Half width test racking options?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2023, 03:52:23 pm
content: So my post pcb assembly QA tower of test needs some tidying. Currently it's a 19" width agilent switch measure with a half width keithley, power supply and oscilloscope stacked on those. Is there a better way to stack these? Ikea lack? A fancier solution? Is there something for mounting half width keithley gear in a 19" rack?

author: Roehrenonkel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2023, 05:40:41 pm
content: Hi loki42,have you considered a 9.5"-Rack? (Same Rails and Nuts but half the width).Good luck

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2023, 10:41:20 pm
content: The measurement switch is full width so I haven't.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2023, 10:54:44 pm
content: There are lots of mounts for half rack equipment which already have rack mounting ears. One example:https://www.redco.com/Rackmout-Kit-For-Half-Rack-Size-units.htmlIt is often harder to find the rack mounting adaptors for the equipment itself. Vendors often charge platinum prices for the kits. But I would look seriously at 3D printing appropriate stuff for todays lightweight equipment.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2023, 11:30:18 pm
content: scratch around the bulk auctions, you may find some Tektronix half-rach chassis you can use.Used with video test equipment - analog waveform and vector monitors come to mind.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2023, 11:49:46 pm
content: Why not just use rack shelves?

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 12:06:48 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on July 22, 2023, 10:54:44 pmOh those adapters look handy. You're right about the kits though, the keithley ones are a few 100 for a few screws and a bit of angle iron.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 12:17:54 am
content: You can buy generic rack ears like the "70HPRackEars" ($20) and drill them to match/mount your test gear. I was considering doing that, but I might use rack shelves, or just build a wooden cabinet for my meters.

author: pqass
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 02:31:56 am
content: I use a large, mobile, 6-tier high, 48" wide wire shelving unit behind the shallow wing of my desk. My test equipment is between two shelves, 6U apart, at eyeball height. Below and above that are heavier equipment and component storage, respectively.If you don't want to go the expensive 19" rack or DIY case with rails route, then you can buy a much cheaper 2 or 3-tier wire shelving unit for your desktop. They come in sizes of 23"W, 14"D, and 21" to 33"H. The TE can overhang the front by an inch.You can fit 14U between the shelves with thisone.

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 01:24:29 pm
content: I went to ikea and got some Lacks. I'll see how they go but it looks like it'll be good, cheap and easy.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 01:53:24 pm
content: 1/2 width Rack bits especially importing them into Oz will send you broke.Last time I needed a joiner and ears I rolled my own using stock Bunnings sourced Ali. The harder part was getting the screws for the 34970's in this case.Fairly easy to insert a plate with a single bend for one half if you only have a single bit of gear.

author: Roehrenonkel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2023, 06:19:56 pm
content: Hi loki42,Quote from: loki42 on July 22, 2023, 10:41:20 pm...oups, i overread that.Is the setup remote-controlled, or is there manual interaction?Maybe mout the HP 3498(0) upright?Just some crazy idea....

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 01:11:41 pm
content: Update, the Ikea lack rack turned out to work well. HP 34980 mounted at bottom with DM6500 and power supply above it and an oscilloscope on the next shelf. Signal gen, spare power supply and spectrum analyser currently on the shelves above but order unfixed at the moment. There's rack kits for the R&S scope but I'm thinking I might just clamp it down somehow. I've got a rack mounted switch on the back screwed in so all the stuff in the "rack" has easy connections. Test fixtures currently go next to the rack.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 02:01:42 pm
content: Pics!You can use Velcro "One Wrap" to mount it all down.

author: loki42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2023, 05:32:22 am
content: First two shelf of lack rack. Network switch at back.