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View Full Version : cRIO body material?

ferret_guy
19-04-2013, 16:58
My friend and I are trying to settle an argument:

Is the grey body of the FRC cRIO II made out of plastic or metal?

We don't currently have access to ours and can't find anything online that mentions the material out of which it is made.
Al Skierkiewicz
19-04-2013, 17:05
The body is aluminum as I remember. The cRio is meant for industrial applications and the case is tied to the negative lead of the power connector to minimize interference in industrial applications.
IndySam
19-04-2013, 17:05
I believe it's cast magnesium.
ablatner
19-04-2013, 17:15
I thought it was cast iron.
crake
19-04-2013, 17:25
Its powder-coated metallic gray over a heart of awesomeness.

...

and aluminum.
CENTURION
19-04-2013, 18:14
I thought it was cast iron.

It's definitely too light for iron.

It's either cast aluminum or magnesium. Al says aluminum, and I'm inclined to agree. I don't think it's quite light enough to be magnesium.
s1900ahon
19-04-2013, 19:07
No need to speculate further.. thanks Chris.
Alan Anderson
19-04-2013, 20:45
and aluminum.

This is the first time I've heard anyone who should know say it was anything other than a magnesium alloy. It's definitely lighter than I'd expect for aluminum. I find it strange that the chassis material doesn't seem to be mentioned on any of the data sheets for the cRIO that are on the NI web site.
Calvin Hartley
19-04-2013, 21:06
I think it's a Duct-tape/zip-tie alloy.
jdaming
19-04-2013, 21:09
I thought it was aluminum too. Here is a KB (knowledgebase) that backs it up

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/8171B88F5942E90A86257346007CB77A
Gregor
19-04-2013, 22:12
I think it's a Duct-tape/zip-tie alloy.

I think you are mixing up what its made of and how you attach it. :cool:
crake
19-04-2013, 22:55
This is the first time I've heard anyone who should know say it was anything other than a magnesium alloy.

Well technically it is an aluminum alloy. Talking with the ME's today on the cRIO team, I confirmed its something like 90% aluminum plus various metals needed to help with flow during casting.

Interestingly, a magnesium alloy was looked into during the early days but ultimately was not selected.
DELurker
20-04-2013, 10:01
Interestingly, a magnesium alloy was looked into during the early days but ultimately was not selected.

I would think a magnesium alloy would be contraindicated for an device intended for an industrial environment. Fires that don't go out ever are really annoying.
CENTURION
20-04-2013, 12:01
I would think a magnesium alloy would be contraindicated for an device intended for an industrial environment. Fires that don't go out ever are really annoying.

Well, magnesium doesn't really burn much when in a solid block form like that IIRC.

Interestingly enough, one of those major alloying elements in aluminum that is used for diecasting is magnesium. A380 (the most common aluminum for diecasting) contains 0.1% magnesium.
PAR_WIG1350
20-04-2013, 12:09
I would think a magnesium alloy would be contraindicated for an device intended for an industrial environment. Fires that don't go out ever are really annoying.

FWIW, this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_alloy#Non-Combustible_Magnesium_alloys) reduces that issue.