In the manufacturing sector, NEMA rated, heavy-duty enclosures are an absolute must to protect electronics from unforgiving elements like dust, dirt, particulate matter, contaminants, and splashing fluids.

During the manufacturing process, the food and beverage industries must adhere to strict guidelines regarding product safety and contamination .

Industrial plants and factories must ensure that all machinery, including computer enclosures, are regularly cleaned and contaminant-free. The washdown procedure removes residue and waste materials to preserve the highest food and beverage quality.

Condensation occurs when warm, moist air comes into contact with a surface that is colder than the air’s dew point.

Why is condensation important in relation to computer enclosures?
Humid conditions cause warmer air to hold more water vapor. If warm air on the inside of an enclosure comes into contact with a colder enclosure body, it will cool - leading to water or condensation.

Why is condensation bad for a computer enclosure?
A build-up of condensation may lead to a failure of expensive, internal electronics causing a product replacement and costly downtime.

How well does WiFi work when a device is enclosed in a fully-sealed, steel computer enclosure?

The most commonly used industrial computer enclosures in manufacturing environments are constructed out of metal – powder coat finish or stainless steel. A non-metallic enclosure can be used to promote a stronger wireless signal strength, but steel enclosures are more rugged, heavy-duty, and will withstand the test of time. Unfortunately, when enclosing a wireless device(s) inside of a steel enclosure, the WiFi signal can be weakened or non-existent.

On the factory or manufacturing floor, computers, monitors, printers, and peripheral devices are necessary and commonplace.

Essential electronic equipment demands security and the utmost protection from extreme heat (or cold), falling dirt, destructive dust, and splashing fluids. A heavy-duty, NEMA rated computer enclosure is the perfect solution to protect the process and extend the electronics’ useful life.

Is preventative maintenance more of a hobby or a way of life at your manufacturing plant?

Like modern medicine, the idea of proactively taking a role in the “health” of electrical equipment will provide great value to a company. If an illness is approaching, the human body has the ability to provide early warning signs. The same can be said about electronics. While the human body has the ability to cure itself of certain illnesses, if a defect appears on the plant floor with machinery, it is just a matter of time before the electronics ultimately fail. Unfortunately, electronics do not have the ability to “heal” themselves.

The majority of workers will not exert much concern for maintenance until the process is no longer working as it should. Paying little attention to corrective maintenance, on a regular schedule, will cause electronics housed in an industrial computer enclosure to not perform as well as they did upon the original installation. According to the Library at AutomationDirect.com website, “Heat inside an enclosure can decrease the life expectancy of controlling units such as your PLC, HMI, AC drives and other items. Excessive heat can cause nuisance faults from your electrical and electronic components… Heat will also change the expected performance of circuit breakers and fuses, which can cause whole systems to shut down unexpectedly.”

The term “custom” often gets a bad reputation for translating into expensive and lengthy lead times. 

However, this is not always the case when researching the best computer enclosure for a factory or plant deployment. The importance of choosing an enclosure provider that utilizes off-the-shelf items - to customize a solution that meets the users’ needs - is critical.

The right enclosure solution is more than just simply picking out a box. Enclosures are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials with numerous options for mounting, connecting and climate control. End users and system integrators can simplify the process by choosing a customized solution that ships ready to be used upon delivery.

Electrical enclosures, also known as junction enclosures, are often chosen for their multi-purpose use for indoor and outdoor applications.

There are a variety of electrical enclosures, available on the market, ranging in many sizes and configurations. When researching the various options, it can quickly become overwhelming. However, enclosing electrical and electronic controls, instrumentation, components, and associated wiring does not need to be challenging. There are a few items that should be evaluated before making a concrete decision.                                       

As desktop 3D printers become commonplace, companies are realizing that simply purchasing the latest and greatest 3D printer is only half the battle.

Many factors during the 3D printing process must be met, in order to achieve the best product. 3D printers are an innovative and exciting product to use, but there are some drawbacks to using a 3D printer. Users of 3D printers complain about the fumes that the plastic emits, the heat that the printer generates, and the fact that it produces a loud noise when printing an object. 

Environmentally sealed industrial enclosures can help alleviate some issues that arise when using a 3D Printer.