Industrial Panel PC Selection Guide: A Comprehensive Insight from Technical Specifications to Application Scenarios
一.From Factory Floors to Self-Service Kiosks: The Versatile Rise of Industrial Panel PC
1.Industrial panel PCs are industrial computers designed for harsh industrial environments that integrate high-resolution touch display and computing power. The most common application at industrial sites is for human-machine interface (HMI), the communications bridge between the operator and the automation machine. In recent years, improvements in industrial panel PC performance and technology have extended their use to new applications in data collection and analysis, visualization of production processes, machine monitoring and predictive maintenance, and more.industrial panel pc touch screen
2.Apart from industrial HMI applications, the interactive kiosks we see in our everyday lives, such as the automated multimedia platforms in unmanned stores and self-service kiosks, also use industrial panel PCs. Industrial panel PCs provide computing capabilities and connect to peripheral devices for ticketing, cash handling, check-in, and self-service ordering. According to a report from another market research agency, Grand View Research, the global market size for kiosks will reach 28.45 billion US dollars in 2021, of which more than 45% is for hardware parts such as scanners, card readers, printers, cameras, and panel PCs. Industrial panel PCs have found their place in applications in both industrial environments and daily life.
二.Optimizing Industrial Panel PCs: From Core Specs to Harsh Environment Deployment
1.Screen Size ：The first consideration is screen size and resolution, which depend on display content and complexity. Display content could be simple information such as messages, system messages, or graphics; complex multimedia content; or software-specific display requirements. All these factors determine the necessary display size, screen resolution, and display ratio.industrial panel pc win 10
2.Touch Type ：Industrial panel PCs typically use resistive or capacitive touchscreens depending on the application and situation. Resistive panels use fingertip pressure to control input and can be used with gloves on, so they are an excellent choice for single-point touch in automation equipment HMI. Capacitive panels sense input through human finger current and support multi-touch, so they can perform zooming, dragging, and other actions, making them well-suited for kiosks and infotainment systems.
3.Display Brightness ：The installation location, indoors or outdoors, determines the ideal brightness of the industrial panel PC's display. Generally speaking, the brightness of an LCD backlight used indoors is about 200-300 nits, while outdoors is much higher, about 500-1500 nits. Selecting a high-brightness sunlight-readable display for use under direct sunlight will ensure the operator or audience can see content clearly.industrial panel pc windows
4.Processor Efficiency ：With the rise of smart factories, HMIs are being used to support more functions and smart applications that require high-performance computing. These new applications include machine vision, data collection, voice recognition, browsing CAD files, sensing, and even creating a virtual presence in AR and VR. Still, some panel PCs will continue to serve as simple information display terminals, such as for displaying production information and warehouse management, so they only need processors with general performance, low power consumption, and reasonable cost.
5.Fans or Fanless ：Many factors determine the necessity of fans in factory applications. A dusty environment, for example, can easily hinder a fan's performance, impacting overall system stability, so choosing a sealed fanless panel PC avoids this problem. For high-performance computing applications, a wide temperature and fanless industrial panel PC with a special heat dissipation structure is a better solution that removes the need for holes in the system casing or installing fans, thereby eliminating dust contamination. In short, multiple factors, including the application environment, computing requirements, and heat dissipation, must be considered when deciding whether a fan is needed.
6.IP Rating ：In an industrial environment, machines and equipment face different operational and safety threats, including dust, vibration, high and low temperatures, moisture, chemicals, water, and more. Ensuring reliable operation in these harsh environments necessitates varying levels of protection. The ingress protection (IP) rating is a general international standard used to test and evaluate a product's dustproof and waterproof abilities and determine its protection level. The IP rating consists of two numbers. The first number, with the highest level of 6, indicates the system's level of protection against dust and solid foreign matter ingress. The second number shows the level of protection against water or liquid, and the highest level of 8 indicates it can withstand high-temperature and high-pressure water at close range. The appropriate IP rating of the industrial panel PC depends on the requirements of the application environment.industrial panel pc with touchscreen
7.Rugged Design ：Using an industrial panel PC in a harsh industrial environment requires a rugged design, including a high-hardness, scratch-resistant glass display (surface hardness > 7H), a wide operating temperature range, and the ability to withstand high vibration and shock. In addition, it is also necessary to design the hardware with excellent protection to ensure electromagnetic compatibility with other devices in the system.
8.Expandability ：In the face of diverse applications and innovative future smart applications, flexible expansion can futureproof the industrial panel PC for multiple roles. To face multiple application environments, a general industrial panel PC offers various expansion options such as Mini PCIe, PCI/PCIe, and more. These flexible expansion options enable the addition of wireless transmission, extra I/O, and additional functions to transmit data and control various peripheral devices.industrial panel pc rkc3568
9.Mounting Options ：The machine design and environment determine the best installation method for an industrial panel PC. The most common installation methods include panel mount, open frame, VESA mount, and rack mount. A panel mount or open frame is the best choice to install the panel PC on the door of a control cabinet or integrate the panel PC as part of a machine before it leaves the factory. A standard 75/100mm VESA mount supports the installation of the panel PC on a cantilever or wall. For a panel PC in a server rack, rack mounts are the sensible choice and can be mounted using accessories with rack mount baffles or metal frames.