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The ideal PCB to house in an enclosure conforms to a standard size, i.e., Eurocard – 100mm or 160mm wide, has connectors at the front and the rear with a 3mm gap down each side to allow it to slide into a standard extrusion like the E-Case or the Combi-Case range of rugged industrial aluminium extrusions. For wider boards we have our U-Case and UnioBox Range that allow us to make cases to suit any width required.
However, the disconnect between electronic and mechanical design has meant that over the last few years we have seen an increase in the number of PCB’s that are not designed with a case in mind. We have seen boards that are odd sized, odd shaped and with connectors on more than two sides.
The solution that Lincoln Binns offers is a Zintec steel case that has been laser cut, folded, welded (if needed), powder coated enclosure. Powder coat options include matt, gloss, semi-gloss and fine textured finishes. Zintec steel sheet is metal plate that has been electrolytically coated with a thin layer of Zinc which is both strong and machinable. Various thickness of Zintec is available depending on the overall size of the finished enclosure.
The advantage of using sheet metal to produce a bent metal enclosure over an extrusion are that sheet metal does not have the constraints of an extrusion. Using sheet metal allows for very custom sizes and complex shapes without the expense of a die and a bulk order of material. The other advantage of sheet metal is that it allows holes, cut-outs, vent patterns to be on six sides of the enclosure in one operation.
Lincoln Binns uses Zintec for its strength properties and its affordability over aluminium but all bent metal enclosures can be produced from aluminium and anodised if needed.
The design of the case is done in-house by our design team using SolidWorks either from a 3D model of your board or from us having a board to work from. Additional features included in the design will be self-clinching stand-offs to mount the board, cut-outs for light pipes and full colour digital printed artwork.
Full production drawings will be sent to you for approval and renders of the final product can be produced for your literature and website.
The laser cutting and bending process has also resulted in Lincoln Binns manufacturing our own range of 19” enclosures with non-standard enclosure depths available as well as bent end plates, plates with intricate cut-out patterns for venting and mounting brackets. Materials we have used for these are aluminium, Zintec, stainless steel and copper.
For more information on An Increase In the need for Bent Metal Enclosures talk to Lincoln Binns Ltd