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Appendix E Modifying and Installing I/O Expansion Boards
© National Instruments Corporation E-7 VXIpc 800 Series User Manual
Installing an I/O Board
The following material applies equally to all models in the VXIpc 800
Series.
Materials Needed
You need the following pieces to install an expansion board in the
VXIpc-800:
• 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-800. 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 x 1/4 in. stainless steel panhead screw.
Installation Steps
Follow these steps to install the expansion board.
1. Notice that the VXIpc-800 includes 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. Notice the possible locations
as shown previously (Figures E-2 and E-3 for the VXIpc-850, or
Figures E-5 and E-6 for the VXIpc-860). 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 E-7.
2. Replace the manufacturer-supplied panel bracket with the custom
bracket. The two holes in the bracket align with existing holes in
the VXIpc-800 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