Author Archives: Bradley Morgan

What are Considered Needs vs. Wants when It Comes to Project Boxes?

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Electronics Enclosure, Engineering Blog, Engineering Materials, Metal Enclsoures, Project Boxes,

It is indeed that time of the year again: snow everywhere. There are snow-covered roads that are being buried in our front yards including the icy sidewalks. I use to live in Cleveland, but I have still to get a dog with too much energy so that I am required to walk him every single day. The only proof to me that he has so much energy to spend for his own good is that he constantly pulls on his dog leash.

If you are thinking about the occasional tug, this is not the case I am thinking about. But it is the 90% of the time he is just straining to get ahead of me. Or maybe my legs are starting to get tired because it is too short to keep up with my dog’s pace. I have already tried almost all sorts of different gadgets and techniques in order for me to try to break him from this bad habit, to no avail. With this in mind, I should be more accurate by saying “he walks everyday and I ice-skate as he tags me along the ride.” But you ge the picture right?

It is so funny when there is a certain term or word that can bring impact on one’s imagination, isn’t it? I am being reminded of Shakespeare’s “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Customers often calls companies just to find a certain “project box.” Let us explore for a moment what a project box really is. A google search will give you tons of links to several plastic boxes. The first link of the search is very interesting – it leads to Radio Shack. Before working for a company. I have always thought that this company sells finished products. But just recently, I have learned that they also cater to hobbyists too.

Just by clicking on any type of result will reveal to you a standard, inexpensive, non-descript plastic electronic enclosure. The type of case that is very sturdy and dependable. Obviously, there are some of the good qualities to have when you are designing a product.

The best thing about this is being able to buy these types of enclosure at some retail stores (such as Radio Shack) is that you can buy just one or two pieces without being obliged to buy hundreds or tons of product pieces because there is no order quantity required for these.

With this in mind, one can just buy or purchase any couple of pieces that he or she might need. Without sacrificing too much resources. The unique project will suddenly not look very unique does it? So buying per piece is a very good idea.

What are the Measurement Specifications for Electronics Server Rack Specifications?

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Electronics Enclosure, Electronics Server Rack, Electrical Enclosures, Server Rack Enclosures,

For industrial terms, the 19-inch rack is a server or network frame within an enclosure that is being utilized to be mounted on multiple equipment units. Each of the server rack module contains a front panel that is 19 inches or 482.6 mm wide in specifications. The horizontal measurement then includes some of the edges in the internal space of the rack.

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How does Electronic Keyring Devices Works?

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Just last week, there was something that really started bothering me: I beat my boyfriend at chess. I cannot believe it. The first words after my victory was “did I really won? Or you just let me win?” Basically, we have been continuously playing a lot of games recently and I was not given the chance to in in 8 months we are doing it. I lost every game, until this one!

After chess, we have decided to change the game we are playing – Trivial Pursuit. However, he has mopped the game board with me but it is totally okay. I have to forgive him because I won at chess anyway. But I got a realization. All the months I have been losing to him, he thought me of different strategies on how I can win the game. He taught me the rules and the pitfalls, he was totally pointing out what are the better move choices. This has guided me into doing the right strategy. I started thinking since I love learning, it has enabled me to win at chess!

With this in mind, let us start looking at how some technology efficiently works.

One sample product we can take a look at is the keyfob small electronics enclosure. You can see these type of enclosures almost everywhere. They are used as car keys, calculators, small televisions and so much more. There is a rubber keypad installed on it with a paring conductive contact on its back. Once the button is successfully pressed, the conductive contact successfully meets the board. It now started to send an electronics signal that completes the whole process of completing a specific task that was successfully assigned to the circuit.

To further illustrate this example – let us use a calculator. When you press a button labeled as #1, the screen sows a 1. When you add the plus sign after to it then when you press the 3 and the equals button, it will give you a number 4.

This also works as the same way a keyless entry remote works. When you press the button that was labeled unlocked, it manages to activate the circuit installed on the board. It now starte to send a wireless signal going to the system’s receiver. It was located in the vehicle, and now it prompts the electric locks to be opened. This was a keyless entry.

What is a Rapid Prototyping Solution?

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engineering blog, Prototyping, Rapid Prototyping

Back during my childhood, before my sister totally though that it would be really fun and exciting if we would take on a ride at the fair in the neighborhood. They call it the Salt and Pepper shakers. To further illustrate the ride, there are two existing arms on the side. At the end of each there is an enclosed big bug that keeps the rider totally locked inside. These arms then are carefully rotated in the opposite directions. Once the arm reaches the top of the ride rotation, the buggy together with the people riding will go total upside down.

At this point from now on, the person operating the right totally thought that it was really funny that an 8 year old child like me was really scared for her dear life and she started screaming like someone was murdered. That is the very reason why I am really afraid of heights. And because of this experience, I am very intrigued by the various fields of study that determines if it is really the nature that makes us who we are – nature vs. nurture.

Before this trip to the fun fair, I did not have very much experience with extreme heights: I was not a tree climber at all. I did not use the roof or utilize it for me to sneak out of the house and I have not any experience climbing the ladders either. I guess that’s is because of my developed fear of heights when I as a kid. I had been really scared for my life and I guess the experience made me to fear heights.

Because of this, a product has reminded me of this fearful experience. Maybe because of its psychophysiology.

The very efficient and unique ATLASense™ AR7000 series does a semi-custom platform that fives a good and rapid prototyping solution for companies. This satisfy a large and broad physiological and behavioral monitoring needs for your products. This high performing workhorse offers a different, physical, and physiological and behavioral human interacts with a lot of broad selection of the best front-end sensors.

The international clients of this platform has started to apply the different platofrms in different fields of use. This also includes the diagnostics, biological therapy, telemedicine and as well as psychophysiology. What is more to this product is that it has a very wide range of different configurations that can be easily found in Atlas Engineering’s website: www.atlas-arl.com

How to Capture a PCB Using Two Screw Towers?

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Just recently, I instantly decided to get rid of my unneeded furniture placed in the basement. It was already old, out of style and it so happens that my cats are living down in the basement. The furniture was completely covered in my cat’s fur because my two white cats loves to sit on the (then blue) white couch. Anyone who will see my furniture will tell me that it looks completely gross. And it is.

And because of presence of fleas, I decided to move the chairs by myself. I cannot wait for my boyfriend to arrive even if he is just 20 minutes away from my house. I almost got near the carpet but for once I decided to drag it upstairs. I just don’t have the energy to turn it to then haul it out open to the door.

When I carefully looked at the chair, I hefted the back of the chair onto the stair to make it leveled up to the front end whilst stepping up to the next level of the stairs. I said to myself, “one step at time.” I just patiently keeps on repeating this mantra as I slowly inch my way up to the stairs just balancing the two legs of the chair. When I finally got to the landing of the chair, I had to make the turn. I just hefted the back left leg of the chair onto the landing platform just in front of the right leg on the front end. While the chair is recently balanced like this on opposing legs, I just have to push it all the way to make a safe landing.

With this in mind, why should my impatience about furniture hauling matter? This is because without the ability to balance the chair on two opposing legs, I should have not succeeded. I recently got this idea from an enclosure making company that just launched their hand-held plastic enclosures. The unique enclosure design shows how it sandwiches a PCB between two screw towers.

There are customers who have asked how this works and they show a doubtful face that says “How does this keep the board from flexing?” The place of the board on the enclosure, then insert (and tighten) the screws into the screw holes on the enclosure. Which is now threaded unto the screw towers. This is primarily because the enclosure is so slim, that it leaves no room for the board to easily flex or twist like that inside the enclosure.

The screws can easily hold down the opposing corners of the PCB board. Thus making it just level and stable once the enclosure is successfully screwed together. This also allows the end user to use the space that surrounds the PCB without the need for the mounting attachments of bosses made in most sizes. However, because of the extra length of the KT-70, the mounting bosses are finally included for the additional stability.

What are the Different Characteristics of Ink Used in Printing on Enclosures?

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We have already explored how the personality if the newly weds can be comparable to the material characteristics of the electronics. We also have been able to identify its importance regardless of the end use of the electronics equipment. Also, there are certain characterisitics that are very important to make sure that the final product can stay as crisp since the day the customer decided to purchase it.

There is also one additional important characteristics for plastic electronics enclosure for it to be solvent-resistant. There are several types of different enclosures that can offer bonding as the only way to assemble the final product. While we can carefully strive to not spill the solvents (or anything in that matter), these situations really happen. There was a leak in the solvent packaging, a loose lid, or perhaps there are products that are sent down on a table that comes with an accidental drop of solvent.

The list is just full of endless possibilities. The use of a solvent-resistant ink just helps in the prevention of the unlikely or unwanted events to happen that can eventually lead to serious and long-term problems.

As you can see, there are several and many specifications just for any ink type the user wants to use to customize their electronics enclosure. These posts only deal with a partial list. The customers have been keen on emailing and commenting but there many more characteristics that should be taken in careful consideration.

The point here is there are companies that uses the permanent ink for both of the plastic enclosure both on silk screening and pad printing. The ink that was used for some of the plastic enclosures surely meets the needed specifications to permanently brand the plastic enclsoures. In addition to this, the gloss in the ink also adds the style to the enclsoures.

In return, the gloss intensifies the ink, so that it can print resulting to a very bright appearance. Rather than the dull, chalky finish that we often see in this style of printing. Getting a quote about permanently print on the enclosure is just simple and it can bring down the printing cost lesser than you think. It is best to contact the customer service for further classifications.

What are the Characteristics of Permanent Ink Used in Printing on Plastic Enclosures?

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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

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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

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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.