What is standard/common test gear dimensions? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 09:09:56 am
content: Hi!Folks, tell me what is standard/common enclosures dimensions?Power Supplies, Oscilloscopes, Counters etcI know about 19 racks but there are many smallest units everywereHow to chose standard dimensions for selfmade gear?

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 09:45:39 am
content: Glancing at my bench, and thinking about other gear I've seen:There is absolutely, positively none.Rackmount dimensions are probably a somewhat hard maximum limit, beyond which you're really dealing with floor-standing equipment anyway (which, itself, may simply be a rack cabinet or more..).Tim

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 10:52:10 am
content: Don't overlook the fact that a lot of smaller test gear is still designed with the 'U' system in terms of height even if it isn't 19" wide.Each U is 1.75" and a lot of smaller test gear will be 2U tall (or 3.5" tall). This could be a DMM or a function generator. The width might be a fraction of 19". A typical DMM will be 2U tall and half a rack wide.A small scope might be 3U tall and some tiny/skinny gear might be a few inches wide but still conform to being 1U or 1.75" tall. This is to allow small/narrow test gear to still fit neatly (2 or three items side by side?) within the U system in a 19" ATE rack without it all looking like crazy paving.

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:28:49 pm
content: The following table is one I put together of my lab equipment or equipment I'm considering getting and you can see there is a wide range of sizes and weights (I did it to try an plan out shelving on my lab bench).InstrumentWidth (mm)Height (mm)Depth (mm)Weight (kg)Weight/Width kg/cmPower ConsumptionKeithley 2000 Bench Multimeter2131043702.90.1422VAKeithley 2015 Bench Multimeter2381043704.20.1840VATektronix FC3100 Counter210903952.70.13<40WLeCroy WaveJet2851901023.20.1175VAHM7042-5 triple power supply285753657.40.26330VA/250WHameg HM8135 RF Synthesizer2857536550.1840VAAgilent 33522A Waveform Generator261.1103.8303.23.30.13<45WAgilent E3631A power supply2131333488.20.38Output 80W input ? (80/0.4 = 200W)TI TF930 frequency counter260882350.9500.045WTTi PL320QMD power supply3501702659.50.27Output 134W input? (134/0.4 = 335W)Advantest 7451A DMM212883403.40.1620VADell Precision T5500171448471Aeroflex 3250380200400140.37140WR&S FPC100039618515630.0814W

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:40:04 pm
content: In terms of height many of those items will probably conform to the U system. That would mean the height will be a multiple of 44.45mm =1U when the unit is configured for rack mounting (no feet or handle fitted).For example, the Keithley 2000/2015 DMM is mainly designed to be used in an ATE rack via GPIB or RS232. The height dimensions above of 104mm include the feet and handles. Remove them and the 2015 is 89mm or 3.5" tall. A sliding fit for a 2U (3.5") rack shelf

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 06:40:20 pm
content: Quote from: G0HZU on June 10, 2018, 12:40:04 pmYes, a lot of them fall into the 2U slot, if I remove handles but then the Hameg ones are designed to stack but are only 75mm tall and the TTi power supply is not designed for a rack at all and neither is the WaveJet. For my setup I want to keep the handles in place and use shelves so I need to allow more space.The lengths are also designed to be typically less than 40cm and I guess that this is for rack fitting as well but there is quite a range from nearer 30cm to very close to 40cm. I've often found this a pain in the past as standard shelves (for domestic use) tend to be 30cm and it is hard to find ones that are 45 cm deep unless you go for industrial type shelving e.g. chrome shelving which has other issues.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 06:53:41 pm
content: Yes, I think the primary aim for a lot of test gear is to make it fit the rack/U system quite well once stripped and configured for ATE use. But things get a bit vague once you add the handles and feet for bench use.I think the newer (manual and programmable) TTI supplies are typically 3U. I've never formally fitted stuff to ATE racks but I think you can buy rack mount kits for much of the modern TTi PSU range direct from TTi.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 06:55:33 pm
content: Quote from: 001 on June 10, 2018, 09:09:56 amThe case sizes usually are multiples of half 19" wide / 1U height units where half 19" wide and 2U high seems to be very popular.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 07:14:10 pm
content: Quote from: jpb on June 10, 2018, 12:28:49 pmKeithley 2000 and 2015 are basically the same meter, they have same dimentions. They are 213mm wide, which is what I call "half-width rackmount".I'd say rack-size is a standard. At least width and height. Depth is sort of arbitrary. I'd suggest stick to it, this increases chances to stack equipment.