Filter/Combiner Enclosure
Precision-machined aluminum housing for RF filters and signal combiners used in base station antenna systems. Requires tight dimensional tolerances for consistent RF performance with internal cavity surfaces machined to mirror finish for optimal signal quality. Made by WERIX Metal from AL6061-T6 aluminum 2.0mm to a tolerance of ± 0.1 mm, finished with Chromate conversion coating (Alodine). Typical order volume is From 100 to 50,000+ volume. Free DFM quote within 24 hours.
Engineering drawing available on request
Send your target specifications — we reply with a drawing and a DFM quote within 24 hours.
Filter/Combiner Enclosure
Precision-machined aluminum housing for RF filters and signal combiners used in base station antenna systems. Requires tight dimensional tolerances for consistent RF performance with internal cavity surfaces machined to mirror finish for optimal signal quality.
| Part number | P-007 |
|---|---|
| Product type | housing |
| Industry | Telecom |
| Material | AL6061-T6 aluminum 2.0mm |
| Tolerance | ± 0.1 mm |
| Surface Finish | Chromate conversion coating (Alodine) |
| Manufacturing processes | CNC Milling · Precision Laser Cutting |
| MOQ / Volume | From 100 to 50,000+ volume |
Filter/Combiner Enclosure: manufacturing notes
Every part we ship has to perform in service, not just pass inspection. Below is how this filter/combiner enclosure is specified and manufactured at WERIX, and which details in the drawing drive cost, lead time and yield.
Why this part is made in aluminium
Filter/Combiner Enclosure is specified in AL6061-T6 aluminum 2.0mm. Aluminium buys weight reduction and thermal conductivity, at the cost of stiffness: a section that is stiff enough in 1.5 mm steel needs either a thicker gauge or formed stiffeners in aluminium. It anodises rather than paints when a hard, non-flaking surface is wanted, and it needs dedicated tooling and fixturing because the soft surface marks easily during handling.
How the part is formed
The production route for this part is CNC Milling, Precision Laser Cutting. Fiber laser cutting separates the blank without hard tooling, which is what makes a first article economical: the profile can change between the prototype and the production run without a die sunk. The trade-off is a small heat-affected edge, so on parts that will be painted we deburr and, where the edge is a sealing face, dress it flat before coating.
What ± 0.1 mm actually requires on the shop floor
The drawing calls for ± 0.1 mm. On a part like this that is a process decision, not an inspection decision: it fixes which machine holds the critical features, how the part is fixtured for each operation, and whether a formed feature can be checked after coating or has to be measured before it. We confirm the first article against the drawing and record the values, so the tolerance is demonstrated rather than assumed. If a dimension in your drawing is tighter than this part needs, it is usually worth relaxing it — over-toleranced features are one of the quietest cost drivers in a sheet metal quote.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the minimum order quantity for filter/combiner enclosure?
- The order range for this part is From 100 to 50,000+ volume. Below the low end of that range the tooling and setup are spread over too few pieces to be economic, so if you are prototyping we would normally build the first units from the same process route and quote the production quantity separately.
- Can the material be changed to reduce cost or weight?
- Yes, and it is worth asking before the design is frozen. The current specification for this part is AL6061-T6 aluminum 2.0mm; depending on the service environment, a different grade or a lighter gauge with formed stiffening can meet the same requirement. What we would not do is change the material without re-checking the bend radii, the welding process and the coating system, because all three move with the substrate.
- What finishing options are available for this part?
- The current finish specification is Chromate conversion coating (Alodine). Because every finishing line runs in-house, the finish can be changed without changing supplier, and we match colour to a RAL or Pantone reference on the drawing.
- How long does production take, and what do you need from us to quote?
- Prototypes are typically 3–7 business days and production runs 7–15 days once the drawing is released and the finish is confirmed. To quote we need the drawing or CAD file (STEP, DXF, DWG, IGES or PDF), the material and finish, the quantity and the destination — and any tolerance or inspection requirement that is not already on the drawing. You get a DFM review with the quotation, not after it.
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