DiGiCo goes 5 Star for SD7

News

Rob Hughes Mar 27 2008, 9:00am

Digital console manufacturer chooses flightcase for its latest desk

Chessington, UK-based digital console manufacturer DiGiCo has chosen 5 Star Cases to provide flightcases for its recently launched SD7 console.

The initial discussions to develop the case took place at the PLASA 2007 show in September, where the SD7 – now a full production model – was previewed for the first time as a concept console.

Based around the popular industry Nosecone type flightcase, 5 Star worked closely with DiGiCo’s Chris Ladbrook, who heads the company’s mechanical design team, to develop a case to meet the additional demands of the high-spec console.

As with the company’s D5 and D1 desks, the SD7 features hot-swap power supply modules and a main processing engine, which slide out at low level from the rear of the unit.

This requires the case to incorporate a hinged access flap so both units can be quickly and easily removed. The console is supported by CNC machined plywood blocks, contoured to match its rear profile, while mounted against load bearing sections of the chassis and the case. DiGiCo SD7 branding was machined into these supports before being texture coated.

DiGiCo required that audio engineers were be able to fit additional temporary TFT displays to compliment the console’s three standard touch-screens. 5 Star’s design team came incorporated a mounting socket with a captive bolt to accept a VESA wishbone arm. These sockets are supplied close to the rear supports on both sides of the case. One or both VESA mounts can be quickly screwed into the fixing points.

On the base of the flightcase are four flush-fitting turned aluminium top hats, enabling the unit to be securely located atop a foldable table, giving a stable working platform for the case and console.

“We wanted a flight case that took on the no-compromise design concept used on the SD7 project,” explained James Gordon, managing director of DiGiCo. “Working through the process with 5 Star, it was clear that they value attention to detail as much as we do.”
digico.org