Rack-Based Breadboards

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Rack Box Chassis Lock when Opened; Press Green Button to Unlock and Close

• 1/4" (6.35 mm) Thick Optical Breadboard in an Easy Slide Chassis Box
• 1/4"-20 (M6) Mounting Holes on 1" (25 mm) Centers
• Large Working Surface [15.5" x 16" (39.4 cm x 40.6 cm)] is Accessible when Rack Box is Extended
• Chassis Sold without Subpanels to Enable Configuration of Application-Specific Systems
• Roller Bearing Slides; Rated for 175 lbs (79 kg)
• Easy Access to Optical Layout
• Fully Protected when Closed

These versatile prototyping Rack-Based Breadboards are ideal for building custom fiber-based assemblies. Fourteen subpanel slots allow for an extensive series of quick-connect subpanels that provide support for fiber optic and electrical systems. Subpanels designed for fiber connections, electrical connections, cooling fans, and AC power entry are available below, as are blank panels. The chassis is offered without subpanels for customers wishing to build application-specific systems.

These systems lock the chassis in place when open. To close the chassis, press the green button located on its side (see image to the right). When the chassis is closed, the maximum height of a mounted assembly is 4.7" (119.4 mm).

These rack boxes attach to a standard 19" equipment rack using 12-24-threaded mounting screws, which are not included. When used in a rack system, the height of the rack box is 5.20" or nearly 3U. Mounting screws are sold at the bottom of the page (Item # RK5000).

• Standard 19" EIA Equipment Rack
• 7.00' (2.1 m) Tall, Floor-Standing Rack (45U Mountable Space)
• Heavy-Duty, 3" Wide Vertical Channels
• Weight Capacity of 750 lbs (340 kg) (Load Must be Evenly Distributed)
• Mounting Holes: 12-24 Tapped Holes on a 5/8", 5/8", 1/2" Alternating Hole Pattern
• Side Holes Allow Multiple Racks to be Bolted Together
• Includes 50 12-24-Threaded Mounting Screws

This heavy-duty instrumentation rack is manufactured from industrial-grade aluminum, U-channels and angle extrusions. The rack is 7.00' (2.1 m) in height with 45U of space for mounting rack shelves and components. It can support up to 750 lbs (340 kg) when the weight is distributed evenly throughout the height of the rack. 50 mounting screws are included with the RK3884. Additional 12-24-threaded mounting screws are sold at the bottom of the page (Item # RK5000).

• Optical Fiber Subpanels for Our RBX32(/M) Rack Box Chassis
• Each Panel Contains Four Fiber Mating Sleeves
  • RBX-FC: ADAFC1 FC/PC to FC/PC Mating Sleeves
  • RBX-APC: ADAFC4 FC/APC to FC/APC Mating Sleeves
  • RBX-SMAF: ADASMA SMA to SMA Mating Sleeves
• "Snap-On" Modular Design

Thorlabs' selection of fiber connection panels allows setups or instruments inside a rack box chassis, such as our RBX32(/M) available above, to be connected to fiber components outside of the rack box. Each panel contains four mating sleeves that can be removed, allowing for panels to be customized according to the requirements of the system. The "snap-on" panel design allows for quick attachment to or removal from a rack box chassis.

Electrical connection panels and blank panels with the same profile are also available below.

RBX-FC
Our RBX-FC panel contains four ADAFC1 FC/PC to FC/PC Mating Sleeves designed for 2.2 mm wide key fiber optic cables. Flat FC/PC connectors are significantly less alignment sensitive than their angled FC/APC counterparts, making these wide-key-slot mating sleeves acceptable for narrow and wide key FC/PC connectors. Although these mating sleeves are mechanically compatible with narrow key FC/APC connectors, the wide-key slot makes it difficult to properly align the angled, narrow key FC/APC connector. For FC/APC applications, we therefore recommend the RBX-APC panel. 

RBX-APC
Our RBX-APC panel contains four ADAFC4 FC/APC to FC/APC Mating Sleeves designed for 2.0 mm narrow key fiber optic patch cables. These narrow-key-slot mating sleeves allow for proper alignment of angled, narrow key FC/APC connectors. These sleeves are also mechanically compatible with narrow key FC/PC connectors, but the flat FC/PC connector is significantly less alignment sensitive, which makes the RBX-FC wide-key-slot mating sleeves shown immediately above an acceptable alternative.

RBX-SMAF
Our RBX-SMAF panel conatins four ADASMA SMA to SMA Mating Sleeves. It is directly compatible with SMA905-style connectors and is not intended for mating an SMA906-style connector to another SMA906-style connector.

• Electrical Connection Subpanels for Our RBX32(/M) Rack Box Chassis
  • RBX-BNC: Four BNC Connectors, Each with Rear Solder Terminals
  • RBX-DB9: Two Female DB9 Connectors, Each with Rear Solder Terminals
  • RBX-SMA: Four T4285 SMA Female-to-Female Connectors
• "Snap-On" Modular Design

These panels provide common electrical connections for standard 19" racks. Thorlabs also offers a complete selection of BNC, SMA, SMC, and banana plug electrical adapters and cables.

• 115 V/230 VAC-Powered Cooling Fan
• Operates at 3000 RPM
• Maximum CFM Rating: 25
• Four 8-32 Button Head Screws Included

This cooling fan attaches to a wide slot on the back of our RBX32(/M) Rack Box Systems (pictured above). Up to two fans may be attached per chassis. The metal panel contains four through holes that accept the four included 8-32 button head screws.

• 125/250 VAC Compatible
• Current Rating: 0.1 to 15 A
• Four 8-32 Button Head Screws Included
• C14 Three-Pin Inlet Connector Compliant with IEC/EN 60320-1

This power module attaches to a wide slot on the back of our RBX32(/M) Rack Box Systems (pictured above). The metal panel contains four through holes that accept the four included 8-32 button head screws.

• RBX-BLK1F: Blank Panel for 1 Standard-Width Slot
• RBX-BLK5F: Blank Panel for 5 Standard-Width Slots
• RBX-BLK1B: Blank Panel for 1 Wide Back Slot
• "Snap-On" Modular Design

These blank panels are ideal for customers who wish to design their own connector layouts or use connectors that are not offered from our stock. They can also be used to prevent dust from entering through unused slots.

• Rack Screws with Large Pan Heads
• 12-24 Threading
• Pilot Point Reduces Cross-Threading
• Includes Hard Plastic Washers to Eliminate Marring of Instrumentation

These rack screws are designed to mount our Rack Box Chassis, Fixed Rack Shelves, and other rack-mountable equipment into standard 19" equipment racks. Sold in packs of 50, they feature a combination head compatible with both Phillips and flat head screwdrivers. Hard plastic washers are also included.