A4000T case design problems/questions

[Jose]

Hi. For you A4000T owners:-)

1- The case doesn't include the place to use a screw to fix the zorro cards on the slots in line with the video slots. How do you secure cards ? Mine (2nd hand I must say) also came without back plates in there (no apparent way to fix them).

2- Where can I get cover plates for the two 5.25" vertical bays on the front ? Are these standard ?

3- Any standard part that needs to be added to put HDs in the drive tray other than right after the 5.25" vertical bays ? This can be necessary if I want to use drives in these bays. This is even more cumbersome since some CPU cards, at least the WarpEngine I have here, doesn't fit with the drive tray in, cause it's simm slots are vertical and the tray is very close to the slots:-x  

Thnx
:pint:

[X-ray]

@ Jose

1. The original A4000T caseware included a small L-plate that secures the cards in question. You aren't the only one who didn't get one. Check my pics to see what you are missing ("Guess the item"). As for the backplanes, you can use any PC backplanes. I recently replaced the original flimsy ones with nice sturdy HP server backplanes.

2. The cover plates are standard Enlight covers. If you can find a place that still has Enlight cases maybe you can find the plates.

3. You need drive rails. I have seen Enlight drive rails on ebay recently, because another user asked for them and I googled them. Check previous threads here or google drive rails. When you have the rails, you still need 3.5" to 5.25" brackets. Attach the brackets to the drive, then the drive rails to the brackets, then the drive will just slide into the bay. Here is an example of the rails you need:

http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=2439

and here are some rails on a 5.25" drive.

4. If the drive chassis is interfering with your CPU card, then cut the cross-struts. Once again check my pics to see where to cut and what it will look like.

[orange]

1) I soldered the damn thing to the case.

[Crumb]

1.- My A4000T included as standard a piece of metal you kept on top of the screwless slot. You fixed it on top using the screw holes of the slots next to it. That way the middle card is kept secure. Now some ascii "art":
________
|O_____O|
 

[Jose]

Thanks for the replies! I'll try to get those parts.

@Crumb
Do you think one could get the metal piece or an equivalent somewhere ? Do you have a pic ?

:pint:

[Jose]

@X-Ray

"...then the drive will just slide into the bay."

That's much better than using the the current drive rail built in the chassis cause doesn't allow the drives to be changed without taking off the front cover of the tower.
Unless I'm missing something.. :roll:

[X-ray]

@ Jose

Did you check my pics, huh?
Did you, eh?
I put such effort into those but you don't look, instead you ask Crumb  :cry:

Be sure to check all the comments for those pictures, because the comments can have pictures too, ja?

 ;-)

Edit: oh, you ask a drive rail question while I type my comment about your previous post.

Drive rails: you still have to take off the bezel and unscrew the metal protective plate to get at your drive. And even then, you might not be able to pull it out because the SCSI cable and power cable may not be long enough for you to do it. If that's the case, you then have to take the cover off the case as well.

So, the advantage of drive rails is best felt when you first set up that A4000T, when the cover is off anyway and you are trying to find the best place for all the drives. Then the rails are really cool because you can just slide stuff in and out, without unscrewing any brackets. If you were really well off you could buy a heap of those rails and just make sure all your drives (past and present) have the rails attached. That is less screwdriver work down the line, but the case still has to be uncrewed

[Jose]

lol! Your pics rule, thanks:) I've looked at them various times as a reference. I didn't find any the said small L-place you mentioned, I'll have a look at the comments.

[Jose]

Nope can't find it in the A4000T pics..

[X-ray]

Here dude...

http://www.amiga.org/gallery/index.php?n=1237

and check the picture I put there for you in the comments too, yesterday.

[Jose]

@X-ray :pint: :pint: