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  • Mounting hardware

    From Don Y@21:1/5 to All on Sat Apr 26 03:10:22 2025
    As an expedient, I've opted to use a pair of NUcs to serve
    my (redundant) RDBMS in this project. This saves me the
    trouble of porting the RDBMS to my RTOS, in the short term.

    But, the RDBMS still has to "look" like the rest of the objects
    in my system, operate under the same constraints, ACLs, etc.
    So, I have a (hardware/software) module that sits between
    the OTS RDBMS and my system that acts as a protocol converter.

    The module is housed in a 2G junction box (more than twice as
    large as needed). My hope was to mount the NUC on the exterior
    of the box -- better for cooling, power handling, etc.
    (everything inside the box is PoE powered; the NUC's power
    demands exceed what I want to deliver over the wire so
    I can power them from the mains).

    The standard cover plate for a 2G box is, unfortunately,
    virtually identical in size to the NUC's footprint. Good
    in that the NUC will fit within the envelope prescribed
    by the Jbox. Bad, because mounting the NUC to the cover
    makes the mounting holes for the COVER (to the Jbox)
    inaccessible!

    The NUC has a pair of mounting holes on the underside
    (as usual, my phone photography sucks) visible to the
    left and right of the "Intel" label.

    <https://mega.nz/file/kjZiVI6a#nhoyBNC2umX-2KdQJW6Uf5NjVC3R3Tz1KIlLea-92i0>

    The (four) 2G cover plate's mounting holes are at the top and
    bottom of the plate.

    <https://mega.nz/file/MnolgACA#UlmLJW0aBJ9QVunfG7a4wNXGM3JasTC6zCU7K-ryw-U>

    So, the cover plate would be secured to the Jbox -- after installing
    the "protocol converter" inside. Then, the NUC needs to somehow
    be attached (and removable). The mounting holes are obviously not
    going to receive fasteners (screws) THROUGH the cover plate.

    Velcro and similar ideas don't look like they will work, long term.
    Something with a more mechanical attachment seems in order. Maybe
    something that can be fastened to the NUC (using the mentioned holes)
    AND a counterpart to the cover late (the inside of which would be
    accessible when the plate is removed).

    Any "off the shelf" ideas?

    Note that something that grasps the body of the NUC is probably not going
    to work as there is little clearance between this and other similarly
    cited devices. Plus, access to the various connectors on the NUC.
    So, it seems like behind (under) the NUC is the only real solution.

    Maybe a bracket on the NUC and a complementary receiver on the wall plate?
    The wall plate is hidden while the NUC is mounted so this should be OK...

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Lasse Langwadt@21:1/5 to All on Sat Apr 26 19:30:11 2025
    glue on magnets?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Don Y@21:1/5 to Lasse Langwadt on Sat Apr 26 14:06:42 2025
    On 4/26/2025 10:30 AM, Lasse Langwadt wrote:
    glue on magnets?

    That could work. Though I abhor glue -- it's messy and never
    lives up to its claims, over the long run. Or, one of the
    glued pieces fails leaving you with a headache to repair.

    But, I've seen magnets with (mounting) holes in the center.
    I could use a screw to fasten a pair to the rear/back of the
    NUC and screw/locknut to the cover plate.

    Then, a couple of inert spacers as a two-point mount would wobble.
    Maybe even a printed "lip" to ensure the NUC remains centered
    on the wallplate...

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Don Y@21:1/5 to John R Walliker on Sat Apr 26 14:16:00 2025
    On 4/26/2025 11:18 AM, John R Walliker wrote:
    On 26/04/2025 18:30, Lasse Langwadt wrote:
    glue on magnets?

    Yes.  If you glue a pair of neodymium disc magnets around 20mm
    diameter to the computer and another pair to the faceplate you will
    struggle to separate them.  Even with the Trump surcharge they will
    still be very cheap.

    Cost of magnets is less than a tiny fraction of a percent of even
    the cost of the "protocol converter" -- let alone the converter+NUC

    There are also adhesive magnetic sheets and tapes, some made by 3M, but these will be much weaker.

    I've not been happy with any sort of adhesive, in the long run.
    Even *if* it continues to hold, any failure in the devices being
    held complicates cleanup.

    I might just opt for magnets on the cover plate (because it won't be
    removed and, thus, won't "stick" to anything) and a metal plate on
    the NUC (the bottom is plastic) -- coupled with a centering
    guide on the cover plate. It need not be large or obtrusive to
    get the job done...

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)