Sheet metal material question

kgosselin said:
Gareth,
New comer to this forum but thought I'd weigh in anyhow in the chance that I might be able to help you.

LTV Corporation used to have a product called LOC-AF. Not sure if its still available but might be worth checking into. Here's a link http://www.ltvsteel.com/htmfiles/loc.htm. Perhaps you could even look into using HRPO versus CRCQ. I am quite familiar with two major OEMs who have successfully used HRPO without plating but have powder coated all surfaces to prevent corrosion.

Best of luck.
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Hi and welcome to the forum! Thanks for the link - I will certainly check this out.
 
We have used post coated sheet steel in the past for Hi-Fi chassis. You can get some quality zinc finishes if you find the right supplier. The Japanese pre-coat stuff is also very good. Can't remember the trade name at the moment....
 
GarethW said:
I am trying to cost-reduce a current part. The part is the lid of a 19" rack assembly.

Currently the part is made from 1mm thick zintec and is painted. I would like to remove the paint to save money, but very often zintec often doesn't look that great on its own (often gets scratched up by the supplier).

I have considered using stainless steel 430 DP1 instead (we make the chassis part of this product from this), but this picks up fingerprints and looks awful after a while.

Can anyone suggest a low-cost sheet material that is aesthetically pleasing without having to apply a special finish or surface treatment?

One other question - we deply these products to hot humid countries, and my company has disapproved of zintec in the past because the edges where the metal is cropped will corrode after a while. My experience tells me that every VCR, DVD player, washing machine etc etc etc in the world is made from this stuff. Is their disapproval an overreaction?
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Gareth,

You are right - with preplated materials, the cut edges will "bleed" after enough time in a humid climate. We normally use post-plated materials for this reason (although there is a cost difference). Industry standards for large telecom companies normally dictate post plating, for this reason.

I've heard of vendors "touching up" cut edges of preplated material but there are potential cosmetic issues with that method. Not my recommendation - we don't do it.
 
Why not use StSt or Aluminium and Brush / Linish it immediately after Punch.!!!! We do that with similiar 19" products today! Let me know if I can be of any further help.
 
Use Unobtainium! Its weightless, super strong, both conductive and non conductive, comes in any color and shape you need, delivered before you need it, its free with high resale value, sales will love you for it, purchasing will buy you pizza on friday for specifying it.. Fantastic stuff, I wonder why no one else thought of this?
 
Hi Gareth

I'm guessing your telecom/ high-tech product volumes are not huge. I know a few good manufacturers in India who do precisely this sort of work. I'm not sure if they are cheaper than China, but these guys work with you to look at the most optimum material to use from a cost/ function/ tropicalisation perspective.

Vinay
 
Hello, first of all check and specify whether they are using chromate or photphate applied Zintec and specify what you want. One is fingerprint coating and the other is not. I have found that one is slightlly harder wearing (cant remember which). Make sure they arent using aluzinc (looks the same but scratches very easilly).

Try telling them that unless they supply a proper job they lose the contract!

Why not have just the lid made locally or elsewhere?

Zintec gets scratched usually on dragging on a bed (guillotine or ball bearing turret punch bed) tell them to fold them inside out (marks on the inside)

Zintec drags down the edges slightlly when guillotined but not as much when punched and not at all if laser cut, you will end up with corrosion eventually, so why not think about zink and chromate plating (conductive) or if you do like alluminium (expensive) try alochrome coating (conductive)
If you go abroad you can save money but you lose control and you dont know what the hell is happening over there.

I have attached a url on emc and enclosures that might help

http://www.radiocad.com/_downloads/EMCe ... ID=hfh147l

Thanks
Dave
 
Hi Dave. Thanks for the advice - some really great suggestions. Thanks also for the great link. I'll definitely have a good read of that one it looks extremely helpful :)
 
Dear Sir,

Go for insert molded plastic part with texture.

Regards,
Harshad Patel
 
mvalenti said:
Use Unobtainium! Its weightless, super strong, both conductive and non conductive, comes in any color and shape you need, delivered before you need it, its free with high resale value, sales will love you for it, purchasing will buy you pizza on friday for specifying it..
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Cool, it is a good idea.
 
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