Challenger Technical Manual

Equipto Electronics Challenger product line is designed to address the most common enclosure requirements. This page lists specifications for the construction and fabrication of Vertical Rack and Sloped Front Cabinet Frames and components in the Challenger product line.

Links to drawings with detailed dimensions in both English and Metric units follow the descriptions. Drawings are provided in two formats: Adobe Acrobat PDF and Autodesk Viewer DWF. The Acrobat viewer provides more options such as zooming and scaling and is recommended. However, Acrobat files are significantly larger (five or six times) than Whip files.

Frames

The cabinet frames in the Challenger System are fabricated of cold rolled steel and are of spot welded and arc welded construction. The frame sides, composed of formed horizontal and vertical channel, joined with top, bottom and intermediate struts are spot welded. These spot welded sub-assemblies are then joined to each other with cross ties which are arc welded into place to form a cabinet frame having minimal side sway, twist or deflection.

All of the Challenger Vertical Racks, Bench Top Racks, and Sloped Front Cabinet Frame Side sub-assemblies are constructed of 14 gauge cold rolled steel “U” shaped vertical and horizontal members, press formed 5/8″ x 1″ x 2″. The top, bottom and intermediate “hat section” shaped side struts are formed of 16 gauge cold rolled steel; the two flanges of the hat sections have 9/32″ x ½” slotted holes on 1 ¾” centers for installing recessable panel mounting angles; the channel section of the hat section has 3/8″ diameter holes along its center line on 1 ¾” centers which are used for bolting Cabinet Frames side-by-side. The upper corners, where the “U” shaped frame channel members join, are arc welded and ground smooth.

The frame side struts  used to join the Frame Side Weldments are formed of 14 gauge cold rolled steel. The ends of the struts, which abut the frame channel members on the 5/8″ flange of the Frame Side Sub-assembly, are formed to allow the struts to be arc welded from the inside, along their end flanges, directly to the Frame Side Channels. The number of struts used in the fabrication of a frame  varies from the four used at the corner extremities of Vertical Rack and Bench Top Rack Frames to six, including those required on Sloped Front Cabinet Frames where the extremities of the sloped sections of the frames join with the vertical or horizontal sections.

The Panel Mounting Angles in all Challenger Vertical Rack, Bench Top Rack and Sloped Front Cabinet Frames are press formed of 11 gauge cold rolled steel 15/16″ x 15/16″, and edge rolled to minimize sharp edges. They are punched with 9/32″ diameter holes on both legs, spaced on centers to comply with the Universal E.I.A. Standard RS-310 (Rev Std. Se-102), for use with spring type fasteners. They are also available tapped on one leg for 10-32 screw. Panel Mounting Angles are fastened to the hat section side struts in the cabinet frames with 10B x ½” hex head sheet metal screws and Speed Nuts ®. Each Challenger Vertical Rack and Bench Top Rack Cabinet Frame is supplied with four removable and recessable Panel Mounting Angles. Sloped Front Console Frames are supplied with six, four of which, in the lower compartment and at the rear, are recessable and removable, while the two in the sloped area are fixed but removable. Double Slope and Low Profile Console Frames are supplied with eight angles, the four in the lower compartment being recessable and removable and the four in the sloped areas are in a fixed position but removable.

Frame Drawings

Doors and Panels

Face Mounted Doors for Challenger Cabinets are formed 5/8″ thick of 16 gauge cold rolled steel, with return flanges. They are installed over the face of the frame channel, extending 7/8″ above and below the opening, or 1 ¾” larger than the height of the opening in a normal application. These doors are mounted with bright zinc plated hinges having removable pins and are attached to the cabinet frame channel. All face mounted doors are secured with a two -point latching mechanism, using a brushed chrome lift handle of Equipto Electronics Design. Doors are cushioned with rubber bumpers and are available plain, louvered or grilled. A lock is optional.

Flush Mounted Doors for Challenger Cabinets are formed 5/8″ thick of 16 gauge cold rolled steel with return flanges. They are installed in the panel opening of the cabinet frame, flush with the frame surface. Flush doors are mounted with bright zinc plated hinges with removable pins and are attached to one of the Panel Mounting Angles. A single-point latch engages a strike mounted on the opposite angle. The handle is a lift type, brushed chrome finish of Equipto Electronics design and matches the lift handle used on face mounted doors. A lock is optional. Rubber bumpers cushion the doors when being closed. All flush doors are available plain, louvered or grilled.

Side Panels for Challenger frames are formed 5/8″ thick of 16 gauge cold rolled steel, with return flanges. They are mounted to the outside of the cabinet, flush with the outer perimeter of the frame. They are externally removable with a slide-lift motion with provisions for fastening internally. A “zee” bracket supports the panel at the top while the balance of the panel is secured in the front by a “zee” bracket and in the rear by sheet metal screws. The screws may be removed by the customer for a slide-lift off feature. They are available either plain or louvered.

Door Drawings

Bases and Trucks

Cabinet Trucks are constructed of 12 gauge cold rolled steel formed into a pan shape with 2 ¼” flanges with the corner seams welded and ground smooth. 12 gauge steel hat sections act as reinforcements for the truck platform and serve a mounting brackets for the 4″ diameter casters. Cabinet Trucks are available in single and multiple-bay widths and in flush and extended styles.

Panels

Instrument Panels are are formed 5/8″ thick of 16 gauge cold rolled steel with ½” return flanges.

Turrets

Turrets are fabricated as an all-welded frame-type construction of 16 gauge cold rolled steel with integral solid side panels. The Panel Mounting Angles are in a fixed position. All three openings in each to the turret styles will accept the standard Challenger 5/8″ Formed Panels. Both Single Slope and Double Slope Turrets for the Challenger system may be used in the horizontal or vertical position.

Equipment/Storage Drawers

Equipment/Storage Drawer bodies are formed of 20 gauge cold rolled steel, spot welded to formed 20 gauge cold rolled steel fronts. The Drawer assemblies ride on roller-bearing extension slides having a rated load bearing capacity of 125 pounds. The drawer pulls are flush mounted brushed stainless steel with a recess finger grip. These drawers can be installed in the vertical sections of all Challenger Cabinet Frames.

Hinged Drawer Shelves

Hinged Drawer Shelf assemblies are composed of a formed steel support panel which attaches to the rear of the drawer body; to this is attached a hinged, color coordinated laminated plastic, particle board core panel extending beyond the drawer body sides sufficiently to provide for a convenient finger lift. All Challenger Equipment/Storage Drawers, from 5 ¼” to 14″ height can be converted to extensible work surfaces with the installation of a Hinged Drawer Shelf.

Work/Writing Shelves

Work/Writing Shelves are available either in a steel channel frame style or made of laminated plastic.

The frame style is fabricated of 16 gauge cold rolled steel channels, welded into a frame structure which is supported by 3/16″ x 1 ½” steel mounting arms and 15 gauge steel support brackets mounted directly to the cabinet frame panel mounting angles. On multiple width units, the continuous top opening lends itself to the use of a one piece formed 16 gauge cold rolled steel of laminated plastic insert panel to span the full width of the Work/Writing shelf.

The laminated plastic shelves are supported with the same mounting arm and bracket systems used with the frame style shelf. The laminated plastic shelves are made of particle board with a color-coordinated laminated plastic sheet bonded to the top and edge surfaces; a neutral color plastic sheet is bonded to the under surfaces to minimize warpage.

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