Buckeye Shapeform Creates Modular Enclosure Solution for Nuclear Power Industry

    COLUMBUS, OH, May 02, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Newton Research Labs and Buckeye Shapeform, a manufacturer of custom enclosures and precision metal deep drawn parts, have partnered to design and fabricate a specialized enclosure solution that could be easily modified to fit the needs of three recently developed nuclear industry products.

Newton Research Labs develops and manufactures precision, non-contact inspection and measurement solutions based on proven machine vision technology and innovative software applications. Its powerful, easy-to-use and industrially rugged systems serve a wide range of industries with camera-based and robotics products, many of which need high-quality enclosures to protect the valuable components inside each system.

Newton Research Labs turned to its long-time partner for modified enclosures, Buckeye Shapeform, when enclosure units that they had contracted to be manufactured from bent sheet metal at a local shop proved to be of poor quality and fit for their products. The engineers at Newton needed a supplier that could fabricate and finish a customized, high-quality enclosure and chassis that had a crisp, professional appearance, as well as supply a 3D model of a standard 1U enclosure that they could modify to house three newly developed products: the NM200E PWR Core Verification System, the NM200UW Nuclear Underwater Laser Scanner and the BWR RPV Dryer Robot.

Engineers at Buckeye Shapeform and Newton Research Labs worked side-by-side to develop a custom enclosure solution. Buckeye Shapeform engineers sent 3D AutoCAD model drawings to the engineers at Newton Research Labs that allowed them to easily modify Buckeye's FC-B enclosure to fit their needs. Newton's engineers customized the FC-B enclosures to house the control components of each product.

The enclosures featured modular characteristics that allowed the primary unit to be used in all three products by simply changing the front panel. The FC-B enclosure was further modified so it would attach to the metal electronics rack within a molded, high-impact airline-transportable case that formed each product's control console. When the design was finalized, Buckeye Shapeform fabricated and finished custom enclosures to exactly match the Newton engineers' specifications.

"Buckeye Shapeform was able to provide us with a completely customized enclosure system, including longer length, custom punched top and bottom covers, pre-installed PEM fasteners and custom machined and silk screened front and back covers," Newton Research Labs Senior Mechanical Engineer Gary Anderson said.

"The most notable part of working with Buckeye Shapeform is that when our engineers order a product or process, Buckeye's people suggest alternate and effective ideas," Anderson said.

During the project, Buckeye Shapeform found a way to save Newton Research Labs hundreds of dollars by reviewing its inventory of existing die tools and suggesting one that had a design for punching ventilation slots that was very close to specifications of the Newton product. Newton engineers easily repositioned some electronic components inside the unit and saved on the expense of purchasing a custom-made die tool.

The successful partnership between these two companies is a testament to their dedication to developing solutions that ultimately benefit the end user. Since their partnership began in 2004, Buckeye Shapeform and Newton Research Labs have worked side-by-side to provide their customers with professional-grade products and service.

About Buckeye Shapeform
Founded in 1902 as the Buckeye Stamping Company, Buckeye Shapeform includes Buckeye Enclosures, Buckeye Novelty Cans, Buckeye Knobs and Buckeye Deep Drawn Technology. Buckeye Enclosures offers a complete line of off-the-shelf instrumentation enclosures as well as services for modifying standard enclosures and creating completely customized solutions in either metal or plastic material that's widely used in the military, medical, audio/visual and telecommunications industries. For more information, please visit www.buckeyeshapeform.com.

About Newton Research Labs
Newton Research Labs develops and manufactures precision, non-contact inspection and measurement solutions based on proven machine vision technology and innovative software applications. Its powerful, easy-to-use and industrially rugged systems serve a wide range of industries with camera-based and robotics products. For more information, please visit www.newtonlabs.com.

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