Customisation is a key issue in enclosure manufacturing and starts right from the enclosure housing, which needs to meet different requirements depending on the area of use. Whereas standalone and bayed sheet steel enclosures are mostly used in factory plant rooms, a corrosion-resistant outdoor variant that is perfectly adapted to the local ambient conditions is needed for enclosures located along railway lines. In hygienically sensitive areas – in food industry applications, for instance – the requirements are different again and place particular demands on enclosures (in terms of e.g. cleaning and sterility).
Which enclosure housing is suitable for which application?
The table below shows which enclosures are suitable for which locations. In practice, however, each individual application must be checked.
| Area of use | Material | Protection category |
|---|---|---|
| Plant rooms, shop floor, indoor areas, non-sensitive applications, outdoor areas | Zinc-plated sheet steel | IP 20 to IP 55 |
| Plant rooms, shop floor, sensitive applications, outdoor areas | Powder-coated steel | IP 54 to IP 65 |
| Food, pharmaceutical, offshore and chemical industries | High-alloy stainless steel, silicone seals in hygienic areas | IP 66 to IP 69 |
| Water/waste water technology | Plastic, stainless steel | IP 65 to IP 67 |
| Offshore, lightweight construction, outdoor and all-weather applications | Aluminium, plastic, stainless steel | IP 54 to IP 65 |
Accessories and cut-outs are also customised
Besides selecting the right enclosure housing, you also need appropriate accessories. Depending on the application, this might be 180° hinges, punched sections, handle systems or lock systems, for example. When baying several enclosures, a variety of baying connectors are available. It is also possible to use a mounting plate infill to connect the various mounting plates in a bayed construction. This creates a continuous mounting surface from enclosure to enclosure. The RiLineX power distribution system has also been developed to cover the entire mounting surface in a bayed construction. Thanks to the wide range of products available, you can select accessories to match the relevant requirements.
Enclosures also have gland plates to feed in cables, ideally with a coordinated base/plinth concept. Cut-outs in the enclosure door are often needed to attach control and display elements. However, the exact location of cut-outs and drilled holes always depends on the specific application.
A bespoke enclosure in four steps
In view of the many different customisation options, selecting the right cabinet can prove a time-consuming task. Rittal has developed the intuitively operated RiPanel configurator, which uses a digital twin to make needs-based configuration much simpler. Bespoke enclosures can be created in just four steps, in next to no time and with zero errors. Users are guided step by step through the configuration process.
The first step is to select the appropriate enclosure system. To help users find the right option as quickly as possible, the tool has filters for the following aspects:
- Enclosure type: Which Rittal product range is suitable for me?
- Material: Should the cabinet be made of plastic, sheet steel or stainless steel?
- Dimensions: How wide, high and deep can the enclosure be?
- Doors: Should the enclosure have one door or two?
- IP protection category: What environmental influences does the enclosure need to be protected from?
One helpful feature is that each individual enclosure type is displayed in the configurator as a three-dimensional CAD model. The models can be selected with a single click and turned any which way you want.
Having decided on an enclosure housing, users can then select their accessories. The configurator narrows down the choice by only suggesting accessories that are compatible with the selected housing. A plausibility check prevents any order or design errors. Users are also given suggestions for recommended accessories that are very often combined with the selected enclosure housing.
The following types of accessories are generally available:
- Bases/plinths
- Doors and locks
- Roof- and wall-mounting solutions
- Interior fit-out solutions
- System lights
- Earthing solutions
- Rail systems
- Cable routing solutions
- Climate control solutions
- Power distribution solutions
All accessories can be installed and viewed in the 3D model – the digital twin of the enclosure. Besides automatically positioning accessories such as an enclosure light in the 3D model, the tool also adds the necessary mounting accessories at the same time. This is a further means of preventing design errors.
The software tool’s connection to the Rittal Online Shop and an automatically updated parts list ensure the total cost is always clearly displayed.
Once users have selected their accessories, RiPanel offers the option of adding custom openings to the enclosure housing. Bespoke or pre-specified geometries can be integrated directly into the 3D model of the enclosure. Uploading pre-prepared drilling patterns as CAD files is also straightforward. Accessories such as a Rittal filter fan can be positioned directly in the 3D model and the necessary cut-out in the door or side panel is then created automatically. Automatic collision detection prevents design errors.
At the end of the configuration process, users get an automatically generated overview that also clearly sets out details relating to costs and availability. Technical details can be requested, too, including parts lists, CAD data, a configuration presentation and machine data. This ensures a seamless project handover to the subsequent production steps – and especially to the RiPanel Processing Center so that the configuration data can be transferred directly to a Perforex machine for enclosure machining.
The fact that the software tool is connected to the Rittal Online Shop makes ordering the customised enclosure simple.
At the end of the configuration process, a configuration ID can also be created. This can be forwarded as necessary or entered in RiPanel later on to make further changes to the configuration.
Summary
The right software tool makes selecting a bespoke enclosure much easier. RiPanel users are guided step by step through the various selection processes, and also benefit from plausibility checks and 3D visualisations. This saves them a great deal of time and minimises the scope for errors.
FAQs
1. What is the Rittal RiPanel enclosure configurator?
RiPanel is an online tool that you can use to configure bespoke cabinets, including the enclosure housing, accessories, drilled holes and cut-outs. It offers 3D visualisation and plausibility check functions – for error-free results.
2. How does online enclosure configuration work?
Configuration takes place in four steps – selecting the enclosure housing, adding accessories, defining drilled holes and cut-outs, and generating data. All steps are visualised in the 3D model.
3. What advantages does RiPanel offer over a conventional order?
You save time, avoid order errors thanks to automatic collision detection, and get instant CAD data, parts lists and a transparent overview of costs.
4. Can I also integrate accessories and special equipment in the configurator?
Yes, RiPanel suggests compatible accessories that can be integrated directly into the digital model, including a plinth, doors, climate control and cable routing.
5. Is it possible to customise drilled holes and cut-outs?
Yes, you can upload your own geometries or position holes and cut-outs directly in the 3D model. The configurator automatically checks for collisions and creates the appropriate cut-outs.
6. What data do I get after completing the configuration process?
You get CAD data, parts lists, machine data for production and a configuration ID that you can use to subsequently order your enclosure or make changes to it.
7. How do I order the configured enclosure?
The direct connection to the Rittal Online Shop makes ordering your configuration easy and gives you access to all the relevant price and delivery details.
Dr. Dirk Pieler
Executive Vice President Business Unit Industry Solutions at Rittal
With his many years of industry experience, Dirk Pieler is helping to advance the digital transformation and automation in enclosure manufacturing.