Cases for Catalyst Systems

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Hi there

just wondering what kind of cases everybody else uses for taking their G5 Cat Systems out on the road. Are you still using the Anvil Cases, HES used to sell the servers in? Are Intel Macs ment to be used in an not upright position?

Anybody built a nice Cat Case themselves? I would love to see some pics of good sollutions for our new systems.

Any help would be apreciated. Thanks in advance.

Thomas

[Gian]

Here couple pictures from our cases, a case cia here in Brasil did it for us, on our design....

They have...

A Mac Pro / or G5 - UP position

on the side, a 19 inch,... all togheter, already connected etc...

ArtNet or CIB
2 LaCie Firewire 800 External Disks for extra content, Backup. Rackmount
4 Extron 1 x 4 DAs RGBHV HD
Gigabit Swithcher
Shelfs... inside a Triplehead, a Pinacle DV and some cabling
APC No Break - we used befor a white one, but we now have a Black 1500 Rackmount unit.

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Thanks for that. Quite impressive and huge ;-)

Keep the ideas comming. Anybody else with nice case ideas for the servers?

[Woodj32177]

On a side note,
I have a Mac Pro in a old High End style case, and it runs just fine on its side.
I believe the computers you were not supposted to run on their side was the Quad 2.5Ghz G5's.
They were liquid cooled, and would leak if turned on their side.

Joshua Wood

[SourceChild]

Gian's cases are impressive.

I am designing a new case with a very small footprint.
The case is large enough for the Mac Pro but on the side of the case I am mounting very small rack mount displays.

For me it is very important to have a small footprint because I usually try to get the roadcase on the airplane with me when I fly to a show.

If you are interested in some of the design ideas I've come up with, contact me.

I'm in Austin, TX ( 5 1 2 ) 4 2 6 - 4 0 0 4

[RedLightning]

I have two built for me by ECM in Toronto Ontario. I will post pictures asap

-s

[Mr_P]

Heres a link to a few different designs from various gigs I've done.
http://gallery.mac.com/simonpugsley#100001

My catalyst is based on the XL 20u single rack - the UPS will move when I add image-pros - LCDs will move to an external box (not in the drawer)

I used to take care and build the XL Catalyst dual and single racks - the majority used to remain permanently cabled with 2 scan converters and a decent rear panel. Changes were made on a job per job basis.

Neg Earth Racks are well designed but don't include scan converters and are difficult to fault find.

Lite Alternative racks are compact and use all available space - not a lot of rack space though.

The old HES racks are fine for 'basic' setup, if you're happy with the mac on its side.

An 18-22u suspended rack seems to be the best starting point.....

Enjoy

Simon

[Peter]

Heres a link to a few different designs from various gigs I've done.
http://gallery.mac.com/simonpugsley#100001

My catalyst is based on the XL 20u single rack - the UPS will move when I add image-pros - LCDs will move to an external box (not in the drawer)

I used to take care and build the XL Catalyst dual and single racks - the majority used to remain permanently cabled with 2 scan converters and a decent rear panel. Changes were made on a job per job basis.

Where did you get the 19" alu mountings which you use for the macpro and drawer? And was the 19" frame shocmounted? Great photo's!

[Mr_P]

Where did you get the 19" alu mountings which you use for the macpro and drawer? And was the 19" frame shocmounted? Great photo's!

Yes the internal frame is shouckmounted.

The single rack has a custom made Rackmount frame.
The construction is VERY simple - its a box with re-enforces alu edges and an equal angle alu strip on each side which allows it to be bolted in to any 19in rack. The Mac part is foamed on each side. The drawer is for cables etc. However, by some fluke, we purchased monitors that actually fit in the drawer!! (I'll post a pic on my gallery) Unfortunately, sony dont make those monitors any more

The Dual rack has a 19in dual server mount - which is no longer available from the original supplier - as they went bust. Im trying to get a local aluminium fabricator to 'enhance' the design - for the moment, its cheaper to use a dual box version (similar to the single) but with no drawer

If anyone want to purchase a single or dual insert (or whole system) feel free to contact me for a quote.

Simon

Simon Pugsley
SNP Productions Ltd (UK)
Mobile: +44 (0)7958 390034
simon@snp-productions.co.uk

[SourceChild]

Heres a link to a few different designs from various gigs I've done.
http://gallery.mac.com/simonpugsley#100001

Looking at the systems and knowing some of the things you've shown, you'd be an interesting person to know. I might be inclined to talk with you more about things that have worked and what doesn't.