U Channel hunt

[itsmoked]

I'm looking for some u-channel to put a high power board in. It's the usual hot devices, lined along the sides, that the devices will screw to the sides of the u-channel that the board drops into.

I've looked at Aavid figuring that they'd have classic anodized U channel. They don't!

I am having problems finding it as googling for U-channel gets you tons of stuff like shower door channel etc. etc. all the way up to 2 inches wide.. sheesh. I need 5 or 6 inches wide.

I just want the typical stuff that most U chassis'd power supplies are mounted in.

Anybody got a lead?
What do you use in this type of situation?

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[jraef]

Kinda like this?

Rose-Bopla build-a-box

 

[itsmoked]

Hi Jeff!

Nope. Neat stuff though! I'll keep it in mind for the future.

I just need something that looks like about 1/8th inch Al sheet radius bent so it's about 5 inches wide with the two sides bent up ~2 inches. Nothing fancy.

I'm starting to think everyone has this stuff bent, and fabbed, and anodized, for every different product.. Groan.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[jraef]

Channel maybe?

http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=64&step=2

 

[Noway2]

If you can find a plane aluminum channel you could always have it anodized (or whatever). We do that all the time with our heat sink modules for SCRs and things.

As far as some other places to look, we typically get our heat sink assemblies from Darrah Electric Company who is a distributor for both Aavid and R-Theta.

 

[itsmoked]

Thanks Noway2. I'll look there!

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[MikeHalloran]

In quantity, it's _much_ cheaper to punch the required holes in a flat blank and bend it after piercing, than to drill holes in an extruded section.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[itsmoked]

Thanks Mike. That's the conclusion I've been rapidly coming to. That would allow all punch operations and inserts to be done most cheaply.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[desertfox]

Hi itsmoked

Have a look at this site:-

http://www.unistrut.co.uk/

regards

desertfox

 

[itsmoked]

No luck.. They have no aluminum just the usual structural stuff.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[ScottyUK]

Try

http://www.smithmetal.com/products/catalogue.asp

They are a major UK stockist of non-ferrous sections. They have definitely got some 6" wide aluminium channel but the wall thickness might be a bit heavy. They have a lot of other shapes too. I can't believe there isn't a US equivalent!


----------------------------------

Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...

 

[MikeHalloran]

Here in The Colonies, we call stockists "Metal Service Centers".

One such with whom I've dealt is Ryerson Tull:

http://www.ryerson.com/stocklist/StocklistServlet?COM=GetTable&ID=1684

I don't think I've seen a 'square corner' channel as big as you want. Next best choice would be 'aluminum association' channels, with fillets, full radiused flanges, and parallel flange faces. And you can get 'american standard' channels, which have tapered flanges just like steel sections.

Of course, you can get nearly anything you want as a custom extrusion. The dies are surprisingly inexpensive, and the minimum lot size may be as small as a couple of tonnes.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[BJC]

Aluminum Strut.

http://www.b-line.com/pdf/catalogs/...DF-WebPI/AS-AluminumChannel&ClosureStrips.pdf

For meere money you can get stainless, brass or powder coated.