08/10/2003
CT104 Manual
Tri-M Engineering
Tel:
800.665.5600, 604.945.9565
1407 Kebet Way, Unit 100
Fax:
604.945.9566
Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6L3
E-mail:
Canada
Web
site:
www.tri-m.com
4
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Description
Tri-M's PC/104 Can-Tainer is a new and unique design specifically intended to protect PC/104
electronics such as instrumentation, data collectors, remote terminals, SCADA packages or other
solutions that operate in hostile environments. The Can-Tainer is constructed of 0.125” aluminum
and can accommodate any number of PC/104 modules, their cabling and peripherals, with maximum
flexibility in a minimum amount of space. Surprisingly, these units are also priced to be used
anywhere embedded electronics require a black box.
When deploying electronics in mobile or vehicle applications, vibration and G-forces can greatly
reduce their life expectancy and reliability. The Can-Tainer™ ensures the PC/104 modules receive
maximum protection from vibration and G-forces. This is accomplished using Tri-M's dual system of
isolating and absorbing rubber mountings. Internally, each of the four corners of the PC/104 stack is
held in place by a rubber corner system, which isolates the PC/104 cards from the extruded
aluminum enclosure as it absorbs high frequency vibration. Externally, the anodized aluminum
enclosure mates with a thick rubber-mounting pad allowing the Can-Tainer™ to be attached to a
bulkhead while it absorbs low frequency G-forces. The rubber pad is optional and may be removed.
A wide variety of end caps are available for the Can-Tainer including openings for DB9, DB15, DB25
and RJ45s. Custom end caps with any combination of connector holes can be supplied to meet
specific client requirements. The Can-Tainer is NEMA rated when used with optional end cap
gaskets and appropriate end cap and connectors. Each anodized aluminum end cap is securely
attached to the housing with eight self-tapping, hex head machine screws. The standard black
anodized Can-Tainer measures 5.4" x 6.0" (L x W) and comes in five standard heights of 4", 6", 8",
10" and 12". The Can-Tainer Kit includes one solid end cap with no I/O openings (Part # CTEC00),
one I/O end cap with openings for four DB9s & two DB25s (Part # CTEC01), sixteen end cap screws,
and one mounting kit. The mounting kit has two gaskets, four rubber corner guides, eight rubber
corner stops, one tube of CA glue and one external thick rubber anti-shock mounting pad.
To mount boards or items such as hard drives that are larger than 3.550” x 3.775”, use the optional
CTn-VD00 mounting plates. These install into rails that run the length of the enclosure. For smaller
items, an optional PC/104-size aluminum plate, CT-AL00, enables you to mount accessories directly
onto the PC/104 stack.
An optional fan kit (CT-FAN) provides forced air-cooling. To provide airflow through the Can-Tainer,
drill intake holes at the point where the fan is mounted and exhaust holes at one additional location
(usually at one end cap). For a sealed environment with only conduction cooling, the fan may be
mounted offset from the enclosure wall using custom hardware.
The Can-Tainer cross-section measures 6.00” wide by 5.45” high (not including mounting pad). It is
available in seven standard lengths of 2”, 4”, 5”, 6”, 8”, 10”, and 12” (order no. CT-n where n = length
in inches). To calculate the height of your PC/104 stack, refer to the table ****. To compute the
length of the Can-Tainer needed, add the appropriate room at each end for cabling. Usually about
one inch of additional room is needed at any end that will have one or two cables, up to two inches for
more cables, depending on how the cables are routed inside the enclosure.