Advanced Search Part-No.
Login / Registration Your location/language , English

WHY COMBIMET 19” RACK CASES ARE SO POPULAR WITH DESIGN ENGINEERS

COMBIMET 19"

COMBIMET 19”: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Of all the many enclosures we manufacture, one model stands out from all the rest for its sheer popularity: COMBIMET 19”. And demand continues to grow because COMBIMET has achieved something remarkable.

What makes COMBIMET special is that it’s our most advanced, versatile and customisable 19” rack case …and yet it’s also our most cost-effective. Yes, you read that correctly – our best rack case model also happens to be our most affordable.

That’s not a scenario you encounter very often in life. How is it possible? The answer comes down to smart design, elegant simplicity, and some excellent customisation suggestions from you the customer. Let us explain…

COMBIMET 19” IS METCASE’S BIGGEST RANGE BY FAR

That subheading says it all. Together, all the different variants, sizes and colors of COMBIMET give you a choice of 68 rack cases – all available as standard. And customizing COMBIMET is very easy but we’ll get to that in due course…

At headline level, these modern aluminum enclosures are available as standard from 1U to 6U, in three depths, and with distinctive handles that make it easy to pull them from racks for inspection and maintenance. But that’s just the start.

You can specify the top and base panels either vented or unvented. There are mounting holes in the base for PCBs and chassis. All the cases are supplied (fully assembled) in a choice of either light gray (RAL 7035) or black (RAL 9005) as standard.

One of the reasons the range is so large is that it reduces the amount of customization required. With 68 standard cases to choose from, you’re more likely to find an off-the-shelf housing that’s already very close to your requirements.

COMBIMET 19"

WHY IS OUR MOST VERSATILE 19” RACK CASE ALSO OUR MOST COST-EFFECTIVE?

The answer is simple – there are no bezels at the front and rear. COMBIMET has a flat front and a bezel-less back. This reduces the number of components, and makes it much easier to manufacture the cases in non-standard sizes.

Bezels manufactured from diecast and extruded aluminum are an integral feature of some of our 19” rack cases. They enable you to remove the front panel without having to pull the case from the rack. Bezels also add aesthetic appeal. But – depending on how the bezels are manufactured – they can limit the number of custom sizes available.

So COMBIMET doesn’t have bezels – and as a result, you can specify custom sizes in all three dimensions: length, width and height. The flat front has also proven to be a winner aesthetics-wise.

COMBIMET 19"

HOW CUSTOMER POWER HELPED TO BUILD THE COMBIMET 19” RANGE

Virtually every standard enclosure – be it for a rack, desk or wall – will need some form of customization:

  • machining of apertures for controls, LEDs, the power supply and other interfaces.
  • printing of legends and logos.

So customization is very much part of the METCASE DNA. Customers know they can ask for special sizes, technical features and branding – and that we’re only too happy to help. Some of these modifications and custom sizes then become so popular that it makes sense to offer them as standard. (5U COMBIMET is an example of this.)

This can happen with any standard METCASE enclosure. But it seems to be more of a COMBIMET phenomenon, compared with other models. Perhaps it’s because COMBIMET is a bestseller. Or maybe it’s what has helped to make COMBIMET more popular. Either way, it’s a virtuous circle and we’re very grateful – long may it continue.

COMBIMET 19"

VARIANTS OF COMBIMET 19”: OPEN TOP, ‘SUPER-DEEP’, SMOOTH TOP

Variety of ventilation is a key feature of COMBIMET cases – and they don’t come any more aerated than the open-topped Version T. The benefits are obvious: maximum cooling, greater ease of access – and a price that’s even keener than usual due to the reduced manufacturing and materials costs. Version T is available in heights of 2U and 3U, and in light gray or black as standard.

And then there’s extra-deep COMBIMET for server racks. It’s 24" (610 mm) deep – offering significantly more capacity than the other two standard depths (10.43", 14.37"). You can specify super-deep COMBIMET in all the standard heights (1U-6U) available for the range.

A third variant of COMBIMET features a U-shaped, wraparound top. This further enhances the look of the enclosures by removing the need for top screws (which are visible on the normal version). It also reduces the number of case parts and offers even easier access to components.

COMBIMET 19"

CUSTOMIZED COMBIMET 19” RACK CASES

Customizing COMBIMET is extremely easy because most of the time it involves just machining and printing the flat front and rear panels. Adding extra ventilation is another popular option – and again, this is very straightforward.

COMBIMET comes with M4 earth studs on every panel as standard but the cases can also be supplied with other fixings and inserts as a custom order. These include:

  • metric fasteners, typically with M2, M2.5, M3, M4, M5 and M6 threads
  • unified fasteners, which are available on request
  • self-clinch nuts, studs, blind standoffs, through standoffs
  • PCB clip-on standoffs, 90-degree panel nuts, cable tie mounts
  • earth studs for aluminium panels and earth tags for steel panels
  • concealed-head threaded studs to avoid any witness on the external surface of the panel.

As an alternative to inserts, we can also create a burst hole in the sheet material and tap the required thread.

COMBIMET is available in a wide range of custom colors – many of which we keep in stock to minimize costs and shorten delivery times. We generally work with RAL and Pantone codes but can also match other colors on demand.

Meanwhile, digital printing has opened up a world of possibilities, making it easier to print photo-quality images and graphics on enclosures. This technology has much lower set-up costs than traditional screen printing, making it available in much lower volumes.

View our full range of customization services >>

View COMBIMET 19" range >>

FURTHER READING

GET EXPERT TECHNICAL ADVICE

Contact us now for expert advice on specifying standard, customised and full bespoke 19” rack cases and other electronic enclosures.