19" Rack Chassis for Optical Table Workstations

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Figure G1.1  The 19" Rack Chassis Shown with an RBD201 DC Controller and an RK4101 Rack Shelf Holding an Optomechanics Kit

• Standard 19" EIA Equipment Rack
• Fits to the Front Tie Bar of the Optical Table Frame (Shown in Figure G1.1)
• 360 mm (14.17") High, 8U Capacity
• Heavy-Duty, 3" Wide Vertical Channels
• Load Capacity: 60 kg (132 lb)

This heavy-duty instrumentation rack is manufactured from industrial-grade steel, U-channels, and angle extrusions. It can support up to 60 kg (132 lb) when the weight is distributed evenly throughout the height of the rack. Each side of the rack attaches to the front tie bar of the Nexus^® frame using two M8 bolts (supplied) as shown in Figure G1.1.

Once the chassis is fitted, the Nexus frame can be used with our range of 19" Rack Hardware available below and other industry-standard 19" lab equipment.

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Figure G2.2  Open RAU400 Drawer Unit Showing Included RAU001 Divider Kit

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Figure G2.1  RAU400 Drawer Unit Attached to the Front Tie Bar of the Nexus Table Frame

• Available in 3 Heights: 2U, 3U, and 4U
• Full Extension Ball-Bearing Drawer Slides
• Black-Powder-Coated Finish
• Rubber Lined Bottom to Protect Components and Devices
• Sold Complete with Divider Kit (Item # RAU001)
• Lockable for Added Security

This versatile drawer assembly is ideal for general storage. It fits the TFR19 19" rack chassis detailed above and is available in 3 heights: 2U, 3U, and 4U. The drawer is made from 1.2 mm (0.05") thick steel with a black-powder-coated paint finish. It moves on smooth roller bearing runners and features a coupling on the drawer slide, allowing for removal of the drawer from the housing. Each drawer is lockable and comes with two keys, four 12-24 screws with nuts for securing the drawer to the rack chassis, a rubber base mat, and an RAU001 divider kit. Additional RAU001 divider kits are available separately.

The RAU001 drawer divider kit is provided to allow the user to build smaller storage bins. As shown in Figure G2.2, it is comprised of two plastic pieces that span the depth of the drawer and two that span the width. The dividers can be moved and interlocked to build different arrangements; they can also be cut into smaller lengths to build custom bin sizes.

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Figure 292A  Equipment Rack with Optics stored in an RK4102 Shelf and Optomechanics Essentials Kits on RK4101 Shelves

Thorlabs' Rack Shelves are ideally suited for storing optomechanical components in a standard 19" rack. The RK4101 Rack Shelf provides a flat surface that is perfectly sized for holding our optomechanics essentials kits. The RK4102 Rack Shelf contains 77 Ø1/2" holes on 1.5" centers, allowing components mounted on Ø1/2" posts to be conveniently stored.

When used with our 19" equipment rack, these shelves take up 3.5" or 2U of space. These shelves attach to a standard 19" equipment rack using 12-24-threaded mounting screws, which are not included. Mounting screws are sold at the bottom of the page (Item # RK5000).

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Figure 226A  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 Box Systems 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 Figure 226A). 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).

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Figure 693A  Opened EC2U Rack Enclosure for Electronics

• Empty Housings for Electronic Assemblies
• Designed for 19" Racks
• 2U, 3U, 4U, 5U, and 6U Sizes Available
• Click Here for Full Presentation

These rack enclosures for electronics are designed for customers interested in assembling their own 19" rack-mounted electronic devices. Five sizes of housing are available (see Table 693B for details). The aluminum enclosures sold here come with blank front and rear panels, as well as two mounting brackets.

Four M3 button head cap screws are included with the enclosure for securing the ECUMB mounting board or MSBU3038(/M) breadboard inside (each sold separately). The ECUMB mounting board provides a surface with 18 mm x 5 mm slots for holding electronic components, such as PCBs, development boards, and power supplies. Alternatively, the MBSU3038(/M) breadboard features a high-density hole pattern of 8-32 (M4) and 1/4"-20 (M6) tapped holes to allow optomechanical components to be mounted inside the enclosure. The ECCP platform has four 38 mm swivel casters and two foldable handles for easily transporting the 19" rack enclosures. The enclosures can also be converted for benchtop use using additional accessories. For more information on these enclosures and their accessories, see their full web presentation.

To open the enclosure, remove the countersunk screws on both the rear and bottom panels using the included 2 mm hex key, and then slide off the top of the enclosure. Detailed instructions on opening the enclosure are available in the spec sheet via the red Docs icons () below.

• 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 (detailed 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 (detailed 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.