# Sheet Metal Fabrication for Industrial Automation

https://kdisplay.com/industries/industrial-automation

K-Display, a Chicago sheet metal fabricator, makes electrical enclosures, back panels, HMI and pushbutton stations, robot cell guard panels, junction boxes, and brackets to panel shops' and integrators' drawings. Enclosures are powder coated with hardware installed, and back panels ship with their cabinets.

## Overview
In sheet metal fabrication for industrial automation, the enclosure type on a panel drawing decides whether we punch conduit knockouts: NEMA defines a Type 12 enclosure as built without knockouts and a Type 12K as built with them. The enclosures, stations, and guard panels are carbon steel, stainless steel, or aluminum sheet, and the enclosures leave powder coated with hinges, latches, and studs installed. Each back panel is a flat sheet that mounts inside its enclosure on studs, drilled to your layout or left blank.

## Process
- Cut, punch, and form the set: We laser cut and punch enclosure bodies, doors, back panels, stations, and guard panels with device cutouts placed clear of the bends, then form the parts and MIG and TIG weld the posts and frames.
- Fit hardware, mask, and coat: We install the hardware, mask the ground points, and powder coat the cabinets and stations.
- Kit the panels and cells: We pack each back panel with its cabinet, label guard sets by cell position, and group brackets in sets for each cell.

## Typical parts
- Control panel enclosures and back panels: Wall-mount and freestanding cabinets with door cutouts for the disconnect, HMI, and pilot devices, and the back panel that mounts inside.
- HMI consoles and pushbutton stations: Pedestal consoles, sloped-face stations, and pendant boxes cut for your screen and pushbuttons, with conduit or cord entry where the drop lands.
- Robot cell guard panels and posts: Framed sheet or perforated guard panels, posts, base plates, and access doors for a robot cell, with mounts for interlock switches.
- Junction and terminal boxes: Small boxes for field devices and remote I/O, with knockouts and a mounting plate for the devices inside.
- Valve manifold, sensor, and cable brackets: Formed brackets for pneumatic manifolds, photo-eyes, light curtains, and wire duct.
- Cabinets and consoles for machine builders: Control cabinets and operator consoles that mount on a machine frame.

## Requirements
- Enclosure type and closure: NEMA type, such as Type 12 or 12K, with the gasket, door seal, and bonding stud locations for the UL 508A panel build.
- Device cutouts: A cutout drawing or part number for each HMI bezel, disconnect handle, and pushbutton hole, with the device maker's cutout tolerance.
- Guard layout: Panel heights, mesh or solid faces, post spacing, and interlock switch positions for each cell.
- Powder coat color: Color and texture for the cabinets and stations, with a physical sample when the match matters.
- Quantities and dates: Cabinet, station, and bracket quantities for each project, with the panel build or install date.
- Sensor and manifold mounts: The sensor, photo-eye, or manifold model with its hole pattern, and the surface the bracket mounts to.

## Related pages
- [CNC Punching](https://kdisplay.com/capabilities/cutting-forming/cnc-punching)
- [Hardware Installation](https://kdisplay.com/capabilities/finishing/hardware-installation)
- [Short-Run & Low-Volume Metal Fabrication](https://kdisplay.com/capabilities/services/short-run-production)
- [Custom Control Panel Enclosures](https://kdisplay.com/products/electrical-enclosures/control-panel-enclosures)
- [Custom Operator Consoles & HMI Enclosures](https://kdisplay.com/products/electrical-enclosures/operator-consoles)
- [Custom Machine Guards & Access Panels](https://kdisplay.com/products/panels-covers/machine-guards-access-panels)
- [Custom Junction Boxes & Terminal Enclosures](https://kdisplay.com/products/electrical-enclosures/junction-terminal-enclosures)
- [Custom Cable & Sensor Brackets](https://kdisplay.com/products/brackets-plates/cable-sensor-brackets)