When building any sort of enclosure with access to its interior, hinges will be a concern. Here, JW Winco — a global manufacturer of standard parts since 1894 — discusses the three top factors to consider when choosing an ideal hinge. These include the weight of the application, its function, and esthetics.
JW Winco’s GN 161 hinges are specifically designed for commercially available aluminum profiles.
The first consideration is the weight of the lid or door, which can determine both the size and material of the hinge. There is a large selection of potential hinges to choose from, including a variety of sizes of hinges in zinc die cast, steel, stainless steel, and plastic — and all of these options have a correct function.
A less obvious consideration is how the enclosure functions and how the door opens. For example: will it need to open fully, or just 90 degrees? Which way will it swing? Is there room for external hinges or must they be internal? Will the doors need to hold a particular position?
There are some unique hinges available to meet the needs of a project, such as:
- EN 160 Lift-Off Hinge, which is designed for easy unhinging of a door.
- EN 151.2 Lockable Hinge, which comes with a built-in adjustable lever for locking the door into position.
- GN 161 Hinges are designed specifically to join standard aluminum profiles — a unique but often desirable functionality.
- GN 128 Weldable Hinges are necessary for when security is an issue in an application.
Hinges may seem like a very elementary sort of component, but certain design innovations can make them highly functional in a particular application. For instance, GN 127 Adjustable Alignment Hinges are available in three versions that make them adjustable in different directions. Their design provides ideal alignment of a door in its frame.
Of course, the final element in hinge selection is esthetics. All other functions aside, sometimes you just want a hinge to look good!
For more examples of available hinges, read the full article from JW Winco here.
Filed Under: Flanges • supports • mounts • brackets • hinges