Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > sci.electronics.design > #458612

Patch-panel fabrication

From Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid>
Newsgroups sci.electronics.design
Subject Patch-panel fabrication
Date 2017-05-03 12:54 -0700
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <oedcbf$j5t$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)

Show all headers | View raw

I have 96 drops that need to terminate on a pair of 48 connector
panels.  The panels aren't supported in a rack but, rather, as
plates in/on the wall.

There are constraints as to their size and shape.  And, most
importantly, cosmetics (this is a house, not a business!  I
want these things to be as unobtrusive/classy as possible).

I need to start cleaning much of this stuff up for "public display"
(tangles of wire tend to be intimidating to most folks -- can see
the forest for the trees!)

I could *possibly* take a pair of 96 port 4U panels
<https://www.cablewholesale.com/products/network-phone/patch-panel/product-69bk-06096.php> 
and butcher them -- cut them in half to yield
a 48 port "left side" and a 48 port "right side".  But, there's
so little "extra panel" left over when this is done that you end up
needing to augment it, just to get it mounted!  (e.g., you've lost
the mounting ears on one side of each half).

Fashioning a "half panel" from heavy gauge steel is tedious -- esp
if you want it to look nice (don't want irregularly shaped holes
for the connector bodies).

The "easy" way of making something "cleanly/precisely cut" would
be to do so on the laser cutter.  But, that limits you to
acrylic and thin sheets of hardwood (60W CO2).  Neither of which
is particularly stiff when those sorts of long slotted openings
are introduced.

With "limited/personal resources", I see the only practical
approaches to be adding layers -- for strength (behind) and
appearance (before).

For example, cutting a "front panel" that provides for mounting
(e.g., ears, oversized) and then smaller panels (undersized)
to stack behind this to provide more stiffness.  Finally, an
overlay (depending on how "pretty" the front panel piece might
be) to carry the legend and dress it all up.

Alternately, trimming the existing steel panel to provide the
stiffness function and adding a mounting flange and cosmetic
overlays in front of it.  I'd have to think hard about the
durability of the cosmetic overlay as it will see a bit of abuse
(plugging and unplugging, wiping it clean, etc.) over the years
and I'd like not to have it looking shabby from age/wear.

(If you've ever examined one of these panels, the "circuit
boards" on which the connectors are mounted are typically offset
behind the panel with standoffs.  So, there's a bit of empty space
(in Z) to play with, there, if you tweek the standoff lengths.)

Any other suggestions?  I'd like to make a dry run cutting/dry-fitting
a sample, this weekend to see how well the idea (whichever!) will work.

Back to sci.electronics.design | Previous | Next — Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-03 12:54 -0700
  Re: Patch-panel fabrication Lasse Langwadt Christensen <langwadt@fonz.dk> - 2017-05-03 13:23 -0700
    Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-04 00:10 -0700
      Re: Patch-panel fabrication Lasse Langwadt Christensen <langwadt@fonz.dk> - 2017-05-04 11:27 -0700
        Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-04 11:43 -0700
        Re: Patch-panel fabrication Clifford Heath <no.spam@please.net> - 2017-05-05 08:57 +1000
          Re: Patch-panel fabrication Lasse Langwadt Christensen <langwadt@fonz.dk> - 2017-05-06 05:47 -0700
        Re: Patch-panel fabrication krw@notreal.com - 2017-05-04 19:37 -0400
      Re: Patch-panel fabrication Neon John <no@never.com> - 2017-05-04 17:56 -0400
        Re: Patch-panel fabrication Lasse Langwadt Christensen <langwadt@fonz.dk> - 2017-05-06 05:46 -0700
      Re: Patch-panel fabrication Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2017-05-11 05:57 +0000
        Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-11 10:37 -0700
  Re: Patch-panel fabrication Martin Riddle <martin_ridd@verizon.net> - 2017-05-03 20:32 -0400
    Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-03 23:59 -0700
  Re: Patch-panel fabrication Jasen Betts <jasen@xnet.co.nz> - 2017-05-04 06:34 +0000
    Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-04 01:45 -0700
  Re: Patch-panel fabrication whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-05-04 01:52 -0700
    Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-04 11:42 -0700
      Re: Patch-panel fabrication whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-05-04 21:22 -0700
        Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-04 23:04 -0700
          Re: Patch-panel fabrication whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-05-04 23:24 -0700
            Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-05 00:19 -0700
              Re: Patch-panel fabrication whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-05-05 00:45 -0700
                Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-05 02:17 -0700
  Re: Patch-panel fabrication jrwalliker@gmail.com - 2017-05-04 08:40 -0700
    Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-04 10:12 -0700
      Re: Patch-panel fabrication jrwalliker@gmail.com - 2017-05-04 10:27 -0700
        Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-04 11:01 -0700
          Re: Patch-panel fabrication makolber@yahoo.com - 2017-05-04 11:18 -0700
            Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-04 11:27 -0700
      Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Kuenz <g@crcomp.net> - 2017-05-06 05:33 +0000
        Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-06 15:40 -0700
          Re: Patch-panel fabrication whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-05-06 20:15 -0700
            Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-06 23:47 -0700
              Re: Patch-panel fabrication whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-05-07 03:51 -0700
                Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-07 05:20 -0700
          Re: Patch-panel fabrication (POE) Jan Panteltje <pNaOnStPeAlMtje@yahoo.com> - 2017-05-07 17:30 +0000
            Re: Patch-panel fabrication (POE) Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-07 11:49 -0700
              Re: Patch-panel fabrication (POE) Jan Panteltje <pNaOnStPeAlMtje@yahoo.com> - 2017-05-07 18:58 +0000
                Re: Patch-panel fabrication (POE) Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-07 12:24 -0700
                Re: Patch-panel fabrication (POE) Jan Panteltje <pNaOnStPeAlMtje@yahoo.com> - 2017-05-07 19:48 +0000
                Re: Patch-panel fabrication (POE) Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-07 13:29 -0700
                Re: Patch-panel fabrication (POE) Jan Panteltje <pNaOnStPeAlMtje@yahoo.com> - 2017-05-07 20:54 +0000
  Re: Patch-panel fabrication Allan Herriman <allanherriman@hotmail.com> - 2017-05-07 10:35 +0000
    Re: Patch-panel fabrication Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-05-07 05:26 -0700

csiph-web