Boxes

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
PRT-13867 SparkFun	COMP STORAGE PLSTC 6.11"LX3.66"W	15
TOL-11527 SparkFun	COMP STORAGE PLST .98X1.18" 1=10	64
TOL-11528 SparkFun	COMP STORAGE PLST 2.95X1.18" 1=4	20
PRT-13838 SparkFun	STOMP BOX ALUM 4.72"L X 3.72"W	66
PRT-11366 SparkFun	BOX PLASTIC RED 6.22"L X 3.54"W	39
PRT-13839 SparkFun	STOMP BOX ALUM 4.41"L X 2.40"W	118
PRT-14474 SparkFun	CASE HDPE BLACK 10.5"L X 7"W	2
PRT-15044 SparkFun	BLADERF 2.0 MICRO ENCLOSURE	0
PRT-15698 SparkFun	ADJUSTABLE STORAGE CASE	12
PRT-11735 SparkFun	BOX ALUM UNPNTD 4.41"LX2.36"W	0

Boxes

1. Overview

Boxes, enclosures, and racks are critical components for housing, protecting, and organizing electronic, electrical, and mechanical systems. Boxes provide physical protection for individual devices, enclosures offer environmental and safety shielding, while racks standardize mounting and space utilization. These solutions ensure operational reliability, thermal management, and efficient system integration across industries.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
Boxes	Compact protection with portability	Instrument cases, outdoor equipment
Enclosures	Environmental sealing (IP ratings)	Industrial control panels, telecom cabinets
Racks	Standardized 19"/23" mounting	Data center servers, audio/video systems

3. Structure and Components

Typical construction includes:

Material: Steel/aluminum alloys (80%+ market share), polycarbonate
Thermal management: Vented panels, fan systems (40-60 CFM airflow)
Mounting: DIN rails, adjustable shelves, cable glands
Protection: Gaskets (IP54-IP68), EMI shielding coatings

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance	Typical Range
IP Rating	Environmental protection	IP20-IP68
Load Capacity	Structural integrity	50-2000 kg
Thermal Dissipation	Electronics longevity	100-3000 W/m
Dimensional Tolerance	Installation compatibility	0.5-2 mm

5. Application Fields

Key industries include:

IT & Telecom: Server racks (19" standard), 5G base stations
Industrial Automation: PLC control cabinets (IP65-rated)
Medical: MRI machine enclosures (EMI shielding)
Energy: Solar inverter boxes (IP66 protection)

6. Leading Manufacturers

Company	Representative Product
Panduit	NetShelter VX enclosures
Rittal	TS 8 cabinet series
Schneider Electric	APC NetShelter racks
Hammond Manufacturing	1551XX enclosures

7. Selection Recommendations

Key considerations:

Environmental factors: Temperature (-40 C to +70 C operational range)
Space requirements: 1U-42U rack heights (1U=44.45mm)
Future scalability: 20-30% capacity margin
Compliance: UL508A (industrial), NEMA ratings

8. Industry Trends

Emerging developments:

Smart enclosures with IoT sensors (temperature/vibration monitoring)
Modular hybrid systems combining boxes & racks
Advanced materials: Graphene-coated composites (30% lighter)
Edge computing optimization: Compact 19" enclosures with integrated cooling