Are you seeking the best material to protect your workplace’s sensitive electronic equipment? Traditionally, metal alloys have been the standard when manufacturing protective enclosures. However, in recent years, ABS thermoplastic has become the preferred choice for businesses.
What is ABS Thermoplastic?
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic polymer patented and introduced to commercial markets by Borg-Warner Corporation in the mid-1950s. The highly versatile material quickly became popular for manufacturing everything from industrial enclosures to consumer products. It is preferred for use in the construction of protective enclosures for sensitive electronic equipment, including servers, workstation computers, printers, barcode label printers, measurement systems, and laser marking enclosures.
Why Choose ABS Enclosures Over Metal Alloys?
The debate between metal vs. plastic enclosures is a decades-old argument. However, for many industrial, manufacturing, business, and consumer applications, ABS plastic enclosures offer distinct advantages:
Product Applications – Machine-grade ABS can be fabricated using standard techniques like cutting, turning, drilling, milling, and sawing. It can be chemically affixed to itself and requires less post-fabrication finishing than metals, making it ideal for custom applications and more cost-effective.
Sustainability – Unlike metals, which experience price fluctuations based on supply and demand, ABS thermoplastic supply remains stable. As a preferred recyclable product, many ABS enclosures are formed by recycling used ABS plastics, making it an environmentally responsible choice.
Specific Strength – ABS enclosures are lighter yet stronger and more durable than polycarbonate materials. ABS sheet can be specifically formulated to compete with steel and other alloys in strength-to-weight ratios while remaining much easier to fabricate.
Operating Conditions – ABS enclosures are minimally affected by temperature or humidity and work well in a broad range of workplace temperatures. ABS polymers are resistant to extreme conditions and industrial chemicals.
Wireless Networks – ABS thermoplastic remains constant over a wide range of electrical frequencies. Our impact-resistant cabinets are virtually transparent to wireless signals, and ABS outperforms steel when using wireless networks.
Lightweight Durability – ABS enclosures made from thermoplastic are many times lighter than the same products made from steel or metal alloys. For example, an enclosure made from aluminum would be twice the weight of an ABS enclosure and less resistant to harsh conditions.
ABS is a highly recyclable material that reduces the need for time-consuming equipment maintenance. Thermoplastic polymer sheet is exceptionally stable, fire-resistant, and does not easily deform when subjected to dramatic temperature changes common in numerous industrial settings. Since ABS materials offer strength, durability, and corrosion resistance to chemicals or wet conditions, they are quickly replacing metals for many types of routine enclosures.
Protecting Your Computers With Dust Free PC
At Dust Free PC, we chose heavy-duty ABS sheeting for our NEMA-rated enclosures specifically for its impact resistance and durability for housing a wide range of electronic equipment. Our computer enclosures are designed to reduce shock and protect your most sensitive equipment in demanding industrial environments.
In addition, the ABS enclosures we produce have a textured finish that hides and resists scratches. Our enclosure surfaces are significantly less likely to suffer chemical attack and do not corrode. This makes them perfect for dust-resistant applications and industrial workstation protection in challenging environments.
Contact Dust Free PC for Custom ABS Enclosures
Ready to upgrade to durable, lightweight ABS enclosures? Our custom-built enclosures protect your sensitive electronic equipment from damaging heat, dust, and debris. Since 1999, we’ve been dedicated to providing the highest quality environmental computer enclosures on the market. Contact us today for a free estimate and discover the best enclosure solution for your work environment.