The ink used for customizing plastic enclosures can be compared to the charmingly rustic wedding I just went to recently. With this in mind, I wonder how the characteristics of the newlyweds (bride and groom) can be used as an example to describe the characteristics of ink used in printing on an electrical enclosure. What are the characteristics that are needed to be carefully considered?

We have already looked at some of the potential issues that can potentially damage the branding of the product. While there are some of the issues that were not as big based on the end-use, it still begs to differ: what is the cost of this to be worth the time and effort?

I guess your initial answer is “No”. And you are just right. The correct answer is to use a permanent ink that is just light-and weather resistant. With this, we have already discussed the possible damages that can be caused by light and its effect on the graphics. You want an ink that can give you a good chemical and alcohol resistance to.

With this in mind, you do not want to think about someone being intentional in damaging the project. However, these types of situations do happen. The branding on the product is just part of the advertising. Somebody with a cotton boll and a vengeance should not be able to destroy the hard work.

Let us take a look at another example:

If you are out in the field after installing the products in the customers’ homes, under a steamy summer day with humidity levels reaching 90F, it is inevitable that your body temperature will also rise. You are already hot and you wipe your brow with your fingers. The next thing you will do is to pick up the next product that you would like to be installed. If you had used the electronic enclosure ink after the perspiration – and oil/grease-resistant ink, you have nothing to worry about.

Once the ink used to print on the plastic enclosure does not have these properties, there is a tendency that there will be parts of the printing that can be discolored when touched. The worst-case scenario is if you remove the parts (of all) of the lettering, logo, or design printing from the enclosure, it will leave a less-than-perfect finish.

Protecting the nema enclosures from its end use is just as important as other parts of the design. The design engineer should be sure about using the right materials in order to meet the demands of the customers. What ink characteristics do you look for other materials in the enclosure?

The UL Flame Rating for Plastic Material Used for Enclosure

May 21, 2019

Bradley Morgan

Engineering Blog No Comments

Some of the enclosure manufacturing company utilizes UL recognized material for their enclosures. To define it, the UL frame serve as the property of material used for enclosures. Needless to say, that the materials used for making enclosures are not the same in nature and it is the reason why it doesn’t not have the same rating. Any design engineers should be ready to recognize the differences in ratings to have a better understanding why the numbers must vary. To better explain this differences, let’s look at the following:

For UL rating, the UL-94 is the Standard for Safety of Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances testing. This can only mean that every product that has UL-94 rated material has been proven its flammability characteristics. This means that this material can be used for the suitability of the material in a given operation. Once the end unit is acceptable to be utilized for any type of product use, it should also undergo testing for that specific product. Ul-94 can determine how the material will react given the set of conditions but it cannot exactly pinpoint the exact characteristics of the components using the end product and just by relying on this rating.

With this in mind, there are two different testing methods: the horizontal and vertical. The HB rating means that the product was tested using the burn or HB test. The type of flame that was used and applied for this product testing was founded to burn more slowly compared given a specific amount of time. The time it takes for the flame to burn the product also depends on the thickness of the material.

The ratings that ends with V2,V2, or V0 only means that the quality of material was gaged and tested using the vertical position. The ratings also indicates that the tested material after it undergo certain testing eventually self-extinguished because of the removed burning source.

How Plastic Enclosures React to High-Temperature Options

May 20, 2019

Bradley Morgan

Engineering Blog No Comments

Not only metal sheets are utilized in creating electronic enclosure, also plastic. With this in mind, materials react differently to certain temperature especially plastic. The ABS plastic’s melting point is estimated to be 176 degrees F (80 degrees C). This can only mean one thing for design engineers. Plastic enclosure made from this material cannot have prolonged exposure to 176 degrees because it will begin to lose it shape. Once the ABS is exposed to very hot temperatures, the enclosure will begin to soften and eventually lose it shape. If the company left it in a place where the high temperature exists, it will eventually have a baked enclosure.

Also, once the enclosure is exposed to this kind of temperature and there is something on top of it, it can also cause the enclosure to collapse very easily. Not in an instant but it will hasten the collapsing process. The enclosure will eventually settle into La Brea Tar Pits. If the enclosure is utilized in a project test, it will result to a failed one.

Luckily for the design engineer, he or she can choose a more appropriate material for enclosures that can withstand the high temperature and can retain their structure even if exposed to high heat. These materials can be found inside the interiors of a vehicle, or in processing plants where the temperature is high. With this in mind, we recommend using the enclosures that are formed from Nylon or Noryl. These plastic can maintain their form even if exposed in high temperature environments. Comparing to ABS, Noryl is durable in terms of temperature. You can approach the enclosure manufacturing company if this material is available for your company. For sure, if the material is available they will help you in terms of design.

There is also another option for plastic material, this is called polycarbonate. This is a waterproof materials and can be used for outdoor applications. This is considered to be flame-retardant. Meaning the material maintains the integrity or shape of the enclosure and it can prevent melting even if exposed to higher temperatures. The high-temperature materials are more expensive than its counterparts because the capability and the property of these materials are increased. Make sure to first determine where the enclosure will be used so that the design engineer can effectively tell what material should be used in certain type of application. If the company will use the enclosure in low-heat environments, then an ABS option is best suited for this.

Obvious Similarities of an Enclosure and a Flamenco

May 18, 2019

Bradley Morgan

Engineering Blog No Comments

The dance lessons continue and I’m learning more than I thought I would. Really, I always assumed it was one or two moves and then just add in some flair, like dips or a fancy foot move. But no, there are STEPS to these dances. And one must know them in a specific order, from start to finish, so that as part of a couple, he or she can lead or be led. Blows my mind really. So are there other processes in life that we must follow exact steps in order to correctly complete the process? Why, I’m glad you asked. Yes, yes there are.

It is surprising to know that are obvious similarities of Flamenco to an enclosure. Actually almost all form of dances is similar to the process of building an enclosure. Dancing is not akin to just forming the steps and just adding extra poses to make it brilliant. The dancer should know how to give the steps and dance gracefully by order. There is no brilliant thing that is done overnight. There are crucial steps that are needed to take in order to lead the dance and be able to finish it gracefully. This is just really amazing when you think that in also in life, you need to take slow processes for you to master the exact steps and be ready to make and complete what it is needed to be done.

With this in mind, I would like to help you understand this by illustrating how a plastic enclosure’s lid is secured by following these steps. For your reference, here are the steps below:

1. First, arrange the screws on the cover and seal them by threading them through the cover holes. There are different holes for different types of screws. For the enclosure cover, it accommodates WA, WC, & WP series. These are considered to be captive screws that is primarily made for stainless stell.

2. After the first step is done, this is the time to have the cover placed over the base or the bottom half of the enclosure. Then arrange the screws or align on the cover over the corresponding holes on the base.

3. Have the screws loosely assembled in the cover in sequence until the screws are already finger tight.

4. Have the screws tighten up to a torque of 8-inch pounds. To achieve a better accuracy, use a torque screw.

5. To make sure that the sealed joint is tight enough and the gasket covered is properly aligned, inspect everything. It should be aligned with the lip in the body.

For the 4-hole covers, the engineer should have the middle of the cover be squeezed tight against the base of the enclosure. There are times that when doing this on a larger enclosure you will hear a snap noise. Do not worry because this is a normal scenario and it just indicates that the sealing lip in the base is now properly seated and aligned with the cover gasket.