The Modular WorkStation (MWS) products are used by IT departments and automation integrators to put standard computers into harsh factory floor conditions. The IT department can continue to use their preferred vendor, the integrator can use low-cost retail components, and the user gets a more compact, ergonomic, accessible workstation.

We call the line "modular" because every aspect can be specified. The display, the computer, how it is mounted, how power enters the cabinet, the ventilation, cable passages and antennas, keyboard and mouse housings, posts and wall mounts, rollaway bases with printer shelf, it is all just a mouse-click to specify.

The modular workstation is our most flexible product design:

• monitors and KVM stations,
• thin clients or full computers, in "white box", brand name or industrial versions,
• unrated, NEMA-12, NEMA-4 and 4X cabinets in powder coated steel or stainless.
• A cabinet that supports an integrated 20" DIN rail for automation.
• Internal UPS battery backup and power regulation
• heavy duty mounting systems including rolling bases.

See the option summary for the list of all available options for this product line. Use the Configurator to specify the product you require.

Some of the considerations are:

Cabinet: Choose the housing to match the LCD size, and the level of protection you desire.

LCD: The standard LCD is adequate for most applications. The premium LCD offers supperior resolution and viewing for commercial and gaming applications. The high bright LCD is appropriate in very brightly-lit areas. For viewing in direct sunlight, contact the factory for ultra-bright models.

Touch: Standard resistive touch is the most widely used, cost-effective touch sensor. Ultra touch uses a tempered glass outer surface, very desirable for chemical stability, durability and scratch resistant. Caution: the outer glass layer is considered unacceptable for most food industries (risk of glass fragments in the product). Capacitive is very durable but may not respond well to a gloved finger. SAW (surface acoustic wave) is extremely durable, but the mounting requires a soft flexible seal so it is generally not approptriate for washdown applications.

Protective tempered glass or lexan may be used instead of a touch face.

Keyboard: The optional keyboard tray completely encloses the keyboard in a metal housing. A mouse tray slides side to side for left or right hand operation. An optional dust cover helps standard keyboards survive dirty industrial locations. An optional sealed tray and industrial keyboard is suitable for extremely dirty or wet applications.

Backplane: A satincoat backplane is used to mount internal components without having to alter the cabinet shell. Backplanes may be pre-punched to mount a UPS and book-sixe computer or thin client, provided with standoffs to accept an ATX computer motherboard, orleft blak, ready for your alterations. You can also arrange to send your components to us for integration.

Computer:

• For display operation only, simply choose "LCD only, no computer".
• To use this unit as a raw touch display for your own remote computer, choose the KVM option.
• For a brand name thin client with vendor support, choose the BOS thin client.
• For the lowest cost, choose the Linux network boot thin client.
• For a full Windows computer with hard drive, choose one of the Windows options.
• If you want to install your own operating system, choose one of the "no O/S" options

In the extreme, you can use the cabinet as a kit to assemble your own computer. Simply choose the supporting ATX backplane and ATX access plate to use the cabinet as a computer chassis.

Wireless: There is provision for an external antenna using either RP-TNC or RP-SMA threaded connections. You can select a wireless bridge to provide the networking, or have us supply the patch cable to connect to your computer and wireless card. Standard and high-gain antennas are available.

Left Cover, Right Cover: The bottom of the cabinet has a large opening on either side of the post. These openings accept multi-purpose cover plates. For example, a typical NEMA-12 layout would use

• a cover with an 80mm inlet fan and filter for ventilation, combined with a conduit connection and junction box with 2 outlets for the incoming power, and
• a cover with an un-filtered, finger guarded outlet fan for exhaust, and a clamped foam seal opening to pass any cables for network, keyboard, mouse or other devices

A NEMA-4 layout would use

• a cover with a conduit connection and internal junction box with 2 outlets for the incoming power, and
• a cover with a conduit for data cables

All other aspect of the cabinet are already NEMA-4 ready, so the lack of ventilation achieves the NEMA-4 rating.

There are so many possibilities, they cannot all be covered here. For advice, please call the factory.

Power: The monitor and KVM models are powered by a "brick" power adapter. All computer models are normally equipped with a 110-240V server-grade power supply. For automation purposes, 24V DC (18-32V) and 48V DC (36-72V) power supplies are also available. For mobile, there is a 12V DC power supply designed to run off car or truck batteries. The supply includes features to minimize or prevent battery run-down during prolonged standby operation. For special cases, please contact the factory for advice.

UPS: There is room in the cabinet for a small 350VA line-interactive UPS. This helps provide a measure of protection for all applications, and is particulary important for Windows applications.

Mount: The MWS cabinet is designed to be mounted on posts at a 10 degree tilt for most comfortable viewing. Our fixed posts provide the necessary tilt, and have a base strong enough to firmly support the unit on concrete. The "trolley" base has the similar built-in tilt. Both mount the cabinet at 42" height, the keyboard at 41" and the center of the display at 52", the ideal positions for a standing worker.

Color or Finish: All standard MWS products are steel with a powder coat finish, standard color black.

Use the MWS products for

• factory floor workstations,
• automation control stations,
• factory and warehouse label printing.
• clocking and security panels.

Call the factory to discuss your application and develop your best solution.