List below are my plans for a 54 module rack with a 6 module back panel space for power, etc.
As anyone who has ever owned an analog modular can attest to, you can never have enough rack space. This project doesn't solve that problem, it just puts it off for another day. My SynthTech MOTM has grown in size over the last year and no longer fits in its tiny 10x2 row rack on my desk, so over my holiday vacation I designed this one. It's mostly complete, except some ambiguities around the rack pivot.
The design of the pivot is currently theoretical, I'm not entirely sure if the friction lock will hold the rack in place under heavy patching. While not illustrated, the idea is that the brass (or steel) inserts are threaded, and have just enough clearance such that a tightening lever can be inserted in the steel base, holding the rack in position under friction without torquing the wood rack frame. We'll see how it comes out.
I've provided the blueprints for the current design such that others may build their own version. If you do build it let me know and I'll post a picture of your rack here, space permitting. On a related note, you may use these plans to build your own rack, but you may not build one for commercial purposes without my express written permission first. I'll be pretty reasonable, just ask first ok?
If you don't have a MOTM modular synthesizer, that's okay (well...), you could also build a version that housed other modules, or had standard rack spacing. The heights are okay and come out to be a 30 space rack, the widths will need to be shortened. I'll let you do the math.
IGES model files for this design (1MB).
Blueprint for steel base.
Blueprint for rack frame.
Please let me know if you find any errors.
Materials List:
As of this writing I have not yet built the rack. I will post pictures when it's done.
Last Updated: Dec 30, 2004