Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

To John Barlow and others that have been following a concept that John and
I have been kicking around for a horizontal multiple panel to go in the
case style MOTM:

I have been giving this matter much thought and consideration and have come
up with a plan and the material to make the plan work.

The plan is to have a horizontal multiple as wide as the case to go
directly below each row of MOTM modules. Well of course, the whole thing
is user definable, so one below each row, or every other row, or whatever
makes you smile. However, the idea is for the multiples to be distributed
(or could be grouped) along this horizontal rail so that you could have
multiples close to each MOTM module instead of all together on one standard
1U MOTM panel. These jacks on this horizontal row could also be used to
provide jumps from one side of the panel to another lessening the mess of
longer cords that might be needed for a system 21 to 26 units wide as being
planned by John and Dave. My own case plans are currently looking like 23
units wide. These multiples might not do away for your need to have
standard 1U MOTM multiples, but they would certainly add to your
flexibility.

The objective is to accomplish this task so that it is very functional and
looks good too. And of course, something not too damn expensive would be
cool too. As I thought about this horizontal row, I came to four
conclusions:

1 - It should take up the least amount of real estate possible
(and stay with standard MOTM spacing).
2 - One row of jacks across each row of a large system is plenty.
Two rows would be excessive and expensive. If you have only
one row of jacks and take little real estate, it makes it easy to
justify one horizontal multiple under each row in the case.
3 - It needs to be sturdy and worthy to reside with MOTM gear.
4 - It needs to look good.

I found at the hardware store some aluminum channel called "trim channel
for 3/4" plywood." This stuff is not quite 1/8" thick, but it is very
sturdy
because of the two bends along the entire length. It comes 4 foot and
8 foot long. The 4 foot piece was $3. Imagine a square U shape if you
were looking at the end. Across the outside of the face they are 7/8
inches wide. That is 1/2 a rack space (just by luck). So, in 11 unit
spaces (tall) in your MOTM case, you can have 2 rows of modules and two
horizontal multiples (one under each row of modules). If you are using
rack rails (like John) you could bolt one of your rack rails directly to
the side of this channel, adding to the strength of both.

The front format drilling would be a duplication of MOTM spacing. There
would be two 1/4 jacks per 1U space. So, John's 21 unit wide case would
have 42 jacks on his multiple. The grouping or distribution of groups
would be what suited his system best. However, you can see how a multiple
would be in easy reach of any module. So, if you can imagine how this
might look, it would look like each MOTM modules 1/4 jack row along the
bottom of the panel had one more row of jacks directly below with identical
spacing.

I hope I have painted a good visual picture. Obviously, this will not be a
real picture until I get my case. However, I will try to make photos of
the rail available next time I get a row developed.

Speaking of paint.... The only thing that I cannot do that would make
these "MOTM perfect" is that lovely paint finish. Maybe I can:

1 - get the paint specs from Paul and have a local painter paint it
2 - send these to Paul's painter if he would agree to such a small run
3 - talk nice to Paul and see if he can get his painter to paint them.
HAHA

Crazy Larry (and his magic bus)