Control box build

I am building my system with a Mesa 7I96 card, some stepperonline stepper drivers and some switches and power supplies.

I was wondering mainly about mounting the card to the box. Does it need to be mounted on non conductive stand offs? How do you guys normally fasten your boards to the box? I am guessing the stepper drivers and power supplies can just be kind of bolted on, but I don't want to break the board.

Thanks

You can use metal stand-offs, the mounting holes are insulated
You can also get the DIN rail mounts if you prefer

I used M3 screw through a mounting hole, then a nut to fix the screw to the panel, then a nylon spacer from the big box store, then the card, then finally a nut to secure the card. I didn't feel like waiting in proper standoffs in the mail.

I prefer Mesa's DIN mounts. They are nicely machined with chamfered edges, consistent hole patterns and heights. We just need to convince Peter to make some that fit the smaller boards. I'm lazy and don't like modifying them.
What I like about the DIN rail system is that it offers flexibility in layout. I hate drilling and tapping inside electrical enclosures. Once the rail is screwed in place you just clip your components to it. Power supplies, terminals, fuses, relays etc. Makes for a clean install.

I use these:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PCB-DRG-01-04-DIN-Rai...f:g:JmIAAOSw1g9fTwLr
But are much cheaper on aliexpress . All the dimensions for the drilling are in the manuals for each card.

mesa 7i96

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test jig.

How big are your control boxes? I am about to the point where things are working like I want them to and finalize it, but the way I drew it out it will be about 14 x 20 inches.

What’s the depth of your cabinet?
Whats the size of your 36V?

The size i think is based in what you plan too have, push button, switch, leds, display at cabinet door, circuit protection; fuse, breaker, etc.

You can use the cabinet door to mount the Mesa or 36V if you dont have nothing connected to the door...you csn use the laterals for comand stuff.
If you dont have yet they sell 24/12/5V power suplly 3 in 1 cheap price and very small sharing the common.
If this is mine ill put from left to right CP, PSU, DM542 and Mesa.
Input usually from UP and output Down
Heres one example for you if you have depth:
forum.linuxcnc.org/plasma-laser/39792-co...d-for-plasma?start=0

Looks a bit tight to me. Going by memory, my 18"x24" or so cabinet on my mill was too tight to mount 4 drives, PSs, relays, contactor, fuses/breakers and 7i77 comfortably. The 7i77 sits in another box. I know your setup is different and may just work fine.
In general I found that in the areas where the wires pass through your cabinet you want room as the harnesses can add up in size quickly. Same goes for the star ground location. Also add a few extra holes in the box for future expandability. Maybe a fan for cooling as well?

Aciera wrote:

You might want to mount the drivers vertically. Stacking them up like that is not very good for cooling.

X 2. I just learnt the hard way that the top drive can get too hot and fault with the ones below it heating them up!