Stainless Steel Sensor Enclosure
SKU: FL-IN-018
SUS 316 stainless steel enclosure for harsh environment sensors. IP68 rated.
| Material | SUS 316 stainless steel (2.0mm) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing Process | Laser cutting + bending + TIG welding + electropolishing |
| Surface Finish | Electropolished |
| Tolerance | ±0.2mm |
| Dimensions | 100×100×60mm |
| IP rating | IP68 |
| Cable entry | M20 thread |
| Mounting | M5 threaded bosses |
| MOQ | 100 units |
| Lead Time | Quoted after drawing review and process confirmation |
| Sample Time | Quoted after drawing review and process confirmation |
| Sample Fee | USD 120 |
| Price Range | USD 45-95/unit |
| Applications | Chemical plants, food processing, marine |
| Compliance | ISO 1461, FDA |
| Export Markets | USA, Germany, Singapore |
How This Stainless Steel Sensor Enclosure Is Fabricated and Checked
A sensor enclosure is a small part with a demanding brief: protect a sensitive device, hold a sealing face, and be mounted accurately enough that the sensor still reads what it is aimed at.
| Stage | What happens | What is verified before the job moves on |
|---|---|---|
| Shell forming | Body and lid formed from stainless sheet | Lid flatness and the body mounting face, because both affect where the sensor ends up after installation |
| Precision cut-outs | Sensor aperture, window and entries made to the device specification | Aperture size and position relative to the mounting datum, not just to the outside of the box. An off-centre window can leave the sensor looking at an edge |
| Welding and dressing | Seams welded and dressed where a sealing or hygienic face is required | Weld condition on the sealing land, and the absence of crevices where moisture or product can collect |
| Gasket and window fitting | Gasket and window fitted and checked | Compression and seating of the window, which is often the leak path rather than the body seam |
| Surface preparation | Stainless finish: as-welded, brushed or passivated to the specification | Surface condition and passivation, which is what carries the corrosion resistance in service |
| Assembly and alignment check | Device fitted where in scope; position checked against the mounting datum | That the sensor sits square to its datum and the window is clear |
| Packing | Individually wrapped, with sealing faces protected | That no sealing face is marked or deformed, since a stainless face cannot be touched up like a painted one |
Revisions That Skip New Tooling on Stainless Steel Sensor Enclosure
On a sensor housing the device interface is fixed and the enclosure around it is where the choices are.
| What can be changed | What it affects | What it does not affect |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure size and shape | Sheet development and the mounting faces | The sealing concept, provided the land is unchanged |
| Window material and size | Optical performance and the seal around the window | The body |
| Entry type and count | The gland or connector fitted | The lid |
| Finish: as-welded, brushed, passivated or electropolished | Hygiene level, corrosion resistance and appearance | The geometry |
| Mounting provision | How the sensor is aligned and held | The enclosure |
| Gasket material | Temperature range and chemical compatibility | The sealing land |
FAQ on Stainless Steel Sensor Enclosure
When is passivation needed?
Where the surface has been welded or mechanically worked and corrosion resistance matters in service, because welding removes the passive layer locally and leaves it able to rust. A brushed finish is a cosmetic treatment, not a substitute for passivation.
Why do stainless enclosures often leak at the window rather than the seam?
Because the window is usually a separate part with its own seal, and it is small enough that an unevenly compressed seal is easy to miss. The window seating is checked with the enclosure closed, rather than assuming the body is the only sealing surface.
Can the sensor be replaced without opening the enclosure?
Sometimes, with a front-access window or a removable carrier. It depends on how the sensor is fixed and on the sealing requirement. If service access matters, raise it at design stage, because it changes the lid design rather than the box.
Alignment and the sealing land are the two things that decide whether the sensor works where it is installed. Send the device drawing and its mounting datum through the RFQ form so the aperture is placed to the datum. Related: material certification, metal enclosure manufacturing and surface finishing.
Enclosure Details That Protect the Sensing Element
A sensor enclosure has one job beyond holding a device: keeping the environment away from the sensing face while letting the sensor do its work. That usually means a window or an aperture with a specified seal, a cable entry that does not become a water path, and an internal layout that keeps condensation off the electronics. We build to the ingress class on the drawing and we detail the window and the gland as part of that – both are the usual failure points on an otherwise well-made box.
- Window or aperture sealing is specified with the gasket material and compression stated.
- Cable entries use glands sized to the cable, with the gland plate sealed to the box.
- Where condensation is a risk, a drain or a breather is detailed rather than hoped for.
Material, Hygiene and Clean-Down
Sensor enclosures in food, pharmaceutical or wash-down areas are cleaned with agents that attack both the steel and the gasket, so the grade and the elastomer have to be chosen together. 316L for welded assemblies is the common call, with welds dressed flush and internal corners radiused so the surface can actually be wiped clean. We supply the surface finish the drawing specifies.
On approvals, we are precise: ingress rating, hygiene certification and any hazardous-area classification for the finished instrument are verified by testing the assembled device, and that testing belongs to the instrument manufacturer or the notified body they appoint. We supply the metal enclosure built to the drawing with the material certificates and dimensional checks it calls for. Lead time is quoted after drawing review and process confirmation.
Payment Terms
How a project is paid for is agreed before production starts, and the structure that applies to your order is stated on the quotation and on the order confirmation, so there is no ambiguity later.
- 30% advance payment with the order and the 70% balance before shipment — our standard structure.
- 70% advance payment with the order and the 30% balance before shipment — used for some projects.
- 100% payment in advance before production starts — used for some projects.
If your finance team works to a fixed structure, say so in the first enquiry and we will confirm what applies to your order before you commit. Request a quotation.
Questions buyers ask before sending drawings
The questions that come up most often before a project starts, answered the way we answer them by email.
What do you need from me to quote Stainless Steel Sensor Enclosure?
2D drawings as PDF, DWG or DXF, or 3D files as STEP, IGES or SolidWorks, together with material grade, sheet thickness, surface finish, quantity and destination country. If the drawing is not finished yet, send a photo, a sketch or the existing part instead — we review what can be measured from it and reply with the questions that still need answering.
How long does a quotation take?
Enquiries are answered within one business day. Simple laser-cut and bent parts are quoted within 24 hours. Welded frames, assembled units and multi-part structures are quoted after the drawing review and process confirmation, and the date is confirmed in our reply.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
Prototypes are made from a single piece and small batches of 10–50 pieces are routine. Prototype, first batch and repeat volume are quoted together so the numbers stay consistent as the project scales.
Can you work from a sample or a photo if I have no drawing?
Yes. Send the part itself, clear photographs with a rule or caliper in frame, or a dimensioned sketch. We measure what can be measured, list what is still undefined, and confirm it with you before production.
Need a Similar Part?
Most enquiries that start on a page like this are not an order for Stainless Steel Sensor Enclosure — they are a search for a factory that can make something like it. Send us your drawing, 3D model or sample and we will review the manufacturing process and the quotation requirements, then come back with a process plan, a price and a lead time.
We work from 2D drawings, STEP / DWG / DXF / PDF files, or a physical sample if that is all you have.
No complete drawings yet? Describe the part, send photos or a sketch, or send a sample — we can start from there. Discuss your project.
Trade Terms and Delivery
We quote under the standard Incoterms your logistics team already works with, and build the packing and documentation around the one you choose.
- EXW — you collect from our Ningbo facility and run export clearance through your own forwarder.
- FOB Ningbo — we deliver to the vessel at Ningbo port and handle export clearance.
- CIF — we cover carriage and insurance to your named destination port.
- DDP — we handle carriage, insurance, import clearance and duties through to your door.
Send your destination country, target delivery date and preferred trade term together with the drawing. Request a quotation.
Quotation Time
We quote from your drawings. How long that takes depends on what the part asks for:
- Simple parts — quoted within 24 hours. Laser-cut blanks and bent components, supplied with complete 2D or 3D drawings. Mon–Fri, GMT+8.
- Complex assemblies — quoted after the drawing review. Payment kiosks, multi-part welded frames, enclosures with purchased hardware, or anything needing a coating or assembly trial. We confirm a quotation date once the scope is clear.
Production lead time is quoted separately, after drawing review and process confirmation. Send your drawings.
What stands behind this quotation
- Manufacturing since 20162,500 m² Ningbo plant — 3 laser cutting machines (including newer TRUMPF), 4 CNC press brakes and 10 welding stations.
- Shipped to more than 30 export marketsEnclosures, cabinets and formed parts supplied to OEM buyers across Europe, North America and Asia.
- 123 documented product casesMedical device housings, HVAC and heat pump enclosures, agricultural and livestock equipment, industrial hydraulics, material handling trolleys and EV charging cabinets.
- Factory evidence you can checkTUV Rheinland audit reference MIC-ASI243729 and Bureau Veritas reference MIC-ASR263630 available for buyer review under NDA.
Before you send drawings: an NDA is signed on request · first-article inspection is carried out before a batch continues · pricing is staged from prototype quantity to repeat volume · pre-shipment photos and packing records are prepared when the project needs them.