Sheet metal
- Flat or folded shapes, strong in thin sections
- Easy to change without a new tool
- Screws, rivets, and separate clips for anything that moves
Industry
Injection Molding for Data Centers
Inside a data hall, most of the plastic exists to steer air or to let a technician swap something without tools. Nobody admires these parts. They just have to fit every rack the same way, every time.
Why plastic
The quiet parts in a rack
Bezels, blanks, carriers, shrouds, and guides.
Front bezels carry the logo and the air intake. Blanking panels close the empty spaces so cold air goes through servers instead of around them. Drive carriers and latches get pulled and pushed by technicians many times over a server's life. Fan shrouds and baffles guide air across the hottest chips, and cable guides keep bundles out of the way of that air.
Every one of these can be made from sheet metal. They move to molded plastic when the shape gets complicated, when snaps can replace screws, or when the same part is needed in large, steady quantities across a fleet.
Material choice
Sheet metal or molded plastic for a rack part
Both are common in the same rack. The part's shape usually decides.
Molded plastic
- Curved air paths, grilles, and handles in one part
- Snaps, hinges, and latches molded in, so service needs no tools
- Lighter, quieter, and consistent across very large quantities once the tool exists
Service
Latches that get used far more than anyone planned
Drive carriers and bezel latches are opened again and again, often by someone in a hurry.
- Latch arms are sized so they flex well within the resin's limit, otherwise they whiten and then snap
- Acetal and nylon are common for moving latch parts. PC/ABS is common for the carrier body
- Colored touch points show technicians where to push, and the color is molded in so it never wears off
- Fit between carrier and chassis is checked against sheet metal tolerances, which are looser than molded ones
FAQ
Questions from rack and server teams
Do rack parts need flame rated resin?
Most parts inside a server or rack are specified in flame rated grades, because they sit near power supplies and live electronics. The grade is named on the drawing and kept for the life of the part.
Can one tool make left and right hand versions?
Often, yes. A family mold can make mirror parts in one shot, and inserts can switch small features between versions. Whether it fits depends on how different the parts are.
How is color kept consistent across a large fleet?
The color is matched to a standard at the start and checked on each lot. Bezels seen side by side in a row show any drift, so data center programs usually hold color closely.
Can logos be added to bezels?
Yes. Logos can be molded in, pad printed, or laser marked, depending on the look and whether they need to survive cleaning.
Keep reading
Related guides
Parts that move air and cables, and the resins for latches and bezels.
Cable management
Guides that keep air paths open.
Cable managementFan blades
Blades and shrouds that move air.
Fan bladesBezels
Front faces and intake grilles.
BezelsSnap fit clips
Latches that survive repeat use.
Snap fit clipsFamily molds
Several parts from one tool.
Family moldsTelecom
Network gear that lives outdoors.
TelecomIndustries hub
Every sector page in one index.
Industries hubNext step
Quote the rack parts as a set
Upload the bezel, blanks, carriers, and guides together, with the flame grade and color standard. DFM checks how they fit the chassis. NetProto manufacturing is ISO 9001 certified.