MOTM

I made my openings 1/16" wider and taller than the panels.

My height is 8 13/16" with 1/2" top and bottom rails that I faced with 
Stooge metal rails.  I inset the face of the panel 1/8" from the 
outside edge.  The external depth is 10" which has been plenty.  I 
have a 1/4" rear panel and my front panels are inset so the internal 
depth is 9 1/2".

I was a bit concerned with having the cabinets be exactly square so I 
allowed a bit more side to side spacing on one cabinet I built.  I 
allowed and extra 1/8" which does leave visible gaps on each end.  I 
used a piece of adhesive backed 1/4" open cell foam and lined each 
side of the cabinet just at the rear edge of the panel.  That worked 
great to hide and seal the edges.

I've got a few photos on
http://modularsynthesis.com/cabinet/cabinet.htm
that show some of the construction details.

I really like the Stooge rails and would rather have metal than wood.
One alternativie since the Stooge rails aren't available would be to 
use standard rack rails like
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Middle-Atlantic-18Space-Rack-
Rails?sku=549508
  
I have built a couple of racks using standard rack rails and would 
think they would work just fine.  The ones I used were 5/8" wide so 
you would have to increase the internal opening to 9" which would 
leave a 1/8" gap across the top and bottom of the module, but with a 
nice black anodized rail behind it to hide it.  Or, if you are fancy 
with a table saw, dado in a 1/8" deep grove to set the rack rail into.

One mistake I made with my cabinets is that all the weight is in the 
front.  I put mine on center pivots and really had to use non-slip 
washers to lock the cabinets in place.

Dave


-- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "wjhall11" <wjhall@...> wrote:
>
> All - new to MOTM, I'm designing a case for the modules I'll be
> building.  I'll build the case out of wood - and I'm planning to 
screw
> the moduldes directly into wood rails - top and bottom.  In your
> experience, what should the optimal spacing between the rails be? 
> Based on the face plates of the module kits I've recieved, I'm
> thinking 7-7/8" should do the trick.  Sound right?  Thanks much.  
Bill
>