cRIO isolation pads?

[ajd]

We just received our new cRIO-FRC from NI, and it came with some adhesive-backed pads. They had holes in them that fit around some of the ports on the cRIO chassis (e.g. the two ethernet holes, the power connector, serial port, and indicator light). However, they only fit correctly around the ports when the pad is turned upside down, with the adhesive facing up around the chassis. How are these pads supposed to be used? What function do they serve?

[kgzak]

Do they look like these? http://www.andymark.biz/am-0590.html

[Mark McLeod]

Directions are posted by NI here:


How Do I Clean My cRIO-FRC and Install Protective Gaskets?

They keep metal dust and shards out of the cRIO electronics. Quite a lot pile up inside the chassis over a season mounted within a robot. Drilling, filing, gears grinding, metal rubbing, all produce debris that works it's way into the cRIO.
Those gaskets seal around the most obvious openings.

[kamocat]

Have there been any failures from this sort of thing?

[ajd]

Aha! My coach and I both assumed that the gaskets were for the outside of the cRIO, this makes it clear that they are instead for the inside. Thanks for the help!

[Greg McKaskle]

Have there been any failures from this sort of thing?

Yes. Not a large number, but it seems to be the primary issue that will blow the internal fuse. If you follow the directions and clean the cRIO, you can judge for yourself. In my best Billy Mays voice -- Just how much debris is in YOUR cRIO?

Greg McKaskle