- Pickering Interfaces announces a new PXI chassis (60-107-001) that offers the highest slot density for Pickering’s PXI and PXIe modules.
- This chassis, which features 12 compatible hybrid slots in a 2U form factor, can be controlled via USB or LXI (Ethernet), eliminating the need for a dedicated PXI controller or embedded PC.
“Featuring a hybrid PXI/PXIe backplane and controllability via Gigabit Ethernet or USB 3.0, this chassis occupies a 2U rack-mountable form factor, ideal for applications where space is limited,” explains Lee Huckle, chassis product manager at Pickering Interfaces. “It offers the highest slot density and lowest cost per slot of any hybrid PXIe chassis currently available on the market.”
This chassis enables the design of high-density systems without the constraints of traditional PXI controllers, all in a compact form factor suitable for laboratory environments and optimizing rack space utilization. It supports up to 12 single-slot 3U Pickering PXI or PXIe modules (switching, simulation, and instrumentation) in a rack height of only 2U, thanks to the horizontal orientation of the modules and the integrated controller, which eliminates the need for a system slot. The chassis can also accommodate modules up to 4 slots wide, including Pickering’s ultra-high-density BRIC4 switching matrices.
A cross-cooling system eliminates the usual need for 1U of adjacent free space for airflow, allowing a second chassis to be mounted directly above and providing a combined total of up to 24 modules in just 4U—20% more than Pickering’s 20-module-slot 42-927 Series PXIe 4U hybrid chassis.
According to Lee Huckle, “This chassis is particularly advantageous for existing PXI systems with limited available chassis slots. This typically involves purchasing a new, expensive PXI chassis and controller. This new LXI/USB chassis allows for more cost-effective expansion of existing PXI systems by providing a flexible, modular platform that consolidates a wide range of switching, simulation, and instrumentation resources into a minimal rack footprint.”
The 60-107 is Pickering’s first LXI/USB chassis to incorporate a field-replaceable modular design for the power supply and onboard controller, making them easily accessible without removing the chassis from the rack. This simplifies maintenance and future performance upgrades.
LED displays provide information on LAN status and IP address, while a fan control system automatically adjusts cooling based on thermal load, ensuring optimal operating conditions.
For applications requiring repetitive switching and measurement operations, the chassis is also available with integrated “scan list” type sequencing and triggering (model 60-107-002), thereby reducing test time and system latency.
