Plastic Angle Iron

Man, I thought I knew how to Google...thanks ever so much.

Yep, I was putting in specifics (PVC, fiberglass) and I don't think the sites were indexed that way. Structural shapes...got it.

Google can be tricky if your having a brain fart for words, one word can make all the difference in findings. In this case I believe the word is "structural".

And the anti-word was probably "iron".

Many times as a kid my father corrected me about "aluminum angle iron" and "plastic angle iron". If it is not "iron" you don't use the word "iron". I suspect I picked it up from being on farms as a kid. Everything with an angle on a farm is "angle iron".

A few days ago I had some fun at work when the draftsman asks me to request a truck of "aluminum angle iron". I asked him which one he wanted. He was pretty confused.

That one doesn't bother me as much as the media people all talking about cement when they mean concrete.

Not to question your intent Mr. A, but in my past I've racked up 1000+ pieces of sensitive equipment from tube based equipment to fiber optics..

I've dealt with noise issues.. ground isolation etc.. But never have I had to use a plastic rack....Or rack rails..

Your novice is showing with the 'plastic dip' comment.... for one.. that just wouldn't work. You still have steel screws..

A better question might be in order?..

No novice here. The equipment is merely sitting on the angles inside of an equipment rack. It is off the shelf equipment which was not suited to proper isolated rack mounting. BTW, we have been using single point grounds for over 50 years in my field and cabinet isolation is the standard.

And also btw, fiber optic is not sensitive to the RF spectrum.

I appreciate the Mr. A, though. I tend to post questions anonymously to avoid the derision associated with seemingly simple requests.

What's the quantity you are looking ? Are you on India ? If not, do you plan to import it from India ? I have the source who manufactures such fibre glass angles for power transmition poles. They mainly export to usa.

No, not in India. I only need a couple pieces anyway, not a large amount.

http://www.sdplastics.com/extren.html

http://www.rellcomposite.com/?p=34

Google the word PULTRUSION. This pulls up a lot of sites showing how it is made and structural properties, so you can work out equivalent cross section

I am trying to provide isolation for sensitive electronics in a cabinet and want to just replace the aluminum and steel supports for an insulating type. Each rack mount unit isn't very heavy, so there is no concern there.

Don't waste a valuable resource anonymous friend, asking about plastic angle. Tell the guys more about this problem; there is bound to be a better answer than plastic angle, otherwise we'd be surrounded by it.

jim

I don't understand what you mean by a valuable resource.

It's a simple issue of sourcing insulating material for a rack mount enclosure. I am not trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Wat quantity u r looking?R u on india ?if noy u plan to import it from india

Are you isolating for electrical or vibration? Will this equipment be mounted to the front rails of the rack? Will it be cantilevered off these front rails? You say it's not heavy so there's no concern but have you heard of creep in relation to plastics. You may find this does become a problem.

do you have to meet any specs in relation to earthquake etc.

I think I'd be more inclined to keep the rigid structure of the frame and rails and add the isolation to the equipment mounting mechanism.

Utilizing isolation on the rack rails has been the answer to this in the past, but a recent change in cabinet suppliers by our contracting agent and a lack of foresight on their part changed the playing field.

Over-the-counter chassis equipment which has no internal isolation between signal and chassis ground has produced interesting side-effects. Rack isolation is my attempt to right a wrong in this situation. However, it is yet to be seen if the problem is too extreme to correct through simple methods.

Takes a guy who doesn't know what he's doing to worry about "professional appearance" to have a finish product that is anything but.

I think he has already slinked off.

I only use the board occasionally. How's it feel to have a one-sided conversation?

Your "professional appearance" is apparent on the board of CR4.

since when is a comment a one sided conversation?

...

I was also going to comment about the number of people who automatically ask|

How much material do you need? Try these people!?

Did they even read the post?

Bottom line.. the OP will never need what he's asking for.

He should waste his time... I hope I communicated that.. a little..

..Thanks for your insight into my antics.. you're a REAL pro

I don't see how you can make a judgment on a person's character over one post on a message board. Just so you know, I haven't slinked off anywhere.

You're response, however, was inappropriate. If you don't have anything of value to add to a conversation, please refrain from wearing out your keyboard any more.

Sorry MR. A.. YOU ARE are Cuba Pete.. doh!

I didn't make the connection.. (I couldn't.. you never responded to a single comment until today) That's why i made the "slinked off" comment..

I've never posted anonymously..(one then the other? seems to defeat the point a little?).. now I see your reasoning..

Anyhow.. While I may be a littler OT here and there.. I hope I did add some value to the conversation..

I'll try for more...

I know that fiber is not RF sensitive.. Not my point.. My first racking experience was when I built my own racks as a teenager.. (there was no internet and I couldn't buy racks locally) since then I have installed all manner of racked equipment in every conceivable environment.. All of it custom..

Chassis ground and equipment ground should be two separate things.

People die because of improper grounding.. (that's why modern power tools have plastic bodies) It's not a joke to me..

I've seen people break the grounds off of their equipment because they "had a hum".. and guess what? ... it would still "hum".. (and now they have a broken ground!?

I've also seen people ground everything to the point of driving ground rods in multiple locations!?.. I've dealt with ground loops.. hums.... the gamut

I've seen more multi point grounding where there should be single point grounding than your average bear.

As a general rule I ground the drain wires at the head end source equipment unless there is a specific reason to do otherwise...

Ive never used, built or seen a "home build" plastic rack much less one with plastic dip on the rails, but honestly.. if I did?.. I would take a picture of the installation and sent it to a web site I know ... They loves such pictures.. (some guys call this type of work custom with their tongue firmly planted in cheek)

The OP didn't give information as to why he was isolating?

Since time is money I wanted to suggest that a better place to start might be telling all of us what the problem is?..

I guess I can't help except to say ..Are you sure this is what you need?

Rock out with your rack out.

peace.. and take it easy

Wow...Well, yeah...I don't respond to every single comment. I don't log in every day, and since it was Memorial Day weekend I was away from the computer for a while.

Chassis ground and equipment ground are not necessarily the same thing and are not necessarily different. It would depend on your application. For instance, when the engineer is concerned about frequencies above 300kHz (as in the case of an EMP hardened communications facility), an equipotential ground plane would be the item of choice. This is especially important in a red/black communications environment.

On the other hand, in an environment where the engineer has concern for artifacts in the audio spectrum (which is listed and 30kHz and below per DoD specifications) a single point ground is utilized. Now, the single point ground must meet the NEC, ANSI and IEEE standards and usually does, but DoD specifications override. Safety is always the first intent, but the NEC is not written with the intent of providing a safe environment for an EMP hardened military communications facility.

This is getting way too deep for a message board, but it's supposed to be a friendly chat site, not a homework Q&A, or in-depth engineering design forum. I am simply mocking up a isolated rack for a system to test out a new application. If it works, we'll spec it out for a competitive government contract.

I'll make sure that your company (which produces ladder racks) is not in the running. I can do that, I'm the Resident Engineer.

cool.. thanks for the info.

..Ladder racks ha.. I've pondered a lot of those too..

But I have also studied electrical engineering before going into electronics.. (my degree) ..I have also worked at other companies as well as ran my own.. (electrical contracting of course)(I know the codes)

I like the subject too.. I'm glad to be out of the field and home more often than not.

So yeah.. I'm on line daily at times.. sometimes I'm away for weeks.. or months.. I was fortunate enough to be home and reading CR4 all weekend.. (I went fishing the previous weekend/no competition on the lake) But I don't see how that relates..

I know racks.. I'm nearly passionate about them.. I used to buy all of my racking equipment dealer direct and have it drop shipped to me by truck each month or so. I still have one really cool heavy duty slide out rack that I just can't let go of.. even though I don't use it for much..

What more is there? I was trying to help.. You asked a question and came back days later as someone else? I don't take anonymous posters as seriously as you think I should.

I made some presumptions about the OP and the project. It was all in my head. I was snarky.. oops.. sorry.. really.. night.

Call Deversified Structural Composites in Erlanger Ky. Ask for Sean Reymond - his

phone number is 859 466 5368. They manufacture all types of composites and may

have what you need laying around. DSCI is one of the best in the country.

Try Googling Pultrusion.

There are a number of suppliers / manufacturers of Composite sections.

The local B&Q (usual disclaimer) and the local model shop have some in stock.

I never heard of a plastic angle iron! what is that? It is either Steel Angle, Nylon, fiberglass/epoxy, Stainless Steel or Aluminum angles. Sometimes these are also called extrusions. Structural shapes come in all sorts of shapes and materials, but they are not angle irons!

Check out this site:

http://acetal-rod-sheet.com/pvc-angle-iron.htm

It's their terminology, not mine. Don't shoot the messenger. They are some the so-called "experts" in this "engineering" field.

Cuba Pete puts the smackdown!

Yes, he sounds like a very professional individual. just like you! Being a smart a..(donkey) does not help if you want some answers to your post. I just said that I never heard of a plastic angle iron! maybe that term was used way before my time. I work in the aircraft tooling field, have done this for more than 30 years. So do not give me the "smack" remark. I know you know what I am talking about..ok? Check all the structural material catalogs and show me where you see a plastic, steel, aluminum iron angle?

Hey now, don't go get your feathers ruffled, I wasn't specifically referring to you, but to Pete's responses overall.

I'm just curious... Since when did an Engineering Chat/Forum turn into a professional environment? I get enough of that all day and night, sometimes it's nice to be able to joke around while still on a topic of interest.

I have no problem understanding what is meant when the term "Plastic Angle Iron" is used, even if it's not a technically correct phrase.

Ok, sorry! I guess I got a little carried away! You are right about having a little fun here. I guess indirectly I felt being "smacked". So lets put the "iron" in it's own place.!

Nice!!! looks refreshing! It's TGIF so let's forget about the "iron" deal and enjoy the good life!!

You did not say what sizes you are looking for. McNICHOLS CO www.mcnichols.com has 2 by 2 by 1/4 inch, 3 by 3 by 1/4 or 3/8 inch & 4 by 4 by 1/4 inch Fiberglass angle in their catalog available in 20 ft lengths. Hope this helps.

Doug

No, I didn't say the size because I knew that a valid vendor would provide any size necessary.

I responded with GA's to the first two responses to my question. Your information is also very helpful, thank you.

I especially liked the Extren product line from their site.

Try looking up pultrusion on Google.

I use Lawson Aquatics as my source for fiberglass angle. they have recently been aquired by Neptune Benson out of Coventry, RI. you will want to ask for David Monk at 800 832-8002. Best of Luck