Enclosure prototype design for modular temperature sensing system using 3D printing

Resumen

Industry in Mexico has been strongly affected by the health emergency due to the COVID-19 disease declared on March 31, 2020
in the country. Health measures imposed by the Mexican Government required the implementation of disease spread control in the various phases of the COVID-19 pandemic development. One of the most important health measures is the detection of symptoms that enable identification of potential cases that could contribute to the spread of the pandemic. Our modular temperature sensing system (SMT-Ibero) aims to contribute to such control strategies by providing an additional control point at the access gate of maquila workers and clients by taking body temperature readings that contribute to positive identification of people with signs of respiratory disease. If a temperature control point is exceeded, alarms are triggered, and the individual is invited to leave for home voluntary isolation and reduce further risk of contagion. As the design of the thermometric instrumentation is available is concluded and reported an enclosure is required for field testing. Here we report the design of an ergonomic cabinet suitable to contain the system developed at the Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana. This critical component was designed in 3D and prototypes were implemented through additive manufacturing. Applying a rapid prototyping methodology, the two-dimensional cabinet design was created in SolidWorks. The starting point of the engineering design are the dimensions required to provide protection and housing of the electronic instrumentation that integrate the temperature sensing module. The next step is to extrude the cabinet model using 3D software where bores and holes are manually placed to accommodate fasteners, screws and inserts to securely place the sensors and electronic boards. Once the cabinet design is completed and validated it is manufactured on a threedimensional printer complying with NEMA 3 specifications. A final step to provide expected quality of the enclosure is grinding, base coating and painting.