Users have two major alternatives when selecting a cabinet for mounting controllers or other equipment: a one-piece (unitary) structure made by folding and welding sheet metal into the desired shape. They also desire Advantages of modular enclosure, in which the exterior skin is joined to an inner frame, which forms the main structure. Although there may not appear to be many changes, these variances can influence the utilisation of modular pitches in production operations. The benefits are emphasised.
Robust frame construction
The main difference between one-piece construction and modular construction is similar to the difference between one-piece and frame-on-frame construction in vehicles. Passenger cars tend to be one-piece because they are lighter, but heavy trucks are built around a frame body structure and are likely to survive because they are stronger. A collision that causes sheet metal to bend can compromise the structural integrity of a one-piece vehicle, but a similarly damaged vehicle with a skid frame can be repaired by a body shop.
The ability to replace parts with new ones (no cutting or welding) greatly simplifies field setup as technology advances and cabinet hardware changes. The strength of a modular cabinet is in its frame. The frame consists of metal molds with a series of holes spaced at standard distances so that common accessories can be added to the interior without drilling or welding.
Design versatility
The modular enclosure design allows you to get exactly what you need, quickly and at a lower cost than a unibody enclosure. As technology changes, new control equipment may be installed that is often less and/or more energy efficient than what was before. The modular enclosure can be reconfigured in the field if required, and new, smaller equipment can use shared enclosures, reducing the footprint in the factory. The modular enclosure consists of parts that can be rearranged without disassembling the existing cabinet or cutting or welding it. The modular design also makes it easy to integrate the body into the machine design.
The simplicity of design and ordering
Modern design tools allow you to quickly and easily select modular enclosures, and they can be designed and ordered with just two-part numbers. Modular enclosures can be NEMA 250 and UL 50 / 50E certified to provide the same environmental protection levels (3R, 12, 4, 4X, etc.) as unibody designs.
The strength of a modular body is its frame, not its skin. Advantages of modular enclosure allows weight of the installed equipment is transferred to the vertical frame members, leaving the sheathing unloaded. This means that the skin can be thinner and lighter; it can also simplify handling and possible savings in time, labor and shipping costs.
Compartmentalization
The modular enclosure can be easily divided into compartments, allowing things such as information technology (IT) equipment to be installed in the same cabinet as the power equipment. This can save plant space and make it possible to accommodate equipment operating from different power supplies single phase 120 or 240 V for one piece of equipment and three faze 208 V for another n the same cabinet, while still retaining them. Thermally and electrically insulated.
Thermal insulation means that multiple types of equipment with different cooling needs can be accommodated in a single cabinet, eliminating the need for separate cabinets with different cooling systems. One compartment, which needs to be isolated from outside air or even cooled below ambient air level, can be handled with its own smaller cooling unit, while the rest of the cabinet may not need such cooling.
Availability of sizes and types
Although they come in conventional sizes, modular enclosures can also be customised to meet unique application requirements, including full and partial doors, various mounting panels, and side entry/access. Because the needs of tomorrow might not be obvious today, it is often advised to err on the side of modular enclosures’ versatility when choosing the type of design for equipment enclosures. Additionally, picking a design that is flexible is a good idea.
