500 series front plates?

[JRE Productions]

Anyone have a line on blank front plates for the 500 racks? Anodysed aluminum for DIY modules. I have asked a few companies for quotes. Does any distributor offer them already made? I UTFSF and came up blank.

If no one offers them, maybe we can do a group order?

Also, do PCB companies offer cards in that format?


Joe

 

[pucho812]

you can get PCB's in that format you just have to design them... hell you can get pcb's in anyway shape and from you just have to design them with PCB software.... :thumb:

 

[JRE Productions]

PCB: Because of the 15 pin edge connector being brass (?) I was wondering if they were pre made in that shape with the pins already defined?

I was also wondering if anyone new if they were made that form factor for the photo resistant PCB style so I can make them at home.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Are they the same size as Eurocards?
Look for Sub Rack enclosures
e.g.
http://www.apw.com/

They own these guys
http://www.vero-electronics.com/PDF/KM6-II_frontpanels.pdf

Have a look around all the encloure web sites - what you are after are sub racks...

 

[solder_city]

im wondering why you posted this in the drawing board.

 

[pucho812]

[quote author="JRE Productions"]PCB: Because of the 15 pin edge connector being brass (?) I was wondering if they were pre made in that shape with the pins already defined?

I was also wondering if anyone new if they were made that form factor for the photo resistant PCB style so I can make them at home.

Thanks[/quote]

No pre made ones that I know of.

 

[JRE Productions]

[quote author="solder_city"]im wondering why you posted this in the drawing board.[/quote]

Because this had little to do with componets, repairs ect, and more to do with hardware design. If its in the wrong place, someone can move it.

 

[blunderfonics]

Paia Frac-Rack blank panels have the same dimensions as the API format and are much cheaper than the API blank panels:

http://www.paia.com/fracrak.htm

 

[JRE Productions]

PERFECT!!!! Thanks!

 

[JRE Productions]

I just ordered the Frakpak rack and 10 blank faceplates. Total was 65 dollars with shipping.

Wonder what the quality is on this? The 500 rack (frakrac) was $19.75 for a 10 unit rack (no connectors). The blank 500 style face plates were $4.50 including the PCB mounting bracket and hardware.

I keep you posted on the quality,

Joe

 

[Handcrafted Tone]

Joe hasn't followed up yet so I guess I will. I bought the frac-rack hoping to add a 10 ch 500 series lunch-box to my rig. Too bad the Frac-Rack will not fit API sized cards. the front panel screw holes are different, and the bar holding the screws limit the size down to about 100mm. I doubt any API cards will fit. Even if they did you would have to drill new holes in the front plate.

It's still a great case for the money (dirt cheap). I hate the slotted screws included with the package. You have to put a LOT of force to get the machine screws in. If you buy a fracrack, do yourself a favor and order 4-40 philips head screws and nuts, and phillips 4X3/8 machine screws. - digi-key # H800-ND, H216-ND, and H346-ND. If you can find a black equivalent it would be even cooler.

I have blisters from those crappy screws. Slotted screws suck. :evil:

I'm still deciding what I'm going to put in here, but I'm thinking of a DIY guitar FX rack.... distortions, gate/comp, eq's, weird fx, tx ballanced DI, reamp, routing options....


BTW - you can buy blank front panels for the 500 series from Brent Averill for $10 each, but they have his logo on them. Just flip them over and your good to go. (you don't get the tapered screw hole, but you won't even notice.

 

[Guest]

Why not use the rack as a lunchbox - but with a few mods
ie use a false plate to attach to the fracpack then attach the API proper faceplate to the false plate

 

[Handcrafted Tone]

unfortunately most 500 series cards still wont fit inside due to the hight of the case. It needs to be 10 - 17 mm larger.

You can see in my first picture above, I'm trying to fit the DIY500 module in there, but that is as close as it gets. That module is 117mm high, I would need about 15 mm more case to make it fit.

 

[Guest]

So it would never fit into a stanrd rack unit (2/3RU case anyway) -
So - put a spacer on the top plate of 15mm then screw the top plate on - then use the false front panels
Away you go
You wont be able to stack anything above it for the 15/16th of a RU (or whatever is left) it will occupy

Just ideas so you dont have to throw away anything

 

[Handcrafted Tone]

Thanks for the ideas, but the only way to make a standard 500 series card fit is to completely re-design and fab a new case (not the front panels). The API lunch box does fit in a 3U space, but the screws are at the very top, where the rails on the frac-rack are about 12mm closer together.

It's not a total loss, I've already got a Bret Averill lunch-box, I'll just use the frac-rack for home etches.

 

[Bryson]

I suppose slots could be nibbled in for the pcb, and new holes drilled, but that would weaken the chassis.

 

[Handcrafted Tone]

that is a possibility, but the metal used is very cheap. If it is staying in your studio and never going to move it would work. one drop and the whole thing will fall apart.

 

[Sender]

Hey Rob,

A couple of questions....

So if you nib the front rails to make the cards fit, and buy the optional top/bottom/back plate it will help with the stability issue? Is there enough meat on the rails to even nib them? And if you do nib them, will the face plate fit without going over the end of the case?

Also....

How do you like your Eisen? I was researching the case in hopes of using ot for my Eisen project. Can you let me know what you think about the Eisen stuff and what Op Amp/Trannys you used. What are you using for your power supply?

 

[imo]

Rob,
Weren't you also looking for PCB's designed to fit the 500 series enclosure? I was wondering if you found anything pre made? I know about the Eisen cards, but also wondering if there are any cards pre made with the back connections?
Ian

 

[Handcrafted Tone]

It may be possible to jimi-rig an API card in there, but I think it is too much work to make a crappy ($60) case. You will still have to figure out how to mount the edge connectors and the XLRs. Remember the XLRs and edge connector could cost you up to $90 for 10 channels. The power supply can cost $50 - $150 after buying the enclosure for it. It doesn't seem worth it to me. This lunch-box WILL fall apart if you drop it just once.


I bought a Brent Averill 6 space rack-mountable lunchbox used on ebay for $350. Money well spent for a rock solid rack with high quality power supply. Hell, the API is only $425, I think thats a good price. The modules are expensive but that is expected.


The Eisen Audio kit is great! I highly recommend it. He included so many options, you can pretty much make any preamp you want.

Weren't you also looking for PCB's designed to fit the 500 series enclosure?

I've actually designed 5 projects that fit in the API lunchbox already, but unfortunately don't have the cash to make them a reality. I posted a thread a few months back with pics of the Jensen Twin-Servo I designed. It sounds fantastic, LOADS of clean gain. Most people don't understand how expensive it is to fabricate these boards. I just got a better job, so hopefully I'll have the extra cash soon.