Product Information: Racks & Enclosures
WHAT TYPES OF ENCLOSURES CAN YOU MANUFACTURE?
We manufacture two primary types of racks: open frame racks and rack enclosures.
Open frame racks are open frames with mounting rails, but without sides or doors. They’re typically used in applications that don’t require controlled airflow or physical security.
Rack enclosures have removable front and rear doors, side panels and four adjustable vertical mounting rails. They’re ideal for applications that require heavier equipment and provide physical security at the rack level.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT WILL A RACK HOLD?
It depends on the size of the rack, but there are solutions that can store up to 1000 pounds of equipment. For a detailed breakdown of our standard rack features, visit our Product page.
WHICH MATTERS MORE: INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS OF THE RACK?
Correctly sizing your rack is important to the security and performance of your electronic components. Both internal and external size matters. The equipment that’s housed within a rack needs to fit securely, and the rack itself needs to fit within your allotted space.
HOW MUCH SPACE SHOULD GO BETWEEN RACKS OR ENCLOSURES?
Ideally, your racks should be side by side and can be bolted together. This is called baying and allows you to maximize floor space and be more efficient while servicing the equipment stored in them. Space is an invaluable resource in IT, aerospace & defense applications!
ARE THERE LIMITATIONS ON THE SHAPE OF THE ENCLOSURE?
We can manufacture all the common enclosure styles, but have flexibility when it comes to fully custom designs. The main limitation is in bending. Press brakes can do straight-line bends only. If you have additional questions, please contact us. Our Design Engineering team can review any customer-provided designs/requirements.
WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONAL TOLERANCES OF YOUR ENCLOSURES?
The tolerance on variation of size and position of cutouts and profiles is +-0.02 or 0.03 depending on cabinet assembly. For a full list of our fabrication tolerances, please visit our resource page.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST AND SMALLEST ENCLOSURE YOU CAN MANUFACTURE?
The main limitation is the bend radius cannot be less than the thickness of the metal / materials used for your enclosure.
With CNC machining, we are capable of manufacturing very small enclosures, as small as 11.75” x 16.5” x 9.5”. We recommend contacting us about your design so that we can discuss it further with our design engineering team.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES END USERS MAKE WHEN CHOOSING A RACK OR ENCLOSURE?
It’s common that users don’t factor in future growth, especially if facing budget restrictions. A good rule of thumb is to place five years out with 20% growth rate per year. Consider a solution with a higher weight capacity if you need to add servers or components down the line. Also, make sure you consider your ancillary equipment upfront: power infrastructure mapped out and PDU mounting options.
CAN MY ENCLOSURE BE WATERPROOF?
No
HOW DOES A&J SUPPORT FIELD UPGRADES FOR RACK-MOUNTED EQUIPMENT?
Bolted-together design makes for easily assembly & disassembly.
PRODUCT INFORMATION: KITS & ACCESSORIES
DO YOU OWN YOUR INSTALLATION AND ACCESSORY KITS, OR DOES ANY EQUIPMENT COME FROM A THIRD PARTY?
A&J provides and manufactures our own accessory kits, but we don’t install any equipment.
WHAT FEATURES ARE OFFERED TO PROVIDE SECURITY?
Security is a concern for anyone purchasing an electronic equipment rack and unauthorized access can lead to downtime or loss of visibility. We have several features that are available to protect valuable data and hardware assets: door latches and frame, key lock latches, tamper-resistant hardware and security bars.
ABOUT A&J MANUFACTURING
IS A&J MANUFACTURING COMPLIANT WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS?
Yes, A&J Manufacturing is ISO 9001 registered and AS9100 certified. We are also ITAR-compliant and do business under CAGE code 08060.
CAN YOU MANUFACTURE NEMA-RATED OR IP RATED ENCLOSURES?
We can build your design to your specifications; however, we cannot certify our enclosures as NEMA-rated. Contact us with your needs, and we will work with you to build an enclosure that meets the standards required. We do not provide any testing to IP ratings, therefore we cannot guarantee the rating itself. Contact us to discuss your needs.
DO YOU OFFER A WARRANTY AGAINST EQUIPMENT DAMAGED IN YOUR CABINETS?
Our Limited Warranty applies to physical goods and services purchased from A&J and to fabrication or modification services to Customer Furnished Material (CFM). It covers any defects in material or workmanship during the warranty period.
The Limited Warranty coverage period begins on the date of shipment (A & J ships FOB Origin) and continues for One (1) year. Purchaser shall have thirty (30) days after shipment date to advise A & J of any product defect discovered during their inspection process. This Limited Warranty will apply only to claims made, in writing, and delivered to A & J within the warranty period.
WHAT COMPETITIVE EDGE DO YOUR RACKS HOLD AGAINST COMPETITORS?
We’re on a mission to provide standout equipment fabrication services to customers across the country. We’re doing this by committing to lean manufacturing principles, adhering to the highest quality standards and adapting to the changing needs of our clients. We’ve pioneered a unique “bolted together” construction that allows for easy assembly and disassembly with no welding required.
WHAT MACHINING CAPABILITIES DO YOU HAVE ON YOUR MANUFACTURING FLOOR?
- HAAS VF-7 84x32x30
- HAAS VF5XT 15.7×15.7×14.7
- HASS EC-400 15.7×15.7×14.7
- C.T.D. Chop Saw 12×8
- C.T.D. Chop Saw 16×8
- Heller Brake
- Amada Shear
- Hexagon, Absolute Arm 8325, 7 Axis
SUPPLIERS & OPERATIONS
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR SUPPLIERS?
We have criteria that each supplier will need to meet in order to be considered: ideal lead time, quality assurance processes and communication standards. We regularly keep tabs on their performance too, noting if they regularly ship orders late, send incomplete orders or provide low-quality goods. We want to ensure that our supplier relationships are mutually beneficial.
HOW DIVERSIFIED IS YOUR SUPPLIER BASE FOR INPUTS?
We’ve opted for a strategy that relies on a small pool of vendors, but augment it with other sellers who can “fill in” as needed. With component shortages taking a steep toll on the supply chain, a multi-sourcing strategy helps us gain more traction to ensure we get the materials required to make our products and complete your electronic equipment racks.
Our main priority is building and maintaining strong relationships with each of our suppliers.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD AN ENCLOSURE?
Understanding how long it may take for you to develop the rack’s interior layout, purchase the racks, and having them installed will allow you to develop a realistic timeline that will guide you in your planning process. For planning purposes, you should expect it to take at least 4 to 6 weeks from the time you start planning your rack purchase of MCOTS electronic enclosures to the time it’s installed. If you need a modified or custom order, expect the timeline to be longer; between 12 and 16 weeks.
You don’t need to begin the planning and selection process on your own. Our experienced engineers at A&J Manufacturing can walk you through our catalog of options and design an option that works best for your unique needs. Contact us today to get started on your next electronic enclosure project.
DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES
CAN I GET A CUSTOM ELECTRONIC ENCLOSURE/RACK DESIGNED AND BUILT TO MY SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS?
A&J Manufacturing offers custom electronic enclosure solutions for a wide range of industrial, commercial and military applications. Custom designs are engineered and manufactured with the support of CAD technology along with a team of experienced design engineers.
To get started, it’s helpful to send our team any technical requirements/specifications, any 3D modeling or CAD drawings completed to-date and a general idea of the equipment or components that will be house inside the rack.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT USING ALUMINUM IN MY ELECTRONIC ENCLOSURE DESIGN?
Aluminum is a readily available material, 100% recyclable, and lighter than its cousin, steel. It’s sturdy, capable of withstanding high impact and has high malleable strength, making it one of the most easily modifiable metals.
It performs well in harsh environments because the alloys are naturally resistant to corrosion and rust. It’s also resistant to UV light, is thermally conductive and will trap heat.
Aluminum is one of the least electrically conductive metals and has some of the highest electrical resistance. It’s non-reactive to magnetic force which makes it an excellent candidate for an enclosure that needs a shield against electromagnetic frequency (EMF) and radio frequency interference (RFI).
It will not swell or deform and has a consistent quality finish. It is easy to paint or coat and the scrap is recyclable and valuable.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT ENCLOSURE FOR MY BUSINESS OR PROJECT REQUIREMENTS?
Choosing the right enclosure means understanding a wide variety of issues from material selection to safety and security. A&J manufactures durable and innovative enclosures with a wide selection of configurations and accessories which means your enclosure can be customized to your exact specifications. Chat with our Design Engineers to determine what enclosure is right for you, help design it, add accessories, and order.
How much weight will a rack hold?
What types of enclosures can you manufacture?
We manufacture two primary types of racks: open frame racks and rack enclosures.
Open frame racks are open frames with mounting rails, but without sides or doors. They’re typically used in applications that don’t require controlled airflow or physical security.
Rack enclosures have removable front and rear doors, side panels and four adjustable vertical mounting rails. They’re ideal for applications that require heavier equipment and provide physical security at the rack level.
