MOTM

At 12:06 PM -0500 03/16/01, Tkacs, Ken wrote:
>
>Open frame? Okay, I don't understand. How can you fit more than 19" wide of
>modules in a 19" rack? In the Tardis, it works, but in my universe....

d00D, you have to think outside the box :)

>What I'm talking about using 19" rails as horizontal beams leaving space is
>that the rails are L-shaped in cross section, but not a clean "L". There is
>almost always a 1/2" or 5/8" "round" to the joint because of the thickness
>of the metal used in the rails. Stamping, tapping, and bending the rails is
>far cheaper than extruding a clean "L" and then tapping, so that's what you
>get. When you sandwich multiple rails together, the rounds leave a wide
>space between module rows.

Thanx :)  I understand now that you drew a diagram.  I would want flat
rails.  I need the remaining 7U for what I already have in there.

>Buying those screws seems trivial... until you want them in black.

My universe contains paint :)

At 12:10 PM -0500 03/16/01, David Bivins wrote:
>
>I think he's talking about those open racks without sides--think just rack
>rails, vertical, 19" apart. Then he's thinking of putting a pair of
>horizontal rack rails across the front of that. The horizontal rails will
>mount to the vertical rails. Between the vertical rails will fit 5 2U
>modules. Outside the vertical rails will fit, well, whatever fits on
>whatever he has overlapping the ends.

Exactly!!  Except the rack I have has adjustable tilt so the rails aren't
quite vertical.  I'm thinking I can use wood.  This will also keep my knees
from smacking into the PCB's, and I read somewhere that PCB's are toxic ;)

So I'll get a couple of boards .500" or less thick that stick out 3U past
the edge of the rails.  That's 6U more space!!  I'll cut notches in them
for the "L" parts of the rack rails.  One problem might be getting strong
enough wood screws that will fit through #10 machine holes.  Only four
screws will be holding up 16U of modules from underneath the rack (normal
rack ears go over the rack).  Perhaps I'll have to bore out the roles in
the rack to use larger screws.  I think I paid less than $100 for it,
anyway.

Someone mentioned inserts to use the motm black 8-32 screws.  Who makes
these inserts and where can I buy them?