10 Best Metal Enclosure Manufacturer of 2022

Recognize the needs of your product

It is crucial to base your design approach on the demands of your end product’s functionality and attractiveness. It will be easier to create the ideal enclosure design to satisfy those objectives if you are aware of the requirements that your product must meet.

Think about your metal choice

The next step is to choose the appropriate metal to construct your enclosure with after you are aware of the specifications it must adhere to. Your decision will primarily be influenced by the following characteristics:

– Tensile Strength – Depending on the use, a metal with a high tensile strength may be required to prevent snapping or breaking (for example steel).

– Weldability – How easily can the metal be welded? How much welding preparation is necessary? You might have to choose a particularly weldable metal, such as pure steel, based on your budget.
– Corrosion resistance – Depending on the intended use, you could want a metal that can consistently survive high levels of corrosion. Your metal should generally be able to survive chemical reactions and oxidation.

The best metal for your design will also depend on various hot and cold sheet metal forming processes.

Consider metal thickness

The weight, strength, punch size, and flange length of your enclosure will all be impacted by the thickness of your sheet metal. Choose a thin sheet of metal if you need your enclosure to be compact and lightweight; otherwise, you’ll have trouble getting those qualities. A thicker sheet of metal will ensure that your enclosure has the extra strength your design requires if it must be strong and durable.

Keep in mind that single-sheet sheet metal enclosures are frequently constructed, therefore you must maintain consistent wall thickness.

Choose your metal enclosure shape

Along with thickness, another factor to think about during the design stage is the shape of the enclosure. You must consider your product straight down to the PCB and system design level to choose the best shape.

While there are a few common shapes available, they are minimal in comparison to plastic enclosure molding.

Be consistent when bending

Maintaining a constant bend radius is crucial throughout your design. Additionally, the radius and sheet metal thickness should match. Otherwise, your enclosure is more likely to have circulation issues and is more likely to fracture.

Remember that the minimum flange length for each bend should be around three or four times the thickness of your sheet metal when calculating the appropriate bend radius for your design. Include your material of choice as well. Different metals have different levels of bending resistance.

Choose appropriate metalworking tools

You need a wide range of tools when it comes to sheet metal fabrication to make a metal enclosure. However, the sheet metal material you’ve chosen for your design will determine which tools you’ll need. For instance, different punching tools and methods must be used for steel sheet metal than for aluminum.

As a result, always make sure you have the right equipment for the job. Keep in mind that each production method you intend to use will necessitate the use of specialized tools.

Utilize appropriate finishing techniques

You can pick from a variety of sheet metal finishing options. Your design depends on the technique you use because each one has its special advantages.

One illustration is powder coating, which is applied to metals like steel. To do this, the dry thermoplastic powder must be applied and electrostatically adhered to the surface of the sheet metal. This method produces a long-lasting finish at a reasonable price. Additionally, it can be used to add different textures and colors. However, powder coating will give your enclosure a little more thickness.

Keep the design of your enclosure simple

Finally, try to keep your design as straightforward as you can. A challenging design will necessitate numerous manufacturing phases and prototypes to generate your finished product.

Simpler designs enable more efficient production, which benefits both your design team and your manufacturing partner in terms of cost and time savings.

However, you can always use custom tooling if your application does call for a more intricate enclosure design. This will aid in creating a unique design, but it will cost more money. Make sure to discuss your design with your manufacturer to find out whether they can offer such quick-turn solutions.