Request for Discussion: proposal for standard modular rack miner

[chiguireitor]

Ah, okay. I see what you're saying on the power backplane.
Chip addressing shouldn't really be an issue how I see it, since each board would enumerate as its own device in cgminer if they were USB-connected. No one board should overlap with another. Or are you thinking a multiplexer on each board that talks to each node independently?

It would work if certain boards could be fabricated as one single form factor, with just a "parent" board with USB logic and the rest just plain old chip addressing. This would be just an option for a given manufacturer, so no need to enforce it.

[1714698049]

1714698049

[NotFuzzyWarm]

a bit late in the game but - on packaging...
The rack mount format is great for aesthetics but -- most farms just place the miners on industrial shelving eg. https://bitcoinnewsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hashnest.png Just tossing that reminder out there.

On bolting blades to the bottom of case: Will they be pan heads recessed in stamped dimples or tapered heads going into tapered holes? Can't have screw heads scrathing whatever is under the miner...

For a mfg standpoint I'd use stamped dimples. Many (most?) sheet metal fabricators have presses/laser cutters that can do the blanking/dimpling/louvers/cutting all on the 1 machine. Dimples will of course raise the blades higher by around .125" or so...

[sidehack]

I had assumed a flathead screw in countersunk hole. If we go dimple recessing, there should still be plenty of clearance between the cards and the top of the case.

I know a lot of folks shelf miners, but there's not really a good reason to make it not rack-mountable just in case.

[Spotswood]

It would be nice if a blade had a mounting hole in each corner and that the total height of a blade was at least 13-15mm less than 4U (or whatever "U" you decide on), so that buyers could mount blades in the grooves of slotted extrusion, etc. 

-Rich

Full disclosure: I used to design and build open-air cases for most of the custom mining boards, and I miss it terribly.   

EDIT:  What are the dimensions of a S1 board?

[Witrebel]

Quick update,  I am back stateside on dry land.  Haven't gotten a chance to model the latest version but to recap what I think I am still missing:

Remove the panel from over the hashing space, leaving only a small section towards the back to promote laminar flow.
Decrease the width of the sidepocket to 1" and rework the heatsink sizes to match
Add dimples and verify that the clearance is still good above cards, im thinking 0.125" dimples?

I was able to get access to a license of COMSOL with a good selection of modules, so now its just a matter of familiarizing myself with this enviorment and getting the models imported correctly etc.  I hope to have some results inside of two weeks, ideally much sooner.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

Cool. I'm on the COSMOL and also Mentor Graphics email lists so am very familiar with their offerings but so far have not needed to actually use them. Common-sense and Industrial usage overkill which assumes worst-case to rather be the norm suffices

Schneider Electric is another with most focus on heat flow in the rooms (data center cooling) and power distribution. Witrebel, sent ya a pm re Schneider and yer Venezuela project.

Anywho, if you have access to a seat in any of them then most excellent.

[chiguireitor]

[...]
Schneider Electric is another with most focus on heat flow in the rooms (data center cooling) and power distribution. Witrebel, sent ya a pm re Schneider and yer Venezuela project.
[...]

Hehehe.... my country Btw, Schenider electric has its offices near my city, if anyone needs directions, ask away.

Btw, i know the case is going to have a mainly fan cooling design, and it would be cool if it would be possible to also add mounting option for ducts, so one could direct the airflow outside the case more easily.

[Meech]

Full disclosure: I used to design and build open-air cases for most of the custom mining boards, and I miss it terribly.   Cry

Yes, miss your work.  Gone are the day of open air cases, there's just too much heat generated by asic chips.  But keep thinking of
converting your talents to new products.

[Spotswood]

Full disclosure: I used to design and build open-air cases for most of the custom mining boards, and I miss it terribly.   Cry

Yes, miss your work.  Gone are the day of open air cases, there's just too much heat generated by asic chips.  But keep thinking of
converting your talents to new products.

Yes, I understand that open-air cases no longer work with today's asics and I've expanded to building fully enclosed cases, for example:

http://www.spotswoodcomputercases.com/images/frames/5slotcase/5slotwCompletedTopLeftAngle-640.JPG