How to choose a suitable material for the cabinet?

The following factors need to be comprehensively considered when selecting the appropriate chassis and cabinet materials:

Performance requirements

Strength and stability: If heavy equipment is to be placed or used in a vibrating environment, cold-rolled steel plate is a good choice, such as cold-rolled steel plate cabinet with a thickness of 1.2mm-2.0mm, which can bear greater pressure and weight. For some special industrial environments that require extremely high earthquake resistance, cast aluminum material is more popular because of its high mechanical strength and earthquake resistance.

Corrosion resistance: 304 or 316L stainless steel is the first choice in humid, chemically corrosive or salt spray environments, such as seaside and chemical plants, which can resist acid and alkali, salt spray and other corrosion. Aluminum alloy also has good oxidation resistance, no need for painting and light weight, which is suitable for outdoor scenes with weight requirements.

Electromagnetic shielding: For the environment where electronic equipment is concentrated and sensitive to electromagnetic interference, such as data center and communication room, cold-rolled steel plate or stainless steel material with certain electromagnetic shielding performance can be selected. Through special electromagnetic shielding design and treatment, electromagnetic interference and radiation can be effectively prevented.

environmental factor

Temperature and heat dissipation requirements: If the equipment has a high calorific value, aluminum alloy material is a better choice, which has good heat dissipation performance and can quickly dissipate internal heat. In high temperature environment, aluminum alloy cabinet with cooling holes, fans or water cooling devices can also be considered.

Dustproof and waterproof requirements: In dusty or water-contacting environments, such as construction sites and mines, stainless steel and aluminum alloy have certain advantages in materials, except for the cabinet structure with good sealing. They have smooth surfaces, are not easy to accumulate dust, and have certain waterproof ability.

cost budgeting

Initial purchase cost: The plastic cabinet has the lowest cost and is suitable for general household or small office scenes with low performance requirements and limited budget. Cold-rolled steel plate has moderate price and high cost performance, which can meet most conventional industrial and office needs. Stainless steel and aluminum alloy cost more, among which 316L stainless steel and high-performance aluminum alloy cost more, and are often used in special occasions with high performance requirements.

Post-maintenance cost: the maintenance cost of plastic and aluminum alloy cabinet is low, plastic is not easy to rust and corrode, and aluminum alloy has strong oxidation resistance. If the cold-rolled steel plate is not properly rusted, it may need regular antirust maintenance. Although the initial cost of stainless steel is high, the later maintenance cost is low and the service life is long.

Processing and installation requirements

Processing difficulty: Cold-rolled steel plate has good processing performance, and can be made into cabinets with various shapes and structures through stamping, bending, welding and other processes, which can meet different design requirements. Stainless steel has good plasticity and weldability, but the processing difficulty is slightly higher than that of cold-rolled steel plate.

Convenient installation: weight is an important factor affecting the convenience of installation. Aluminum alloy is light in weight, easy to carry and install, and suitable for cabinets that need to be moved frequently or installed in high places.