Feature: Sensor enclosures
All shapes and sizes Te large number of devices needed in an IIoT network highlights the need for an enclosure model that comes in a generous range of sizes and shapes. This makes it easier to specify the ideal standard housing and minimises the amount of customisation work required. A good example is our ART-CASE range for wall/ceiling-mount, desktop and mobile applications, available in four shapes: round, square, rectangular and obloid. Ergonomic contours result in a modern look and a shared design language. A choice of bases enables the housings to be specified with a 30° or a 55° sloping top, as standard. Increasingly popular are small wall-
mount enclosures for touchscreen controllers. SMART-PANEL has been designed to fit standard flush-mount/ cavity wall boxes. This – and the screwless assembly – makes installation swift and simple. The absence of screws deters tampering; reopening is with a plastic toolset, available as an accessory. An alternative is DIATEC, which also
fits flush-mount boxes but its XS size (150 x 37 x 155mm) is three times the size of the biggest SMART-PANEL. Wall mounting is invisible with knockouts in the base for fixings. And again, the assembly is designed to deter tampering, though this time it is with Torx screws and tabs that lock the side panels. Unlike SMART-PANEL, DIATEC’s
recesses are not just confined to the front. One edge is also recessed to help protect connectors and interfaces. This useful feature is also evident (though far more pronounced) on NET-BOX (IP 65) which conceals connectors beneath a removeable front lid. Optional infill covers close this underside opening to create more space for PCBs and assemblies. Enclosures like NET-BOX are designed
for network nodes, gateways, data acquisition and central control units. Aesthetics come to the fore with its slim profile, curved top and the concealment of its anti-tamper screws. NET-BOX can also be specified for desktop duties with the addition of non-slip feet (accessory).
Virtually every enclosure will require some form of customisation, usually machining of apertures for controls, LEDs, interfaces and a display
Fitting into internal corners Surprisingly, there have been few standard wall-mount enclosures designed to fit an internal corner. One such enclosure is SMART-CONTROL (IP 55), a wedge-shaped ASA+PC housing that fits in 90° corners or, indeed, flat walls. IIoT’s industrial settings sometimes
call for more rugged enclosures that can cope with challenging conditions. Look for housings with impact ratings of IK 07 or IK 08 and IP ratings of IP 66 or IP 67. IK 07 (2 Joules) is equivalent to dropping a 0.5kg mass from a height of 400mm, whereas IK 08 (5 Joules) is the equivalent of 1.7kg mass dropped from 300mm. IP 66 and IP 67 both provide complete protection against dust ingress. IP 66 ensures protection against temporary flooding. Te test is based on an enclosure being sprayed with water from all directions for three minutes (100 litres per minute, 100kPa at a distance of three metres). IP 67 is for temporary immersion in shallow water (at least 150mm, as measured from the top of the device and, at most, 1000mm at the bottom of the device).
Industrial electronic enclosures SOLID-BOX (IK 08, IP 66/IP 67) and IN-BOX (IK 07 ABS, IK 08 PC, IP 66, IP 67) are most suitable for industrial electronics. IN-BOX can be wall mounted either directly or with brackets (accessory). By fitting these brackets to the enclosure first, you can install IN-
BOX lid closed, protecting the electronics in dusty or wet conditions. SOLID-BOX also offers lid-closed installation but in a smarter way; there are separate channels for the lid and mounting screws, both of which are covered by trims – a feature usually associated with diecast aluminium enclosures. Virtually every enclosure will require
some form of customisation, usually machining of apertures for controls, LEDs, interfaces and a display. Printing of legends, logos and graphics is another typical requirement. Other services include lacquering, decor foils, special materials (V-0, custom colours), EMC shielding, installation/assembly of accessories, and laser marking. Te latter is useful because it enables the rapid addition of small machine-readable markings such as QR codes, barcodes, DataMatrix codes, and the consecutive numbering of individual parts and texts. It takes very little customisation to
transform a standard enclosure into a unique housing ideally suited to a specific application. Sometimes it can be as little as some machining and the addition of a touchscreen display or a membrane keypad.
Enclosure design Te small sensor enclosures should be easy and quick to install, therefore either cable ties or screws are used. Tis simplicity is important, given the sheer number of sensors required in smart factories. Design touches such as corner bevelling and others, may be subtle but it shows how important aesthetics have become in the Industry 4.0 settings. Gone are the days when a prosaic box would have been sufficient. In theory, off-the-shelf housings must
not be too distinctive. Certainly, they must be attractive but they must also be timeless and anonymous enough to blend into different settings. MINI-DATA-BOX successfully
navigates the rules that govern the design of standard enclosures. MINI-DATA- BOX’s weight-saving lid bevelling gives it character but the enclosure remains discreet.
www.electronicsworld.co.uk October 2025 39
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