[hpsdr] Pandora's Box

[Eric Ellison]

Ben

Will try to respond still 'typing out loud'. Will also try to draw out my
concept and post it.

A well thought out sub-chassis, would allow mounting Atlas and installed
cards in any sized/type enclosure as long as it was bigger than the
sub-chassis. The 'box owners' would be required to hack out a rough opening,
slightly smaller than the sub-chassis, to let the evil sprirts escape, and
allow mounting of the sub-chassis assembly.

2 pieces shipped flat. (I ALWAYS think about shipping!)
 
Piece 1: is the mount for the Atlas board itself with pre-drilled mounting
'holes' mating with Atlas mounting holes. Also a 'break line' to form a
right angle bracket for mounting the second piece below, perfectly aligned. 
(also makes a good base plate to protect the bottom of Atlas, from resistor
leads floating around on the table for those with 'no-case' option)

Piece 2: With the six slots stamped out for cards, (standard PC case style
AT slot sizes and spacing).

Course there are many details to even construct this, like "once joined how
can I plug in cards with protruding connectors?" etc.

As Phil has mentioned before, it is hard to 'talk a drawing'. Where is Beppe
when you need him? (smile)


Eric


-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Hall [mailto:kd5byb at bellsouth.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 10:16 PM
To: Eric Ellison
Cc: hpsdr at hpsdr.org
Subject: Re: Pandora's Box

Eric Ellison wrote:

Hi Eric and group!

> It looks like you really did open Pandora's box!

That's okay!  I wanted input from the user community and I'm happy to 
have it - it's got people thinking and talking.  That's good!

> Actually she was an "All
> gifted" woman, and Zeus made her do what she did! We don't have a Zeus
yet!
> 
> 	SO
> 
> Why don't we forget the Box and rescue Pandora. Already she has released
her
> 'misery' here! 

Nah!  No misery, really - lots of good ideas and lots of ideas on how 
people want to use the HPSDR.

> Larry wants everything front mounted, my wife wants all the
> 'ugly stuff' rear mounted, Cecil suggested side mounted others below the
> table, some top shelf. Horst illustrated a home brew rack mount. So far
the
> commenters have NOT agreed on ANYTHNIG box related. Most liked Pandora! 

That's okay!  Yes, it makes the task a little more complicated, but I've 
not yet come to the conclusion that all can't be happy.  Yet.  ;)

> I spent lunch searching through hundreds of Computer boxes. Last year I
> spent hours and hours Googling out the myriad of off the shelf extrusions,
> enclosures, even Rose Bopla custom enclosures. TenTec, FlexRadio were also
> in there! I never did find anything which had EXACTLY 6 slot openings.

I've not yet either, but did have a thought today.  If a power amp is 
designed for the HPSDR, it will likely be more than one slot thick - 
heatsinks and transformers and extra power wires to get in the 
voltage/currents needed.  So, say if an 8-wide case is found, we can 
simply say that the extra three slots are for a future power amp (or, 
some yet-unknown card) that needs more space.

> I think the best you are going to get a consensus on is a really well
> thought out, brainstormed, L shaped subchassis, with 6 slots, perhaps with
a
> slide in strip with 'grounding fingers' across the top to provide support
> and grounding. Just large enough to add screw mounts at each vertical
corner
> and some surplus side to side and in back to mount cable management etc.
The
> outside facing logo could say "Pandora" with a little block off to one
side
> with arrow pointing (or down) saying "User Supplied Box".

I'm having a hard time visualizing what you've described above - spent 
the day in a forest fire (which they call a controlled burn) at work and 
am a bit foggy from the antihistamine due to all the smoke.  I'll 
re-read this tomorrow and draw some pictures to myself and I'm sure I'll 
understand.

> That way Horst can draw 2 more rails and suspend Pandora in 'mid-air'
Larry
> can carve out a hole in the front, I can mount it on PCBoard stock, or
> modified Gamer enclosure and someone can come up with a neat masonite
> enclosure '50's style'.
> 
> Just brainstorming here.

Brainstorming is good!

-- 
Thanks and 73,
Ben, KD5BYB