5 Reasons to Choose Extruded Aluminum Enclosures to Protect PCB Components

Here at Polycase, a major part of our job is helping our customers find the right electronic enclosures for their specific projects and environments. After all, not all enclosures are created equal. Depending on your specific application, you might need a case made from polycarbonate, stainless steel, diecast aluminum, extruded aluminum or another material entirely. In this article, we’ll take a look at the benefits of extruded aluminum enclosures for protecting your sensitive printed circuit board (PCB) components.

What is Extruded Aluminum? A Quick Rundown

What makes extruded aluminum such a dependable material? Aluminum, the most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, is a silvery-gray metal used for thousands of manufacturing applications. The word “extruded” refers to a specific manufacturing technique that takes a material — in this case it’s aluminum, but it could also be plastic, clay or even dough — and then shapes it via a die. The softened aluminum is pushed through the mold to create a certain shape or profile.This brings many unique benefits compared with other manufacturing techniques, including corrosion resistance, superior strength, a high strength-to-weight ratio (meaning it’s strong yet relatively lightweight) and a seamless, one-piece design that’s less complicated to repair or replace. Let’s look at some of the ways these benefits can help protect important PCB components.

They’re Good for All Temperatures

Extruded aluminum enclosures perform well in various environments. The metal itself is UV stable, which means that it will stay in solid form when left in the sun, and it protects from harsh sunrays that could damage your PCB components. Some extruded enclosures even offer a watertight gasket for an added layer of protection in outdoor environments.

They Can Prevent Interference

An all-aluminum design can help prevent radiofrequency interference (RFI) or electromagnetic interference (EMI). Have you ever seen a TV or radio antenna covered in aluminum foil? That’s because aluminum is highly adequate at absorbing signals. This prevents them from reaching your sensitive internal components.

They Protect Internal Components

Speaking of sensitive internal components, aluminum enclosures are also great at keeping them protected from a variety of environmental factors, including UV rays, moisture and dust. Our aluminum enclosures have unique features that help keep them better protected from the elements. For example, the IP66 rated gasket provides protection from dust and jet sprayed water, while a grooved exterior design helps encourage faster heat dissipation.

They Have Durable Parts

There’s a good reason why aluminum is widely used; it’s incredibly durable. Coupled with the extrusion technique — which ensures that the product is much thicker and more resistant to damage than typical roll-form aluminum — the material is very unlikely to crack or warp. Our aluminum enclosures also have diecast end caps for extra durability.

They’re Made with Awesome Features

We take extra care to ensure that our electronic enclosures are the best they can possibly be. Our extruded aluminum boxes are equipped with trustworthy features that make them quite popular. For example, they have integrated PCB slots so that you can easily slide your board into the enclosure. What’s more, the two end caps mean you have dual points of entry for easy access to the components inside.

Let Us Help

Still not sure whether our extruded aluminum enclosures are best for your specific needs? Polycase is always available to assist you in finding the most appropriate enclosures for your job. Not only do we offer extruded aluminum housings, but we also have similar diecast aluminum enclosures that provide their own excellent set of benefits. As always, we’d be more than happy to help you determine which option will perform best in your unique scenario.