Category / Category 03 · Measuring & test
Instrument Cases
An instrument case only works if the device cannot move inside it. That is a geometry problem, not a foam problem — so we design the interior from the device envelope, including the parts that stick out: probes, screens, connectors and feet.
01 / What this category covers
Definition, scope and limits
Instrument cases hold measuring, testing, calibration and laboratory devices that travel between a store, a bench and a customer site. The case is usually bought by the device manufacturer as part of the delivered product, or by a calibration or service organisation as a container for equipment it owns.
This page covers cases with a cut or moulded interior designed around a specific device. If the contents are hand tools rather than an instrument, see tool cases.
The interior is the deliverable. A generic foam block with a rectangular cut-out will hold the device but will not stop a probe from bending, and it will not survive the third revision of the device without a new cutting file.
02 / Photographs
What this category looks like
All photographs are taken in our own facility or studio on the actual moulded parts. No stock image, no render, no borrowed model.
03 / Selection logic
Choosing the interior, by device behaviour
| Device behaviour | Interior we propose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid body, no protrusions | Single-layer flat-cut foam or EVA | Simple outline holds it; lowest cost |
| Screen or display on the lid side | Lid-side protection layer above the cavity | Prevents pressure on the glass when the lid closes |
| Long probe or antenna | Dedicated channel, not a wider cavity | A loose cavity lets the probe swing and bend |
| Several accessories | Separate accessory bay with its own cut | Stops items colliding in transit |
| Mixed configurations of one device | Modular inserts with replaceable pads | One case covers variants without a new tool |
Every interior starts from a drawing or a measured sample. We do not estimate a cavity from a photograph alone — perspective error is larger than the clearance we are trying to hold.
04 / Who buys this
Who this category is built for
- Instrument manufacturers · case shipped with the device, matched to the product drawing
- Calibration laboratories · transport between bench and site, fixed device list
- Test & inspection services · kits that must arrive in the same configuration every time
- Rental fleets · device returned by different users; interior must survive handling
05 / What can vary
Options and their conditions
| Option | Condition |
|---|---|
| Insert material | PE foam, EVA, or moulded EVA — each with different durability |
| Layer count | single or multi-layer with lid protection |
| Accessory bay | sized from the accessory list, not guessed |
| Document pocket | for calibration certificates and manuals |
| Cutting file | held under revision control; you approve each revision |
| Label | device name, asset number, or calibration due date |
06 / How an order runs
From enquiry to despatch
- 01 · You send application, required internal dimensions, quantity and any drawing or photo.
- 02 · We shortlist existing models and return measured dimensions, photographs and the applicable MOQ.
- 03 · If nothing fits, engineering reviews a custom route and states tooling cost and lead time separately.
- 04 · Sample stage: colour, interior and fit approved on a physical sample before the order.
- 05 · 30% deposit → production → inspection → balance → EXW or FOB despatch.
07 / FAQ
What do you need to design the interior?
A drawing of the device, or photographs with a ruler across all three axes, plus a list of accessories that must travel in the same case. A sample device is the best input.
What happens when our device changes slightly?
Usually a new cutting file for the insert, not a new case tool — that is the cheaper path and we will say so. We keep the file revision so the change is traceable.
Can the case hold the calibration certificate?
Yes, as a document pocket in the lid or a flat bay alongside the device. State the document size; A5 and A4 need different layouts.
Do you publish interior drawings?
Customer-specific interiors are not published. Generic model dimensions appear only after the measured fact sheet is approved.
Related: Equipment cases · Foam & EVA inserts · Tool cases · RFQ