Appendix D
Modifying and Installing I/O Expansion Boards
D-2
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Installing an I/O Board
This section leads you through the steps to install an expansion board in the
VXIpc-872 and VXIpc-873.
Materials Needed
You need the following items to install the expansion board:
•
A user-defined panel is required on the expansion boards based
on National Instruments blank PCI or ISA panels. The panel should be
manufactured from 0.03 in. (0.76 mm) thick 1010 cold rolled steel.
The finish should be 0.0003 in. (0.008 mm) nickel plate over 0.0001
in. (0.003 mm) copper flash. Contact National Instruments if you have
any questions about specifications for user-defined panels.
As an alternative, you can modify the blank panels provided with
the VXIpc-872 and VXIpc-873. Custom panel design services are
available from National Instruments for a nominal fee.
•
PEM nut or a 4-40 nut with lock washer (hole diameter should
be 0.125 in. [3.18 mm]).
•
4-40
×
1/4 in. stainless steel panhead screw.
Installation Steps
Follow these steps to install the expansion board:
1.
Notice that the VXIpc-872 and VXIpc-873 include one card guide that
can be rotated to secure the top of either a PCI or an ISA plug-in board.
You may use the card guide in either of two locations, depending on
the length of your installed board. Loosen the screw holding the guide
and rotate the guide to the uppermost position for PCI boards or the
lowermost position for ISA boards. See Figure D-2.
2.
Replace the manufacturer-supplied panel bracket with the custom
bracket. The two holes in the bracket align with existing holes in the
VXIpc-872 or VXI-pc873 front panel.
3.
Seat the board firmly in one of the expansion bus connectors.
4.
Attach the board to the front panel with the two screws. You can use a
PEM nut on the back (far) side of the bracket, or a 4-40 nut with a lock
washer (hole diameter should be 0.125 in.). In either case, use a
4-40
×
1/4 in. stainless steel panhead screw to mount the board/bracket
assembly to the front panel.
