Programmable controller component with assembly alignment features

A programmable controller, comprising:

• a bottom housing comprising a first plurality of attachment features;
• a first plurality of alignment features extending from the bottom housing;
• an upper housing comprising a second plurality of attachment features configured to couple with the first plurality of attachment features;
• a second plurality of alignment features extending from the upper housing;
• a first pair of the second plurality of alignment features configured to slidably engage a second pair of the first plurality of alignment features, wherein the first pair of the first plurality of alignment features are asymmetrically positioned relative to a base of the bottom housing;
• and
• a central processing unit positioned between the lower housing and the upper housing, the central processing unit comprising at least one receptacle configured to receive at least one of the first or second plurality of alignment features.

A method of assembling a programmable logic controller, comprising:

• aligning at least two receptacles in an input/output board with at least two alignment projections extending from a base of a bottom housing in a direction transverse to the base, wherein the at least two alignment projections are positioned asymmetrically with respect to the base;
• directing the input/output board slidably along the at least two alignment projections until components of the input/output board engage with abutment or coupling features of the bottom housing;
• aligning at least two receptacles in a central processing unit board with at least two projections extending from the base and directing the central processing unit board slidably along the at least two projections until a connector of the input/output board couples with a connector of the central processing unit board;
• aligning at least two alignment features of an upper housing with at least two alignment features of the bottom housing;
• directing the upper housing slidably along the at least two alignment features of the bottom housing until a coupling feature of the upper housing interlocks with a coupling feature of the bottom housing, wherein the at least to alignment features of the bottom housing are asymmetrically positioned with respect to the base.