Designing electronics enclosures for IP66 and waterproof applications

[leonhart88]

Hey All!

This may be a relatively uncommon question on the forum, but I am in the midst of designing a hand held device which needs to meet IP66 or IP67 requirements for water ingress.

I've never had to do this before so I have no idea how the pros do this.  Since I'm starting out with small quantities, the enclosures will either be off the shelf, or I'll have them machined.  No fancy injection molding processes.

Does anybody have experience in doing these types of applications?  Do I just need to get/make an enclosure that meets IP66/67, and then purchase buttons and switches that are also rated for IP66/67 and come with a gasket to seal them into an enclosure cutout?  This needs to be easily assembled so I'd want to avoid using any liquid gaskets that require labor intensive applications.

Also, if anybody does have experience with injection molding waterproof cases, I'd be interested in knowing how they make the membrane buttons and stuff.

Thanks!