subject: Bud Industries: How To Save Money On Your 19" Cabinet Rack [print this page] As our economic growth has slowed, finding cost savings is more important than ever. According to Bud Industries Inc., http://www.budind.com , today, to keep electrical and electronic equipment projects funded, they have to be rethought and value engineered. An area that is often missed is taking a new look at cabinet rack and electronic enclosure requirements.
To get a fresh view of enclosure and rack needs, engineers should consider the following:
1.Do you actually need a traditional cabinet rack or will a desktop-type cabinet suffice? Custom dictates that cabinet racks should be used if the equipment requirements are more than a few U (1.75) in height. Today, with improved features and production methods, desktop cabinets can be a low cost solution for those mid-size mounting requirements. In fact, it is often less expensive to buy two 18U cabinets than one 36U cabinet rack due to reduced weight and load requirements.
2.Do you need an enclosed cabinet rack? If the equipment is being used in a lab or in an enclosed space, often a relay rack will suffice. There are now double relay racks available that provide four-post support for even the heaviest loads. If the product is not being used in a public location, open racks are the perfect answer. An alternative, if a welded rack is needed, is to buy the cabinet rack without the sides and door, eliminating unneeded features.
3.Can you use a manufacturers standard enclosure heights? If the specification is for 18U and the manufacturer has a standard rack that is 20U, it is much less expensive to leave blank space in the rack (perhaps covered with matching panels) than it is to have the manufacturer create a unit that meets the unique required dimensions. The same holds true for the depth. With adjustable panel mounting rails, it is easy to leave empty space in the rear of the cabinet by moving the rails a few inches forward.
4.Are needed accessories included? It is often hard to compare cabinet rack costs accurately as some include sides or doors, while others do not. Review specifications carefully to be sure you are receiving the best value for your money. Also keep in mind that there are turn-key units available that might include many of the extras that are meaningful to you, including shelves, glass doors, fan trays, and more. It is typically less expensive for the enclosure manufacturer to include these items and save on unit packaging costs than it is for them to sell each item individually. The selling price will typically reflect this savings.
5.Finally, does the enclosure manufacturer offer multiple styles of electronic enclosures? If so, can a lower end unit be substituted? Often, it is a matter of glitz, which is most appropriate when consumers are being addressed. In the original selection, the engineer might not have reviewed all options but specified the first appropriate product that was identified. As long as the cabinet racks have similar panel space and depth, they are functionally interchangeable.
In the past, decisions on a cabinet rack were often put off until the end of the equipment design process, and even then were given little thought. Because of economic considerations, that is not a good option. A thorough review of available rack and cabinet options for electronics enclosures earlier in the design process can lead to the best combination of features and price.
by: Blair K. Haas
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