OKW Enclosures’ VP of marketing, Robert Cox, guides purchasing professionals through the process of choosing sloping-front terminal enclosures for different applications.
Today’s sloping-front terminal enclosures can face a hard life. No longer destined solely for office desks, these tabletop and wall-mount enclosures are increasingly found in more demanding light industrial and healthcare settings.
At first glance, hospitals might not seem like a tough regime but they operate 24/7. Devices may be in continual use by a plethora of clinicians, all with different levels of training. This can be taxing on the electronics. So, specifying the ideal terminal enclosure can be more challenging than it initially appears. Here are some key factors to consider:
What’s the device for? Who will be using it? Where will it be located, on a desk or attached to a wall? How strong must the enclosure be? Will tried and trusted ABS be good enough? If not, specify a more robust plastic such as ASA or an ASA/polycarbonate blend that offers greater UV stability and a higher flammability rating (UL 94 V-0 rather than UL 94 HB).
How waterproof will the enclosure need to be? Watertightness is not a binary concept: there are different levels of water resistance, as confirmed by IP and NEMA ratings. The two systems are not equivalent and a higher number does not automatically mean better. For example, NEMA 4X is similar to IP 66 (which offers complete protection against dust and will safeguard against temporary flooding), whereas NEMA 12 is more like IP 52, which is less effective.
Then comes housing size and shape. Many modern terminal enclosures such as OKW’s EVOTEC are characterized by their soft contours. Aside from aesthetic appeal, these curves make the device more comfortable to handle and operate.
Will the device have a touch screen or a membrane keypad? Will the controls require a recessed operating area or not? The sloping-top version of EVOTEC offers the choice of both as standard.
Check how many sizes are available as standard in the preferred model’s range. Specifying the enclosure early in the design process can help finalize component layout, save space and reduce costs. A wide choice of standard sizes and versions helps. PROTEC offers three versions for each of its three sizes. Designers can choose between version one’s deep recess for interfaces, version two’s snap-on flush-fit cover that converts this recess into more space for components or version three’s deep cover that provides further capacity.
How sloped should the operating area be, 12 or 20deg? Will the terminal need to be used by two people at the same time? Applications such as point-of-sale require the device to deliver a pleasant user experience to both the vendor operating the keypad and the buyer presenting their contactless card. This calls for a specialist standard enclosure such as UNITEC, which has two dialog areas inclined by 72 and 18deg and can also accommodate an all-over product label.
Perhaps the terminal will need to match the design language of other devices throughout the building. In that case, a modular enclosure system may be the way forward. Multifunction enclosures such as INTERFACE-TERMINAL let designers configure a range of different housings: wall-mounted and flush-fit terminals can match desktop and handheld devices.
Also consider whether the preferred enclosure range offers any accessories as standard, such as elements for wall-mounting or fastening to a DIN rail? Are anti-slide feet offered for desktop use?
Virtually every standard enclosure will need customization. Fortunately, smart enclosure design and new technology have made this quicker, easier and more cost-effective. Look for a specialist enclosures manufacturer that will carry out all the CNC machining, printing, laser marking, lacquering, decor foil and RFI/EMI shielding work in-house.
OKW Enclosures’ VP of marketing, Robert Cox, said: “This ensures quality because one supplier is responsible for everything from start to finish. It also saves time and money.”