Ruggedizing a VXIbus card cage for transportable testers

This paper discusses a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) approach to a ruggedized VXIbus card cage as it relates to MIL-STD-28800E, Type II, Class III, Style D, focusing on technical trade-offs within a VXIbus system. The approaches discussed will allow COTS VXIbus products to be housed, deployed and utilized in a rugged environment and meet 90% of the mil-standards required. Some of the key points of discussion are how the system temperature requirements of -10°C to +55°C are met in a system when COTS products are rated between 0°C to +50°C, and how the ssystem can handle shock and vibration per MIL-STD-28800E, Type II, Class III, Style D when most COTS products are designed to meet only MIL-STD-28800E Type III, Class IV, Style E