GRAYnomad :: enclosure

Enclosure

Unlike most processor boards the Quub is designed to fit into something, and something that is easy to obtain and won't be out of stock when the Chinese manufacturer moves on to making washing machines.

Quub boards are 1.8x1.8" square so they fit into a standard 2x2" aluminium extrusion. Front and rear panels can be used to finish off the look of a Quub-based device.

Horizontal mounting

When boards are mounted into a horizontal Quub enclosure (ie openings on the sides) they have two edges available to the outside world for IO connections. Up to four boards can be mounted in this fashion.

Special spacers are available with M3 threaded holes to allow each stackable to have it's own front and rear panel, however it's just as easy to have single front and rear panels, or any combination of the two approaches.

Vertical mounting

When boards are mounted into a vertical Quub enclosure (ie openings on the top and bottom) they don't have ready access for IO connections, however the top board has an area of 1.8x1.8" for a display. Therefore this option is more suitable for LED readouts etc. There is no limit to the number of boards that can be mounted in this fashion although 2-3 would be normal.

A display that shows current, volts and temperature of a battery bank may look something like the following.

Bulkhead mounting

Quub processor boards have a 6-way header mounted near the centre of the PCB, this header is designed to allow the connection of 2 power and up to 4 data lines. Thus a Quub-based device can be bulkhead mounted with no visible cabling while still having access to power and network cables.

Two suggested methods to mount a Quub device are as follows.

Good access to the rear of a bulkhead. If you have access behind a panel or can remove the panel a Quub device is best mounted as follows.

Note that the rear connector protrudes through the panel and can be used to connect both power and signal lines.

The front panel and enclosure can easily be removed by undoing the four set screws holding the front panel. This exposes all boards in the stack and each board (except the bottom one) can be removed for service without removing the panel.

The bottom board can also be accessed for service, however to remove it the rear of the panel has to be accessible, the panel removable, or the four bottom bolts have to be made captive to the panel.

Limited access to the rear of the bulkhead. Often when mounting a device on a wall you have just enough access to run a couple of wires and poke them through a hole but there's no way to get inside to apply fasteners.

For this case a flange has been made, this flange protrudes outside the Quub enclosure as far as required to allow fasteners to be applied.

As with the previous example the front panel and enclosure can easily be removed by undoing the four set screws holding the front panel. This exposes all boards in the stack and each board (except the bottom one) can be removed for service.

If the bottom set screw is made captive to the flange the bottom board can be dismounted for service as well.

The above example is simple but does mean that the backplate needs a flange and this is visible. By tapping some 3mm threads into holes on the backplate the entire mounting arrangment can be hidden.

		Enclosure
		Unlike most processor boards the Quub is designed to fit into something, and something that is easy to obtain and won't be out of stock when the Chinese manufacturer moves on to making washing machines. Quub boards are 1.8x1.8" square so they fit into a standard 2x2" aluminium extrusion. Front and rear panels can be used to finish off the look of a Quub-based device.
		Horizontal mounting
		When boards are mounted into a horizontal Quub enclosure (ie openings on the sides) they have two edges available to the outside world for IO connections. Up to four boards can be mounted in this fashion. Special spacers are available with M3 threaded holes to allow each stackable to have it's own front and rear panel, however it's just as easy to have single front and rear panels, or any combination of the two approaches.
		Vertical mounting
		When boards are mounted into a vertical Quub enclosure (ie openings on the top and bottom) they don't have ready access for IO connections, however the top board has an area of 1.8x1.8" for a display. Therefore this option is more suitable for LED readouts etc. There is no limit to the number of boards that can be mounted in this fashion although 2-3 would be normal. A display that shows current, volts and temperature of a battery bank may look something like the following.
		Bulkhead mounting
		Quub processor boards have a 6-way header mounted near the centre of the PCB, this header is designed to allow the connection of 2 power and up to 4 data lines. Thus a Quub-based device can be bulkhead mounted with no visible cabling while still having access to power and network cables. Two suggested methods to mount a Quub device are as follows. Good access to the rear of a bulkhead. If you have access behind a panel or can remove the panel a Quub device is best mounted as follows. Note that the rear connector protrudes through the panel and can be used to connect both power and signal lines. The front panel and enclosure can easily be removed by undoing the four set screws holding the front panel. This exposes all boards in the stack and each board (except the bottom one) can be removed for service without removing the panel. The bottom board can also be accessed for service, however to remove it the rear of the panel has to be accessible, the panel removable, or the four bottom bolts have to be made captive to the panel. Limited access to the rear of the bulkhead. Often when mounting a device on a wall you have just enough access to run a couple of wires and poke them through a hole but there's no way to get inside to apply fasteners. For this case a flange has been made, this flange protrudes outside the Quub enclosure as far as required to allow fasteners to be applied. As with the previous example the front panel and enclosure can easily be removed by undoing the four set screws holding the front panel. This exposes all boards in the stack and each board (except the bottom one) can be removed for service. If the bottom set screw is made captive to the flange the bottom board can be dismounted for service as well. The above example is simple but does mean that the backplate needs a flange and this is visible. By tapping some 3mm threads into holes on the backplate the entire mounting arrangment can be hidden.