U5: Installation Challenge

[Tom Bomb]

Getting my act together and putting a couple of pesky U5s in a case, permanently. I picked up a nice old box — looks like it was initially used for medical gear.

It's a half-rack box, which, in my mind, is ideal. But I'm now in need of two sets of ears. Here's an image of a similar scenario. Avalon doesn't seem to be catering for this option.

I guess I should be sizing everything up and having something custom made. I can't find anything out there to suit. Anyone gone down this track at some stage, any suggestions?

This is the business end of the box.

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[silky smoove]

My previous U5s were racked in full width racks. One used Avalon’s single unit rack ears that put the U5 in the middle with a bunch of wasted space on each side. The other was also a full width rack with two U5s and Avalon’s kit to allow this.

It’s a less space efficient option than a half rack but Avalon’s kits are very clean and work well. Something worth considering.

 

[Tom Bomb]

I could do that. I do agree, to a point. I just like (read I'm stuck with) this box I think it'll suffice. My skills in sheet metal fabrication will be sorely tested here so I'm looking for options.
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[silky smoove]

Are there any metal fabricators local to you? The Avalon kit was basically just black powder coated steel cut to match the 3U height of the U5 then bent in an L to correspond with the U5's rack screws and the rack's rails. Should be very simple for someone to build a shortened version to accommodate your half rack width box.

 

[Tom Bomb]

You're on the money there. And I used to hang with hard core sheeties, being a lad in the industrial electrical engineering trade. They roped me in a number of times. With a vice, a good lump hammer, a block of wood, and some files, the job's as good as done. Easy. But I was hoping to palm the job off, to avoid embarrassment

I think I can do it. I need to get some of the finer detail into focus. Thanks, dude. I can visit a shop, just 'round the corner. That may be the best way.

I may still chance my arm. I'm in no hurry. They can sit there inside their box in the studio, unfettered, 'til the cows come home, not a care in the world. But it's always good to meet a challenge like this. It's doable, from where I'm standing. Thanks again, silky smoove. Much appreciated.
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[Tom Bomb]

As it turns out, this box wasn't quite deep enough, worse luck, but all is not lost.

It's ideal for another job — boxing up a new mixer, mikes, leads, etc. — with the stripped rack rails helping now to fulfill the initial need, in a new setting.

It's a brilliant, bulletproof little box. Also makes a very sturdy little coffee table Clearly, in medicine, they don't muck around. There was another one for sale but, when I went back to the vendor's site a few hours later, it had already been snapped up. And we all lived happily ever after.
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