Sheet metal cover, also known as sheet metal shell, sheet metal protective cover, sheet metal casing, is a covering part made of cold-rolled steel plates, stainless steel, aluminum alloy and other metal materials through shearing, stamping, bending, welding and other processes. It is widely used in various equipment, machines and systems, playing multiple roles such as protection, support, beauty and functional integration.
1. Main uses of sheet metal covers
1) Equipment protection
Prevent internal components of equipment from being damaged by external dust, moisture, water vapor, oil, etc.
Prevent operators from touching live or moving parts to ensure personal safety
Provide fireproof, corrosion-resistant and other properties (depending on the material)
2) Structural support
Carry internal components such as circuit boards, lines, power modules, fans, etc.
Realize a reasonable layout of the internal space of the equipment to improve overall strength and stability
3) Heat dissipation and ventilation
Designing ventilation holes, mesh holes or matching fans can help electronic equipment dissipate heat
Some covers integrate heat sink functions to improve thermal management performance
4) Product beauty and brand display
After surface spraying, silk screen printing, laser engraving and other treatments, the appearance of the product is improved
Logo or product information can be printed to enhance corporate image recognition
5) Functional integration and modular design
Integrated switch holes, USB interfaces, cable routing troughs, installation slots, etc.
Can be modularly assembled for easy maintenance, transportation and upgrading
2. Common materials for sheet metal covers
● Cold rolled steel sheet (SPCC): low cost, powder sprayable, widely used in conventional industrial products;
● Stainless steel (SUS304/201): good corrosion resistance, suitable for food, medical, outdoor environment;
● Aluminum alloy: light, beautiful, good heat dissipation performance, used in high-end electronic products;
● Galvanized sheet: strong rust resistance, mostly used in electrical equipment.
3. Considerations for custom sheet metal covers
● Use environment (indoor/outdoor, humid/high temperature, etc.)
● Installation method (wall-mounted, floor-standing, embedded)
● Processing accuracy and tolerance requirements
● Heat dissipation and ventilation design
● Protection level (such as IP54, IP65, etc.)