Products & Services
Protocase manufactures fully finished custom electronic enclosures and associated parts from a wide variety of materials and components, in 2-3 days with no minimum order. Protocase also provides expert and affordable enclosure design services.
Steel
At Protocase, we offer both cold rolled steel and hot rolled steel. Steel is ideal for general-purpose sheet-metal or machined parts.
Cold Rolled Steel
Protocase recommends cold rolled steel for general purpose enclosures. It offers a good combination of cost and structural integrity (stiffness).
If corrosion resistance is required, consider galvanneal, stainless, or aluminum. Likewise consider aluminum where minimum weight and/or corrosion resistance is a consideration.
Finish:
Powdercoat or Unfinished
Fasteners:
Typically use zinc plated steel PEMS and
fasteners
Welding:
Highly weldable with seam or spot processes
Stocked Gauges for Cold Rolled Steel
| Gauge | Thickness | Thickness Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| 11 gauge | 0.120" | 3.05 mm | ± 0.006 |
| 12 gauge | 0.105" | 2.67 mm | ± 0.006 |
| 13 gauge | 0.090" | 2.29 mm | ± 0.005 |
| 14 gauge | 0.075" | 1.91 mm | ± 0.005 |
| 16 gauge | 0.060" | 1.52 mm | ± 0.005 |
| 18 gauge | 0.048" | 1.22 mm | ± 0.004 |
| 20 gauge | 0.036" | 0.91 mm | ± 0.003 |
| 22 gauge | 0.030" | 0.76 mm | ± 0.003 |
The gauges shown above are based on American CRS sheet steel manufacturers gauge thickness. These will vary from british gauges with some exceptions.
Hot Rolled Steel Plate
Hot rolled steel is a general-purpose structural quality steel. Protocase recommends hot rolled steel plate for general-purpose machining, as it offers a good combination of cost-effectiveness and structural integrity (stiffness).
Similar to cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel is not corrosion resistant. If corrosion resistance is required, consider a second finishing process like powdercoat, or opt for stainless steel or aluminum.
Finish:
Powdercoat or unfinished
Fasteners:
Typically use zinc plated steel PEMS and fasteners
Welding:
Highly weldable
Stocked Gauges for Hot Rolled Steel
| Gauge | Thickness | Thickness Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| 11 gauge | 0.250" | 6.35mm | ± 0.014" | 0.356mm |
Please note: Our suppliers have provided the material data above, with the nominal thicknesses based on industry standards.