Doepfer

I received my DIY kit today, and it came with a different kind of rail
than what was pictured at the Analogue Haven and Doepfer web sites, or
in the plans that came with the kit.  How am I supposed to mount them
exactly?  When looking at the end there is a longer flat piece with
holes drilled in it.  Is that the holes I would use to screw the rail
to the wooden frame that I build?  There are various T-shaped grooves,
but one on the edge of the metal is sized for the tiny nuts that came
in the bag, I'm guessing the nuts just slide around in there.  But,
how is that supposed to work?  Once the rail is screwed down into the
case, I won't be able to add nuts to the rail any more, so do I need
to split the nuts into 1/4's, and use 1/4 of them for each rail, and
insert them all before screwing down the rail?  Then all the unused
nuts would just be sliding around in the rail.  Just making sure I'm
orienting this the right way...  Also, from the surface you mount the
rail to, to the center of the screw hole...has that changed from the
old rail style to the new rail style?  If so, then the dimensions of
the case will have to be changed to accommodate the changes...  Just
curious.

> I received my DIY kit today, and it came with a different kind of rail
> than what was pictured at the Analogue Haven and Doepfer web sites, or
> in the plans that came with the kit.  How am I supposed to mount them
> exactly?  When looking at the end there is a longer flat piece with
> holes drilled in it.  Is that the holes I would use to screw the rail
> to the wooden frame that I build?  There are various T-shaped grooves,
> but one on the edge of the metal is sized for the tiny nuts that came
> in the bag, I'm guessing the nuts just slide around in there.  But,
> how is that supposed to work?  Once the rail is screwed down into the
> case, I won't be able to add nuts to the rail any more, so do I need
> to split the nuts into 1/4's, and use 1/4 of them for each rail, and
> insert them all before screwing down the rail?  Then all the unused
> nuts would just be sliding around in the rail.  Just making sure I'm
> orienting this the right way...  Also, from the surface you mount the
> rail to, to the center of the screw hole...has that changed from the
> old rail style to the new rail style?  If so, then the dimensions of
> the case will have to be changed to accommodate the changes...  Just
> curious.

We changed to the new version of rails a couple of months ago because many
customers asked if it would be possible to use the same rails as those used
in the standard cases and suitcases. The information about the DIY kits has
been updated already in March 2008:

"From May 2008 the contents of the DIY kits will change to normal front
rails (same as used in the standard A-100 frames and suitcases) instead of
the mounting rails with threads mentioned above. To keep the costs as low as
possible normal M3 nuts are slided into the rails (not threaded inserts as
used in the standard A-100 frames and suitcases)."

If you already know the exact number and position of the modules you may
insert exactly the matched number of nuts into the grooves. Otherwise 1/4 of
nuts in case of DIY#1 (or 1/2 in case of DIY#2) should be inserted into the
grooves. But it's also possible to insert nuts later by removing one
mounting screw and loosening the second one a bit.

The rails are mounted by two M5 self-tapping screws which are screwed into
the center holes at the end of each rail.

You probably received the old description of the DIY kits together with the
new version by mistake. You can download the new one from our website.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, <hardware@...> wrote:
>
> > I received my DIY kit today, and it came with a different kind of rail
> > than what was pictured at the Analogue Haven and Doepfer web sites, or
> > in the plans that came with the kit.  How am I supposed to mount them
> > exactly?  When looking at the end there is a longer flat piece with
> > holes drilled in it.  Is that the holes I would use to screw the rail
> > to the wooden frame that I build?  There are various T-shaped grooves,
> > but one on the edge of the metal is sized for the tiny nuts that came
> > in the bag, I'm guessing the nuts just slide around in there.  But,
> > how is that supposed to work?  Once the rail is screwed down into the
> > case, I won't be able to add nuts to the rail any more, so do I need
> > to split the nuts into 1/4's, and use 1/4 of them for each rail, and
> > insert them all before screwing down the rail?  Then all the unused
> > nuts would just be sliding around in the rail.  Just making sure I'm
> > orienting this the right way...  Also, from the surface you mount the
> > rail to, to the center of the screw hole...has that changed from the
> > old rail style to the new rail style?  If so, then the dimensions of
> > the case will have to be changed to accommodate the changes...  Just
> > curious.
> 
> We changed to the new version of rails a couple of months ago
because many
> customers asked if it would be possible to use the same rails as
those used
> in the standard cases and suitcases. The information about the DIY
kits has
> been updated already in March 2008:
> 
> "From May 2008 the contents of the DIY kits will change to normal front
> rails (same as used in the standard A-100 frames and suitcases)
instead of
> the mounting rails with threads mentioned above. To keep the costs
as low as
> possible normal M3 nuts are slided into the rails (not threaded
inserts as
> used in the standard A-100 frames and suitcases)."
> 
> If you already know the exact number and position of the modules you may
> insert exactly the matched number of nuts into the grooves.
Otherwise 1/4 of
> nuts in case of DIY#1 (or 1/2 in case of DIY#2) should be inserted
into the
> grooves. But it's also possible to insert nuts later by removing one
> mounting screw and loosening the second one a bit.
> 
> The rails are mounted by two M5 self-tapping screws which are
screwed into
> the center holes at the end of each rail.
> 
> You probably received the old description of the DIY kits together
with the
> new version by mistake. You can download the new one from our website.
> 
> Best wishes
> Dieter Doepfer
>

Okay, sounds good.  The bag of screws contains I think 4 small screws,
they are the same threading as the tiny nuts, and the power supply. 
I'm guessing those 4 screws are to mount the power supply.  In
addition to that, there are larger screws, they look to be close to
the same size that you use to screw a horizontal rackmount device to a
standard vertical rack.  I'm guessing these are the M5 screws you're
referring to, that can be used to screw into the ends of the rails? 
They're not self-tapping though, they're just machine bolts.  Also,
like I pointed out before, there are tiny evenly-spaced holes all down
the rail, those can just be ignored?

it would also be nice that you could purchase the rails seperatly as you can power alot more 
modules than 168hp (2rows) with the diy kit #2, I forexample have double that (336hp) and 
many of them are quite wide too and they shouldn`t take even half of the 1,2A the power 
supply is producing.... so one wote for rails for sale!

Compatible rails are available from Schroff. At least they are here in 
the US. I think they are about $10 each without the threaded strips, 
and the strips are another $10 each or so. I called them and they said 
they will sell individual pieces, although I didn't buy any.
Doug

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "astroschnautzer" 
<astroschnautzer@...> wrote:
>
> it would also be nice that you could purchase the rails seperatly as 
you can power alot more 
> modules than 168hp (2rows) with the diy kit #2, I forexample have 
double that (336hp) and 
> many of them are quite wide too and they shouldn`t take even half of 
the 1,2A the power 
> supply is producing.... so one wote for rails for sale!
>

You find my answers written inline.

Dieter Doepfer

> Okay, sounds good.  The bag of screws contains I think 4 small screws,
> they are the same threading as the tiny nuts, and the power supply.
> I'm guessing those 4 screws are to mount the power supply.

Yes

> In addition to that, there are larger screws, they look to be close to
> the same size that you use to screw a horizontal rackmount device to a
> standard vertical rack.  I'm guessing these are the M5 screws you're
> referring to, that can be used to screw into the ends of the rails?
> They're not self-tapping though, they're just machine bolts.

The manufacturer proMa calls them "selbstschneidende Schrauben M5X20" and
that's in translation "self-tapping srew M5X20"

> Also, like I pointed out before, there are tiny evenly-spaced holes all
down
> the rail, those can just be ignored?

I don't know exactly what you mean.