profiCASE HMI enclosures can be mounted directly, on a support arm, or onto a standard profile
abrasive dust from concrete, aggregates and soil. These particles are far smaller than those encountered in typical industrial indoor environments and can migrate into poorly sealed enclosures, contaminating PCBs, connectors and cooling paths.
Cleaning practices are another major driver. Operators and fleet owners routinely clean cab interiors with compressed air, damp cloths or liquid cleaners. In agriculture particularly, high-pressure external washdowns are common, and water can be forced past door seals or into ventilation paths. Condensation presents another risk. Off-highway machines can experience large temperature swings. A cab may be near freezing overnight then heated rapidly by sunlight or internal heaters once work begins. Warm, humid air inside the cab can condense on cooler surfaces, especially within enclosed electronic assemblies.
IP 65 ingress protection is the starting point for in-cab HMI enclosures. The first digit (6) indicates that no dust can enter; the second (5) covers low-pressure water jets. This test is based on a jet of water being sprayed against the enclosure for 15 minutes: 12.5 litres/minute (30 kPa pressure) at a distance of three metres. IP 66 provides protection against temporary flooding; the test is three minutes, 100 litres per minute (100 kPa) at three metres. IP 67 denotes immersion survivability: 30 minutes at a depth between 15 cm and one metre.
However, the enclosure must be quick and easy to open for maintenance. Off-highway vehicles operate in harsh environments where equipment must be serviced quickly, often in the field rather than in a workshop. An enclosure that is straightforward to open allows technicians to diagnose faults, replace components, update firmware or inspect connectors without needing specialised tools or lengthy disassembly. Reducing the time needed to access internal electronics
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lowers vehicle downtime; this is important for operators whose equipment may be generating revenue on an hourly basis. An integrated lid hinge solution is ideal because it can enable the right level of ingress protection while still allowing swift access when required. (The maximum lid opening angle on profiCASE is 95°). Securing the lid with Torx screws provides positive engagement between the tool and screw head, reducing the likelihood of cam-outs compared with traditional screws. Torx screws transmit higher torque without sustaining damage to the screw head. This is useful when compressing O-rings or gaskets. Proper gasket compression is essential to achieve the required ingress protection rating, typically IP 65 or higher for vehicle electronics exposed to dust, mud and water spray. Torx screws help to ensure the enclosure can be tightened consistently to maintain the seal without stripping the screw heads over repeated service cycles. They also deter tampering, helping to discourage unauthorised access while still allowing service technicians to open the unit.
Another key consideration is how the device will be mounted. Specifying an enclosure model with a VESA 100 connection simplifies the matter, enabling the housing to be fitted to brackets or modular suspension arms such as ROLEC’s profiPLUS 50 or taraSMART. Both arms offer a wide range of couplings, adapters, elbows, joints and bases for easy configuration, enabling enclosures like profiCASE to be specified for a broad spectrum of engineering applications beyond the vehicle cab. How the enclosure will be mounted also raises the question of how the lid should be screwed shut. Fixings visible from the front are easy to access, while rear fixings are concealed but harder to reach. So profiCASE is available in two versions: PCV with lid screw fixation from the front; PCD with fixation from the rear.
Diecast profiCASE enclosures feature a hinged lid for quick and convenient access during installation and servicing
The alternative to a diecast housing is a profile-based enclosure such as premium multiPANEL (IP 65) or versatile profiPANEL (IP 65). Both can be specified in custom plan sizes ranging from 150 x 150 mm to 800 x 800 mm, to within a millimetre. This compares with a choice of two plan sizes for profiCASE: 320 x 300 mm and 400 x 380 mm, both 85 mm deep. Manufacturing enclosures from aluminium profiles offers a wider choice of depths – two for multiPANEL and nine for profiPANEL.
Many electronics designers specify their chosen enclosures fully customised, ready for the installation of components. Services requested include machining, custom colours, EMC shielding, printing of legends, logos and graphics, and assembly of accessories such as cable glands, pressure compensation elements, mounting plates and rails. It helps to partner with an enclosures specialist that can carry out all these customisation services in-house. This ensures that one supplier will be fully accountable for quality throughout the entire manufacturing
process. Partnering with a single manufacturer also saves time, money and the environment – enclosures don’t have to be shipped between multiple suppliers.
ROLEC is represented in the UK by OKW Enclosures Ltd. OKW’s marketing director Robert Cox said: “Customising a standard diecast enclosure is always quicker and more cost-effective than specifying a fully bespoke housing because the tooling costs are much lower. If you need a non-standard size then a profile-based enclosure is an option, provided that it has sufficient impact resistance and ingress protection for your application. “Whichever type of enclosure you choose, it pays to partner with a specialist manufacturer as early as possible in the design process, even before the component layout has been finalised. This can reduce the size of enclosure needed, making your device more compact and cost-effective to manufacture,” he added.
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