Easton, PA—Over the years, technology has sped up the EMI/RFI shielding design process and “handoff” to manufacturing through simulation software such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Through simulation software, design engineers are able to subject a part concept to thermal, mechanical and environmental stresses to assure the part will satisfy the requirements of the overall design. In addition, the software has provided the engineer with the tools to simulate various approaches reducing the number of design iterations and development cycle times.
Online portals enhance the communications between customers and the suppliers. Suppliers can upload their quotes and status of Purchase orders directly to a customer’s portal. Requirements by customers to expedite a purchase order can also be communicated through the portal. On time delivery and quality metrics are reported through the portals on a “real” time basis supporting continuous improvement. Although technology is such a vital component in the relationship with a customer, there still remains a human element in EMI/RFI shielding.
Custom shielding manufacturers like Orbel can review a production need, design a solution, create prototypes, and support the project throughout its production cycle. The review step can be an evaluation of a customer-submitted concept; it is the responsibility of the shielding company to determine if A) the concept will fit the intended application and B) the concept can be adapted to existing manufacturing tools and methods. The review step is tied to the design step, which can ultimately range anywhere from approval of the submitted concept as it is drawn up, to a complete redesign, which yields a very different solution than what was originally introduced. The prototype stage is where the concept is literally put to the test. This is where both fit and function are evaluated, and it’s when engineering (on both the customer and vendor sides) makes any final changes to the item. The production stage begins at the handoff from engineering to production.
Products include:
Board Level Shielding (BLS): BLS is used to restrict the amount of electromagnetic energy propagating between the source and a receptor to acceptable levels. EMI/RFI requirements, layout and hole design, resonances, and thermal management are all elements Orbel takes into consideration in relation to shielding effectiveness.
Finger-Stock Gaskets: Orbel offers a wide variety of finger-stock profiles, modified finger stock, contact strips, contact rings, metal connector gaskets, and fully customizable EMI/RFI shielding gaskets. Orbel finger-stock gasketing is ideal for repeated effective opening and closing applications where high attenuation performance and mechanical strength is required.
Metalized Fabric Gaskets: Ideal for the control of electromagnetic performance, Orbel’s line of metalized fabric gaskets is manufactured from a resilient polyurethane foam core and wrapped with a durable high-performance nickel-plated copper-conductive fabric. Orbel offers over 100 standard fabric-over-foam gaskets in a wide variety of shapes and profiles. Custom modifications include cut to length, kiss-cutting, and miter cutting for frame-style gaskets.