I came across a Dell PC that’s designed for 19" rack mounting (pictures below). I really like the material they’ve used. The appearance is excellent, it doesn’t pick up fingerprints and most importantly it is electrically conductive! Does anyone know what material is?
I'm not sure... will have to dig out a magnet from the back of my drawer. I'm pretty sure it's a mild steel with a surface treatment, but I'm not sure what. It probably has a trade name that everyone knows! I'm on the verge of putting the thing in the car and driving around sheet metal companies until I get an answer!
Yes! A supplier has told me it's almost certainly a stainless steel 304 refered to as "DP1/PC1", where "DP" means "dull polished". This type of material comes with a removable plastic coating so that scratches/damage can be avoided during production. Apprarently this material is £80 for a 2’ by 1’ sheet :shock: . Therefore I can't imagine that this is correct because there's no way Dell would use such an expensive material for a product like this.
Wow interesting... I bet they are getting it cheap... china or probably india.... I was thinking it was a stainless similar to that which is used on the anti fingerprint refrigerators.
Garth: I your material supplier wants £80 for a 2’ by 1’ sheet 304 DP you had better get another supplier. Arguably the worlds largest hardware store - McMaster-Carr sells this stuff as 304 #3 brushed surface for $95.00 US for a 48 x 36" sheet of 0.024" thick. McMaster-Carr has just about any thing you want but and premium prices. If you got it at the quantities that Dell purchases, I would estimate that there are getting it for about 1/3 that price in not better, especially if they use the Chinese equivalent. Niel
If it is magnetic - it could be brushed pre-plated steel. I have noticed that pre-plated steel does not pick up finger prints very easily - unless you have greasy fingers!
At a glance it looks like brushed SS to me. It is all in economy of scale. you buy one sheet from an overpriced retailer or you buy bulk from the wholesaler or better yet, the sheet producer. Dell's got the volume to go to the manufacturer for the lowest price.
