BACKGROUND:
You may be thinking "Russ is at it again ...WTF?" about this item ... to many these may just be pieces of metal but I don't view old equipment that way because I am "really big" on reusing or repurposing old electronic components and hardware, particularly from the point of view of sustainability and I know others think likewise. If you see some old "useless" piece of equipment, try to view it as a "component farm" and visualise what treasures it may hold and these components could be cultivated for reuse.
Sustainability far more than NOT burying waste material back into the earth but consciously recognising the energy expended to create the item through it's various "stages" in life, beginning with the raw materials being extracted from the earth, processed, finished and then fitted into equipment - every single step used energy which is referred to as embodied energy.
To give an approximate representation of how much energy was used in the WHOLE production process of an item, I have created what I refer to as the Ee (Embodied Energy) value, measured in Mj
The Ee value is an approximation only and usually measured in Mj.
Coming up with an Ee value is an attempt to take into account the energy used for extracting and processing of the raw materials, manufacturing of the component, distribution of the component(s) and final assembly of the component. In fact the measurement of Ee can become extremely complicated and technical, many tertiary institutions are involved in this specialised field of science.
I have used various reliable sources online to arrive at approximate Ee values, these are approximations and the sole purpose is to raise awareness of the extraordinary energy consumed in the creation of various electronic components and hardware - it may give you cause to think twice before wasting all that energy and burying it in the ground, with the possible side-effects of poisoning the environment due to leeching.
HERE is a page I have created which gives some tables and more detailed information about specific Ee values for different materials plus a link which you can use as a starting point to investigate Ee for yourself.
This offering is a set of two slide rails, originally from some rack mounted equipment, where the industrial keyboard could slide forwards for the technician so that he could "talk" to the equipment.
These rails are made from steel, not woosie Aluminium slides that tend to bend under excessive weight! The slide action is smooth and positive feeling, due to the use of metal ball bearings in the runners.
Three threaded holes on each side of each slide, with the original bolts being included, for mounting onto the equipment frame.
SLIDE RAIL ASSEMBLIES (2)
Country of origin is unknown but I suspect it to be USA as the equipment was manufactured in that country.
Material: Steel
Part # Unknown
Ball bearing friction slides (I can see at 24x fairly large diameter ball bearings within each slide)
DIMENSIONS:
Fully closed length: 250mm
Fully open length: 582mm
Slide rail (each): 19mm x 14mm height
From the fully closed (shortest) position, the slide rail will open in either direction until it meets a "stop" - it is not possible to separate the sections of each slide.
Weight (each slide): 200g
Easily supported a metal framed industrial keyboard with it's frame which weighed approximately 4Kg
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
Clean
NO physical damage to either slide rail
This set of two slide rails has now been packed into sealed clear plastic (to keep out dust & dirt) and just itching to do some more "slippin' and a slidin'" once more!
