What the Terminal Housing Does
The outer housing is the largest and most complex structural part of a payment terminal. It must hold the PCB, display module, NFC antenna layer, battery compartment, scanner module and all interface ports in precise position — while being drop-resistant, ergonomic in the hand, and manufacturable in the quantity you need.
We design and manufacture custom terminal housings from scratch or from a reference terminal. Common housing configurations we manufacture include: handheld single-piece shells, countertop two-piece (front/back) enclosures, and split designs with a separate keypad bezel.
Material Selection
ABS
Standard for most terminal housings. Impact-resistant, easy to texture and paint, cost-effective for injection molding. Typical wall: 1.8–2.2 mm.
PC/ABS Blend
Stronger than ABS with better heat resistance. Preferred for handheld terminals in daily drop environments or high-temperature installations.
Polycarbonate
For transparent display bezels, indicator windows or housings requiring maximum impact resistance. Higher tooling cost than ABS.
Aluminium 6061
CNC-machined housings for small-volume or high-tolerance applications. Heavier and more expensive but dimensionally stable and heat-dissipating.
Design Specifications
| Parameter | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wall thickness (ABS) | 1.5–2.5 mm | Thicker = heavier and stronger; affects tooling cost |
| Draft angle | 1–3° | Required for injection molding demold; we add in CAD |
| Corner radius (external) | ≥ 1 mm | Sharp external corners cause stress concentration |
| Snap-fit clearance | 0.1–0.3 mm | Between housing halves or cover-to-body interface |
| Boss diameter (screw) | 2× screw OD | For M2–M3 screws typical in terminals |
| Display cutout tolerance | ±0.1–0.2 mm | To maintain bezel gap consistency |
Surface Finish Options
- Mold texture — matte, fine grain, or leather grain etched into the mold; no secondary operations; most cost-effective
- Spray paint — custom RAL or Pantone colour; adds ±0.05–0.1 mm to wall thickness; confirm colour before tooling
- UV-resistant coating — clear or tinted; prevents yellowing in high-UV environments
- Soft-touch / rubber-feel paint — tacky surface for grip; popular on handheld POS terminals
- Pad printing / hot stamp — logos, text, and symbols applied directly to the housing surface
No CAD file needed. Send the reference terminal or photos from all angles. We measure the housing, rebuild the CAD, confirm critical dimensions — then manufacture. The reconstruction is free with your quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
ABS for most terminals — good impact resistance, easy to paint and texture, cost-effective to mold. PC/ABS blend for handheld terminals that take daily drops. Polycarbonate for transparent windows and bezels.
Typical ABS terminal housings use 1.5–2.5 mm walls. We recommend wall thickness during the CAD review stage based on your specific geometry and structural requirements.
Yes — mold texture, spray paint, UV coating and soft-touch rubber-feel paint are all available. We confirm the surface specification before tooling.
Yes. Send a reference terminal, photos, or a hand sketch. We measure the housing, rebuild the CAD, confirm with you, then manufacture. CAD reconstruction is free with your quote.
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Quote — Terminal Housing
Sample, photo or sketch. Engineers reply in 24h.