HOW ENGINEERS ARE SPECIFYING ALUMINIUM ENCLOSURES FOR SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

WHY CUSTOMISED INSTRUMENT ENCLOSURES ARE THE SMART SOLUTION

Scientific laboratory instrumentation is a rarefied world – highly specialised electronics equipment developed for a select group of customers. So designers of these products have traditionally faced a challenge when specifying enclosures in low volumes.

Opting for a fully bespoke/custom housing can be costly, given the small size of the production run. All that time and cost for such a low number of units. So customising a standard enclosure is the logical alternative. But some standard enclosures are more customisable than others…

All METCASE enclosures are intended to be very customisable indeed. Just like Stephen Covey, every enclosure design starts with the end in mind. The goal is not just to create the best possible standard enclosure for the electronics: it is to create the best customisable enclosure.

That’s because customisation is all but inevitable. Every standard enclosure will need to be modified to some degree – even if it’s a simple logo and a few apertures for a power supply, controls and LEDs. So the goal is to make customisation as easy as possible, whether it’s:

• a new 10.5” version of our flagship TECHNOMET desktop/portable instrument enclosures  – now available as standard, so you no longer have to specify it as a custom size
• a new bezel design that allows our UNIMET and UNIMET-PLUS desktop instrument enclosures to be manufactured in custom heights as well as bespoke widths and depths
• new chassis profiles and a new tool that enables faster assembly of our UNICASE enclosures, and therefore quicker installation of accessories (and components).

Furthermore, new technology has sped up the customisation process and made it more accessible by reducing set-up times. Faster CNC machining and more advanced digital printing mean low volumes that were once unviable are now perfectly feasible.

So virtually every customer that specifies a standard METCASE enclosure asks for it to be customised. Fully assembled, machined and branded enclosures can go direct to your production line ready for installation of the electronics. Let’s see some examples…

1). HOW SPECTRA SOLUTIONS, INC. SPECIFIES METCASE ENCLOSURES

Boston-based Spectra Solutions Inc. (SSI) is a leading manufacturer of spectroscopic analytical instruments and fibre-optic Raman probes – solving critical problems across the world. Its advanced technology is used in oil spill detection, gem analysis and nuclear fabrication and reprocessing.

Spectra’s world-class equipment is housed in a range of METCASE aluminium enclosures. They include:

TECHNOMET – our premium range of enclosures for desktop instrumentation. Its advanced, cohesive design includes diecast flush-fit bezels at the front and rear. The fixings are concealed beneath contoured trims. Each enclosure includes PCB mounting pillars and pre-punched apertures for guide rails (accessory). ABS side handles or a tilt/swivel arm enable easy portability.

View the TECHNOMET range >>

COMBIMET 19” – our bestselling and most customisable 19” rack cases. No other 19” enclosures in the METCASE range offers a greater choice of versions and sizes as standard – reducing the need for customisation. And if you do need custom sizes, COMBIMET’s bezel-less design makes the process quicker and easier (and presents a minimalist flat front framed by two distinctive handles).

View the COMBIMET 19” range >>

MINIMET – smart, simple housings for compact desktop and portable instrumentation. It’s easy to remove the base, front and rear panels from the U-shaped main case body – allowing swift access to the electronics. The front panel can be recessed by 8 or 14 mm.

View the MINIMET range >> 

Look at the TECHNOMET enclosure in particular. Notice how Spectra has specified a custom-coloured blue case body and trims, contrasting with the lighter coloured front panel. This colour highlighting technique is a smart and simple way to add branding to an enclosure.

2). A SIMILAR TECHNOMET WAS SPECIFIED BY NORECS

Norway’s NORECS has also used this to great effect on the TECHNOMET enclosures it specified for its gas mixing device for material science and button fuel cell research. The Oslo-based company specialises in:

• equipment for the characterisation of materials’ electrical properties at high temperatures up to 1,600° C and under controlled atmospheres
• atmosphere control (gas mixers)
• measurement control and automation software.

Find out more about branding aluminium electronic enclosures with custom colours…   

3). NEL FREQUENCY CONTROLS' VERSAMET 19” RACK CASES

NEL Frequency Controls, Inc. is a technology leader in the development and manufacture of equipment for applications requiring crystal oscillators with challenging performance specifications (such as ultra-low phase noise, ultra-low power, and ultra-high frequency capability).

Wisconsin-based NEL specified VERSAMET 19” rack cases for its ultra-low phase noise testing device. Like COMBIMET, these modern 1U enclosures feature a bezel-less, flat-fronted design and distinctive rack handles – though in this case the handles are unique to VERSAMET. The removable base and rear panel allow rapid access to the electronics.

VERSAMET’S simple but smart design makes it perfect for highly specialist laboratory instrumentation because it can be supplied fully customised in small batches. And again, it doesn’t take much customisation to make these enclosures stand out. The black case/silver front/black handles option is a great choice. It’s a standard colour but it looks customised. Add some machining and printing, as NEL did, and the result is impressive.

View the VERSAMET range >>

4). CUSTOMISED METTEC 19” RACK CASES FOR IP-SOLUTIONS

Japan’s iP-Solutions chose METTEC 19” rack cases for its multi-frequency simulator for advanced equipment for testing and education. METTEC’s diecast bezel enables the front panel to be removed while the case is still in the rack (unlike COMBIMET 19” or VERSAMET 19”).

Tokyo-based iP-Solutions specified METTEC with a custom front panel and also a custom-coloured red bezel and handles. It’s a good example of how the visible front parts of an enclosure can be customised for maximum impact, while the main case hidden away in the rack can remain either as standard or unpainted.

View the METTEC 19” range >>

FURTHER READING

• Top 5 Aluminium Enclosures For Scientific, Laboratory Instrumentation. Read more…
• Aluminium Enclosures For Gas Analysis Electronics. Read more…
• How To Specify Customised Metal Electronic Enclosures. Read more…
• How To Download 3D CAD Enclosure Templates To Create Customised Housings. Read more…
• Your Guide To Custom Colours, Anodising, Passivation. Read more…

CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE

Contact us now for expert technical advice on how to specify the best desktop, portable and 19” rack-mount enclosures for your electronic instrumentation.