Who makes Larger rack mount enclosures? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Calaverasgrande
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 02:28:38 am
content: Working on an audio project and having a hard time locating a project box that can fit it. Spent a long time on Mouser and Digikey trying to narrow it down. But it seems nobody makes an enclosure larger than 6RU? Sadly mine needs to be 7 or 8 RU.Checked out Hammond and Bud sites and it seems to be the same.A little more info, I'm refurbishing some old audio mixer channel strips to be used as an analog front end for a digital audio system. This old mixer is all transformer balanced with inductor based EQ and fully discrete class A audio path running on a single rail 44 volt power supply. The channel strips are 19" long, but I'm chopping them down to 12".This would fit in a 7RU, but of course a little breathing room of 8RU is preferable.I need to mount the output transformers and PS someplace after all.Ironically it only needs to be 6"deep. So yeah I'm looking for a tall, skinny project box that rack mounts.I'm really just trying to clear off the dang project shelf and these mixer parts have been there for 10 years already.Anyone have the low down on where to get a large metal box that rack mounts?

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 02:33:20 am
content: "8U rack" search on amazon or sweetwater ...returns all kinds of fun stuff

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 03:12:58 am
content: If all else fails could you adapt an 8u rack draw,or if moneys no object someone like penn (https://www.penn-elcom.com/) might be able to knock up a custom jobbie

author: Poroit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 03:59:00 am
content: G'day Calaverasgrande,What is your budget?Rittal , Schneider etc

author: Calaverasgrande
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 06:23:07 am
content: I dont need an 8 space rack. I need an 8 space project box that mounts in a 10 space rack.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 07:06:55 am
content: Don't think you will find off the shelf solutions for enclosures this big since having a single unit this big sort of defeats the purpose of being rack mount. The whole idea of a rack is building up a system from smaller units that are individually small enough to be easily moved around by a person without needing special lifting equipment.That being said the easiest place to look is likely a rack mount drawer modified to be a case. Or you can also buy 2 enclosures in a 4U size, cut out the bottom/top, then screw them together into 1 unit.If none of that works for you, then you can always find some plans for a rack enclosure online, modify it into 8U and send it to a laser cutting shop to have it turned into sheet metal.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 07:11:50 am
content: Quote from: Calaverasgrande on February 07, 2025, 06:23:07 amSounds like a backwards way of looking at it, the front panel will be the majority of the detail/work. Start with a process to manufacture the front panel and then select some methods to build out a box from that (the link to Penn above has some "modular" ways to build the boring bits).

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 09:20:06 am
content: Maybe this is an option?https://www.guanghsing.com.tw/en/product-606116/GH-800ATXR-820SR-GH-800ATXR-820SR.htmlSince you need to DIY the frontpanel anyway, you might be able to modify this - however not really cheap.Or maybe go with a used server (2 row blade server enclosure)?

author: NE666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 09:57:46 am
content: Quote from: Calaverasgrande on February 07, 2025, 02:28:38 amWould it be easier to locate an enclosure of suitable dimensions, and then make it rack mountable?Bolt-on rack ears/lugs can be obtained, as can support rails:

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 01:06:35 pm
content: Hammond Manufacturing 8U Desktop Rack RCBS1901424BK1

author: radar_macgyver
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 01:34:03 pm
content: I was going to suggestPar-metal, though when I looked up their standard products it seems like they don't have something with 8U and shallow depth.It makes more sense to me to design an 8U panel and have someone likeOSHcut,Front Panel ExpressorSend-cut-sendmachine it for you. Once all the mixer gear is installed to the front panel, design a sheet-metal rear cover that screws onto the panel. OSHcut or Send-cut-send can do sheet metal bending.If you use Front Panel Express for the panel, they can do engraving and infilling, resulting in a very nice looking product. Their design software can give you instant pricing too.

author: Calaverasgrande
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 08:39:20 pm
content: Yeah it looks like FPX and such might be the way to go. Using an 8RU drawer could work. But those are deeper than I need, and the ones I've looked at so far are going to require a lot of work on top of $500 USD for the box I'm going to have to butcher. Might be better to go that route or like someone suggested above. Find a desktop console box and attach rack ears to it. Pretty sure I have some leftover rack ears from network gear that could be made to fit.Sadly these Chinese companies aren't going to be a help, since I'm a US resident and things are crazy right now.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 11:24:39 pm
content: How about stacking two 4U units?You really only need to join the two side extrusions, front and back plates need to be customized anyway, but that's just sheet alu.https://www.verotec.co.uk/tech-downloads/Section%208%20-%2019%20Inch%20Rackcases.pdf

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 11:45:22 pm
content: Quote from: Terry Bites on February 07, 2025, 01:06:35 pmThat is a rack. OP is NOT after the rack, but a rackmount enclosure, i.e. something you mount IN the rack.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 07:10:28 am
content: further thinking of it, I'd use a metal enclosure about the size - like from electric distribution enclosures:https://www.automation24.de/stahl-gehaeusePut ears on them and have a 8U front plate made from Aluminium e.g. and screw that on as well. So it looks nice and fits.