Electronics Protection - March/April 2012 - (Page 12)

Feature Portable Shock and Vibration Protection Steven Smith, Director of Engineering Canyonwest Cases Have you ever wanted to transport or ship sensitive electronic equipment but were afraid of potential equipment damage? Rackmount and shock rack cases are designed specifically to meet these challenges, and they are suited for industrial as well as military and defense applications. Sensitive electronic equipment are mounted to an internal frame inside the case. Some cases meet military specifications and can transport electronic equipment through hostile environments like rain, dust and rugged terrain. These cases aren’t just for transporting sensitive equipment; they also allow for easy setup and use while the equipment is still mounted inside the case. No time is wasted as you take off the case lids and plug in the equipment, getting you operational right away. Some cases allow for the lids to be removed while cases are stacked. Cases are available in a wide range of sizes and varying depths. Vertical usable space is measured in Units. A standard rack Unit is 1.75 inches (4.445 cm) in height. Cases are typically available in sizes ranging from 2U to 16U. Portable rackmount cases are available in three major configurations. Choosing the correct case depends on your application. Rackmount Cases (AKA standard rackmount cases or standard racks): If you need standardized heavy duty protection that you can hand carry or transport in your car, a standard rackmount case may fit the bill. These cases are available in a variety of sizes and depths and may be stacked for easier transport. Equipment is mounted and accessed through the front and rear lids. Rackmount cases offer very good protection, with some models being waterproof with limited shock and vibration protection. Caster kits can be added for transport of standard racks and some models have built-in wheels and pull handle. Shock Rack Cases (AKA shock mount cases): If you need more than standard protection, Shockrack cases offer a solution. These cases offer extreme protection from rough handling or brutal environments. High quality shock rack cases are lightweight, shockproof, watertight, dustproof, heat and chemical-resistant. Equipment is accessed through the front and rear lids. Special shock absorbers support the internal rack frame. Some of these cases meet military specifications for shock and vibration and carry a lifetime warranty. Shock Rack Cases with Removable Rack: These cases meet the same specifications as the shock rack cases with one big difference. They have a slide-out removable rack, allowing for easy access to equipment being installed or serviced. Slide-out racks open as easily as a file drawer. The rack is completely removable allowing for complete frame accessibility and bench integration. 12 When shopping for a shock rack case, here’s what to look for: • Slide-out/removable rack for easy access (if desired) • Nineteen inch rack width per ANSI/EIA-310-C. The 19-inch standard rack arrangement is widely used throughout the telecommunication, military, computing, audio, entertainment and other industries. • Built-in wheels or detachable casters for easy transport. When filled, these cases can get very heavy and moving them without wheels can be difficult. • Stainless steel hardware to avoid rust in humid environments. • Meet or exceed MIL-STD-810F or MIL-STD-810G: Resistant to UV, solvents, corrosion, fungus and impact damage. • Rotationally molded plastic shell ensures high strength and possesses impact absorbing qualities. • Stacking lugs for transport convenience. • Lifetime Warranty. These cases take a lot of abuse. If you purchase a case with a lifetime warranty, you only pay once. No more having to purchase replacement hardware or possibly an entire new case. Cases with a lifetime warranty typically don’t cost more than cases without a lifetime warranty and sometimes cost less. Choosing the correct case protection for your electronic equipment and physical environment is critical. Not only can your equipment be damaged when using the wrong case, your damaged equipment may totally derail a critical meeting or event, potentially causing major problems. I know, I’ve been there. The SKB 3RR series cases are an example of a shock rack case with a slide-out removable rack. These cases utilize a “positive lock” inner frame latch that provides additional shock and vibration isolation. Cases are equipped with a 2 inch deep front lid and 5 inch deep rear lid containing two edge casters, lid hangars, pressure relief valve, coupling straps, black powder coated stainless steel hardware and eight spring-loaded handles. Product Example These cases are equipped with eight elastomeric shock absorbers from the factory and have a load range of 40 to 150 lbs. Additional shocks can be added extending the payload range to 300 lbs. Molded in stacking ribs and lugs are designed to stack and interlock with each other. Square hole rack rails accommodate either #10-32 US standard or 6 mm international standard cage nuts. SKB also offers standard rackmount cases. Canyonwest Cases is a provider of industrial equipment protection solutions and custom packaging solutions. They offer a wide range of stock cases from top manufacturers as well as custom hard cases and custom soft cases. Canyonwest’s products are used by professionals in the most demanding markets including aerospace, military / defense, first-responders (firefighters, police, EMS), industrial and consumer. Foam cutting capabilities include die cut, water jet cut and router cut. For additional information contact Canyonwest Cases at 480-816-9652 or visit www.CanyonwestCases.com. March/April 2012 www.ElectronicsProtectionMagazine.com http://www.CanyonwestCases.com http://www.ElectronicsProtectionMagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Electronics Protection - March/April 2012

Electronics Protection - March/April 2012
Surge Stopper Shields Electronics From Transients Beyond 100 V
The Lowdown on IP Codes – Ingress Protection of Electrical Products
A Case for Safety - AC Arc Fault Circuit Interruption for PV Systems with Microinverters or AC Modules
Enclosure Design: IVC’s new Lightweight Explosion-Proof Camera Enclosure System
Portable Shock and Vibration Protection
Polycase Offers New Options for NEMA 4X Plastic Enclosures
New Circuit Board Shielding from Leader Tech
Laird Technologies Releases new Liquid Cooling Systems Product Line
ASI Releases New UL489 Hydraulic Magnetic Circuit Breakers
PEM C.A.P.S. Captive Panel Screws Offered in Three Mounting Styles26
SolarFocus Releases new SolarKindle Case
Indsutry News
Coherent Integrates Marway’s Power Distribution Solution into Energy Efficient, Direct-Diode Laser System Design

Electronics Protection - March/April 2012