An effective, efficient, and well-designed electrical enclosure begins with the manufacturing process. From the design and material selection to the chosen technique and the quality of the equipment, every step counts. So if you’re in the market for an enclosure to protect your electrical equipment, consider how your preferred company is manufacturing metal enclosures. For a positive purchasing experience, look for the manufacturing tools and techniques we’ve listed below.
Manufacturing Metal Enclosures
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Laser Cutting
A high-quality, state-of-the-art CNC laser can cut a variety of metal materials, including carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. If your enclosure will be quite large, be sure that the machine can accept the sheets needed for the enclosure’s production. With a tool-less option, a laser can cut blanks with virtually no set-up time required, unlike most alternative methods.
Turret Press
A turret press (also known as a turret punch) can blank out metal parts to create dimples, louvers, lances, and more. Again, it is important that the machine can handle the size of your metal sheets. It should also have the capacity to hold many turret tools. Although turret presses are not as flexible as lasers for cutting compound shapes, they can cut repetitive shapes more quickly.
Press Brakes
CNC press brakes can form blanks (which are cut using a laser or turret press) into usable parts. An ideal press brake will have quick set-up tooling to allow for speedy, streamlined set-ups. It should also be able to form complex parts with a high level of accuracy. At APCM, our press brakes range from 130 to 300 ton and can perform bends up to 120″ long.
Metal Stamping
Metal stamping presses are important when small projects increase in volume, as they allow the manufacturer to stamp the parts. They can provide significant cost reductions. Look for strong stamping presses that are equipped with automatic coil-feeding equipment and controls for die protection.
Welding
Sometimes metal inert gas (MIG) and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding will be needed. The welders should be certified to American Welding Society (AWS) standards, and ideally, resistance welders will be available too for high-volume and specialty applications. After welding, a deburr process will be performed to clean up the edges of the metal.
Assembly Cells
With multiple assembly cells, a company can build different types of products in one facility, supporting both large and small lot sizes. Whether you need a minuscule enclosure or a walk-in shelter, the company will be able to assemble the product.
Powder Coating
A powder coating will thoroughly protect your metal enclosure. Plus, it is offered in a variety of colors and textures to improve your enclosure’s aesthetics. Look for a paint system that exceeds GR487 and IEEE quality standards. The company should have many popular colors and textures in stock to quicken the lead time, and the equipment must be kept in good condition for best results. APCM has two conveyers to speed up the process: one (a power and free conveyor) is used for large or complex parts, while the other (a single-track conveyor) transports high-volume parts.
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If you’re on the hunt for a company that can manufacture premium metal enclosures on your behalf, whether unibody or modular, check out American Products Contract Manufacturing. Manufacturing metal enclosures is our specialty. Our high-quality, innovative enclosures enable our customers to assist the telecommunications industry in expanding and improving their network services. We offer NEMA type 1, type 2, type 3, type 3-R, type 3-X, type 4, and type 4-X metal enclosures, and we form these enclosures from aluminum, galvanized steel, carbon steel, and stainless steel to create a rugged and reliable structure. Give us a call at 1-877-736-2228 to learn more, or request a free quote online.
