Off-the-shelf product or custom-developed solution? The catalogues of the manufacturers offer off-the-shelf cases, subracks and cabinets, and these standard products generally cover about 80 percent of the requirements. They offer a number of benefits to the user: They are easily ordered, delivered rapidly and lower in cost than customized products; often they are used for prototypes. The disadvantage is a restricted flexibility, but Pentair Equipment Protection offers fast modifications at low cost. Their advantage: They are matched precisely to the application or to the user´s needs. However, the customer must be prepared to expect higher costs, minimum order quantities as well as longer development and delivery times.
Product platforms as basis
An ideal situation would be a combination of the advantages of standard products with those of customized solutions while eliminating the downsides of both. This could be achieved by offering cases, subracks and cabinets that insure a high technical standard combined with a flexibility to meet the requirements of a wide range of applications. These so-called „product platforms“, which build on a common foundation and can be supplemented by a wide range of standard components, enable hardware developers to create custom solutions from standard parts quickly and at low cost. Prerequisite is an extensive range of standard products and parts to enable this level of flexibility and adaptability. As a rule, this approach allows some 80 percent of all customer requirements to be realized using standard products. Another 10 percent require minor product modifications, e.g. extra holes, cut-outs or special colors, that can be made simply, quickly, and cost-effectively.
Small modifications - big effect
How about a customer who simply requires minor modifications to an off-the-shelf product? The ideal solution often lies in the middle: a flexible off-the-shelf product, offering the possibility of custom modifications, simple ordering options, short delivery times and a reasonable price. Pentair Equipment Protection has identified the most common modifications requested by customers. The offering of a service based on this information enabled to unite the benefits of standard components with those of customized solutions. The subrack and case series from the catalogue can thus be modified easily. Modifications may include different dimensions, round holes for LEDs and switches or cut-outs for connectors, consoles, or special colors, all starting from a quantity of 1.
Pre-configured subrack versions
To simplify the ordering process for customers, subracks are also available as predefined kits designed to meet the most common customer requirements. By specifying the required dimensions and the intended application area. For CompactPCI applications with rear I/O, or for measurement and instrumentation or for a ruggedized application, customers may order a product from a single order number. The kit then contains all the components and some pre-installed parts (threaded inserts, EMC gaskets, hole or insulation strips, etc.). All the necessary components are included, so there is no more additional waiting time for forgotten parts or items that have not yet been delivered. These pre-configured subrack versions cover common market requirements from the simple standard through to high-end subrack models.
Individual front panels
With a wide range of cut-outs for different connectors, LEDs, handles, and switches and with printing services, the Schroff front panel program offers the possibility of individual manufacturing and design with colour schemes and artistic design in only a few days. The customer may choose from over 220 standard front panels available from stock and plug-in units with a range of finishes and versions. 2D or 3D data on the front panel can be downloaded from the Internet. Then the required mechanical processing, such as different cut-outs can be marked in the customer´s CAD system. The front panel drawings contain component mounting limits that show the designer which parts of the front panel he can use, without falling foul of, say, the 19“ standard. On the other hand there is a tool library with predefined cut-outs for standardized Sub-D and coax connectors - with counterbores, face milling or fully open. Cut-outs can be downloaded as macros and entered directly into the design. In the next step, components such as insertion and extractor handles or the EMC shielding material are selected from a wide range of accessories. Wording and design on the front panels can be realized by printing or engraving. Printing to individual customer specifications is done, for example, by digital printing with up to 32 million colors. The inks used are durable and are resistant to light, heat, cold, chemicals, and other environmental influences. Almost seamless gradients through to photorealistic images can be realized. Digital printing makes it possible to print intricate details with the smallest print point size of up to 3 point. Some applications are so individual in their requirements that a customized development is necessary. Yet here, too, the extensive range of standard products and components available from catalogue can be advantageous. Even with such customized solutions, off-the-shelf components can be used in their original form or modified, so that development times and costs remain at a feasible level.
