Steel Enclosures

These are the best steel enclosures I have found for CNC Electronics. The Steel Enclosure series offers superior protection for sensitive CNC electronics and industrial automation components. These versatile junction boxes are designed to shield critical equipment from electromagnetic interference (EMI) while providing a secure, grounded environment in various manufacturing and industrial settings. The amazon pick button is an affiliate link specifically curated for your benefit.

Other items that you may want to purchase with this enclosure:

Switches:

• Power Switch
• Emergency Stop Switch Contactor (DIN Rail Mounted)
• 16 Amp Circuit Breaker (DIN Rail Mounted) - Calculate your total current requirements to determine the number of circuit breakers you will need.

Wiring Accessories:

• Terminal blocks for DIN Rails DIN Rails
• Cable/Wire Channels (Raceways)
• Cable Gland Strain Relief Joints

Connectors:

• Female 4 Pin Motor connectors 12mm (Cable End)
• Male 4 pin Motor connectors 12mm (Panel)
• Motor connectors 16mm Set (Cable End and Panel)
• Sensor connectors for limit switches and proximity sensors (Cable End Female)
• Sensor connectors for limit switches and proximity sensors (Panel Male)
• Round USB Panel Mount Connector

Power Supplies

• Power supplies for Motor Drivers
• Power supply for CNC Controller

CNC Controllers

• Mach3 CNC controller
• Mach3/4 CNC controller

Motor Drivers 

• 5.6 Amp Stepper Motor Drivers
• 4.2 Amp Stepper Motor Drivers

Fans:

• 110V Fan
• 220V Fan
• Fan Dust Filter

Tools:

The following knockout punches will have a far cleaner hole than with a drill. 

Hole Knockout Punch Set (1/2" to 4" Conduit Sizes i.e. 1/2=0.89", 3/4"=1.11", 1"=1.36", 1-1/4"=1.7", 1-1/2"=1.95", 2"=2.42", 2-1/2"=2.91", 3"=3.54", 3-1/2"=4.04" and 4"=4.54") Individual Sized Hole Knockout Punches (Only needs a wrench to make the hole with these dies) Actual Hole Sizes: 16mm (0.63"), 19mm (0.75"), 20mm (0.79") , 21mm (0.83"), 22mm (0.87), 22.5mm (0.89"), 24mm (0.94"), 25mm (0.98"), 27.5mm (1.08"), 28.3mm (1.11"), 30mm (1.18"), 32mm (1.26"), 32.5mm (.28"), 34mm (1.34"), 35mm (1.38"), 40mm (1.57"), 45mm (1.77mm), 50mm (1.97"). These are from AliExpress. I have not found quality dies from Amazon, but these are pretty good. Our Favorite Wire Stripper (Self Adjusting)

Recommendations: It's best to purchase all of the components prior to purchasing the steel enclosure. You will need to arrange all of your components to get a good idea what size you will need. Think about the arrangement including how the wires will be run so you can avoid crossing motor and signal wires to maintain pristine signals. Shielding and EMI Protection: Constructed from cold-rolled carbon steel, providing excellent electromagnetic shielding Helps minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) for sensitive CNC controllers and automation equipment Ideal for protecting servo drives, PLCs, HMIs, and other precision electronic components Grounding and Electrical Safety: Pre-installed ground wire for easy and reliable equipment grounding Ensures a common ground point for all enclosed devices, reducing ground loop issues Helps maintain signal integrity in noise-sensitive industrial environments Construction and Materials: Made from durable cold-rolled carbon steel for high toughness and EMI shielding Epoxy polyester powder coating enhances corrosion resistance and durability Professional gray-white color (RAL7035) suitable for industrial settings Protection Rating: IP66 rated, ensuring protection against dust, moisture, and water ingress Meets NEMA 1, 2, 4, 4X, and 12 specifications for versatile application in harsh industrial environments Security and Access: - High-quality metal lock core to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive controls - Reinforced hinges for durability during frequent maintenance checks - Rubber sealing strips maintain integrity of EMI shielding and environmental protection Installation and Usability: - Multiple size options available to accommodate various CNC and automation setups - Wall mounting holes for secure installation near machinery - Thick galvanized steel mounting plate for easy installation of components - Detachable outlet hole for organized cable management of power and signal wires Customer Jobs Using these Steel Enclosures: In the following 2 jobs for customers, I used the 24"x24"x8" steel enclosure. You can see that a lot of components can fit inside this enclosure, including the VFD, 5 power supplies, 4 stepper motor drivers, a CNC controller, and a contactor! That's a lot of components.

In most standard cases, you can get by with a steel enclosure measing 20"x16"x8"; however, the removable plate is much smaller. When I use this enclosure, I reate the holes for the connectors and switches on other areas of the case like in the following job I did for a customer. This video is an explainer for the customer.

I also use this smaller enclosure for job that a customer provided his own components. You can see the drives are smaller, but the needed to be positioned in a flat orientation which take a bit of space for cooling. You can instead orient standard drivers on end to save a lot of space.

When deciding what size you need, arrange the electronics in a configuration that meets your wiring needs and allow some space for connectors, switches and a fan. You will need to make a lot of holes in the enclosure for switches, connectors and a large hole for the fan. To make sure that airflow can happen in the enclosure, holes will need to be made at the opposite end of the enclosure to the fan so air movement can occur over the drivers and other components that need to stay cool. Applications in CNC and Industrial Automation: - Ideal for housing CNC control systems, including motion controllers and drive amplifiers - Suitable for protecting industrial PCs and human-machine interfaces (HMIs) - Excellent for enclosing sensitive measurement and data acquisition systems - Can be used for centralized wiring and power distribution in automated manufacturing cells Additional Features: Rounded corners to protect signal cables from damage and maintain shielding integrity Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use in various manufacturing environments Package Contents: Electrical enclosure box Keys for secure access Pre-installed mounting plate Wall mounting accessories Bottom sealing plate for additional cable entry options This NEMA 4X Steel Electrical Enclosure series provides robust protection, effective EMI shielding, and reliable grounding for critical CNC and industrial automation electronics. Its versatile design and range of sizes make it an excellent choice for system integrators and manufacturers looking to safeguard sensitive equipment in challenging industrial environments.