Understanding the Visible Gap on Our Enclosures

Many customers have raised concerns regarding the appearance of a gap on our enclosures. At first glance, it may seem like the enclosure is not fully closed, but this is an intentional design feature. Below, we explain why the gap is present and why this does not affect the enclosure's sealing integrity.

Why is There a Gap?

Our enclosures utilize a tongue-and-groove sealing mechanism with a molded silicone rubber gasket. Unlike some enclosures where the seal is completely hidden, the design of our enclosure results in a small gap that may appear more pronounced in the middle of the enclosure compared to the outer edges. This can give the impression that the enclosure is not fully closed, but rest assured, it is sealed correctly.

Design and Functionality of the Seal

  1. Compression Gasket: The gasket is designed to be slightly compressed when the enclosure is screwed shut. This ensures a watertight and dustproof seal, maintaining the IP68 rating (protection against dust and immersion in water beyond 1 meter).
  2. Material Expansion and Flexibility: Silicone rubber naturally expands slightly under pressure. Instead of being entirely hidden inside the joint, the design results in a gap that appears slightly larger in the center than at the edges, confirming that the seal is properly engaged.
  3. Consistency and Quality Control: The manufacturing process ensures that the gasket maintains a uniform thickness across all enclosures. The gap does not indicate a defect but rather confirms that the sealing mechanism is in place.

Common Misconceptions

  • “The enclosure is not fully closed.”
    • The enclosure is designed this way to ensure proper sealing. The slight gap is a characteristic of the design, not an assembly issue.
  • “Can I tighten the screws further to close the gap?”
    • Our enclosures are assembled using Loctite to secure the screws. Attempting to further tighten the screws will not improve sealing and may cause the enclosure to break.
  • “Will this affect the enclosure’s waterproof rating?”
    • No. The gap does not reduce the enclosure’s IP68 waterproof rating or its ability to protect internal components.

In short

  • The gap is a sign that the enclosure is correctly sealed.
  • Our enclosures undergo rigorous testing to ensure IP68 compliance.
  • Over-tightening the screws can cause damage rather than improve sealing, as they are already locked with Loctite.

Written by Joeri Van Dooren, ON6URE – RF, electronics and software engineer, complex platform and antenna designer. Founder of RF.Guru. An expert in active and passive antennas, high-power RF transformers, and custom RF solutions, he has also engineered telecom and broadcast hardware, including set-top boxes, transcoders, and E1/T1 switchboards. His expertise spans high-power RF, embedded systems, digital signal processing, and complex software platforms, driving innovation in both amateur and professional communications industries.