Looking for recommendations on clamshell-style waterproof enclosures for an electronics project.
Requirements:
Watertight (IP67/IP68 preferred)
Clamshell design for easy access and servicing
Aluminum or high-strength polymer
Suitable for cable glands and bulkhead connectors
Compact enough for mounting on a robotic/ROV platform
If you’ve used a manufacturer or supplier that you’ve had good experiences with, I’d appreciate any recommendations. Photos or examples of your setups would be a bonus.
It would likely be helpful if you can provide some more context about your intended project, especially critical details like the operating depths you’re hoping to reach, whether you’re aiming for brief or long term submersion, and at least a rough sense of the size/volume you’re wanting to enclose.
In case it’s relevant / of interest, Blue Robotics do sell some watertight boxes, though they’re not technically clamshell designs - just rectangular with a lid.
The application is for a tethered inspection robot operating in an industrial environment. The enclosure will be continuously submerged during inspections, typically for 2–6 hours, in water temperatures up to 75°C (167°F). I’m targeting a 100 m depth rating (approximately 10 bar / 145 psi) to provide a comfortable safety margin, even though the operating depth will be much shallower.
The enclosure needs to house electronics in roughly a 300 × 200 × 100 mm package.
The biggest design challenge is the cabling. One end of each cable is permanently attached to a specialized inspection probe measuring approximately 102 × 21 × 35 mm (4.0 × 0.83 × 1.38 in), making it impossible to pass through conventional cable glands. The opposite end terminates in a 64-pin I-PEX connector, so I’d prefer not to cut or modify the factory cables.
I’ve looked at the Blue Robotics enclosures and really like their design. I’m interested in hearing if anyone has experience with larger hinged/clamshell enclosures or pressure-rated cable entry systems that can accommodate permanently terminated cables while remaining serviceable. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
There are a ton of IP67 rated junction boxes on amazon, but IP-67 only means it can be 1m deep for 30 minutes, and IP-68 is 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
if you want something rated for 100 meters, Blue Robotics is really your only off the shelf option I’d trust. There are a few ROV tubes out of China that might work, but for the cost difference, i wouldn’t risk it.
Putting dry things in wet places is really common between lots if different industries. Putting dry things 100m underwater for 2-6 hours is really only common in this industry. If it were me I’d go for the watertight box Eliot recommended above.
