Custom aluminium enclosures solve design dilemmas

The heat transfer characteristics of aluminium, the electrical conductivity, and the economies of sand castings combine to present some very useful benefits in the design of enclosures and chassis.

The heat transfer characteristics of aluminium, the electrical conductivity, and the economies of sand castings combine to present some very useful benefits in the design of enclosures and chassis.

The inexpensive tooling costs of the sand casting process gives the ability to economically produce prototypes and design variants.

The excellent fluidity enables aluminium to form complex three-dimensional shapes with wall thickness down to 3mm, which can be used to form a total EMI/RFI interference screen without excessive weight penalty.

Add to these the high heat conductivity and the ability incorporate heatsinks into the enclosure with the extra costs being only that of additional material and the benefits become significant.

Low-tolerance slots in a PCB-mounting module provided high contact pressure for heat to be transferred to the substantial housing, whereas on the high-frequency radio the sink is incorporated into the chassis and painted black.

Heat transfer was via the mounting studs and several pads designed to make contact under the PCB.

On a marine radar VDU, the heat dissipater is build into the back section of only the higher power variant.

The ability to economically produce such minor variants or indeed significantly different models quickly is the claim of Norse Precision Castings.

Specialising in complex shapes in sand cast aluminium, the key lies in the accurate pattern making to produce near net shape components.

Production quantities of the radar VDU back were supplied in 4 weeks from receipt of CAD data.

Quality control also benefits from having all post-casting manufacturing, including straightening, heat treating, CNC machining, finishing, and assembly, under the one roof.

The particular processes at Norse Precision also give high quality finish, with accurate repeatability.

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