[v1.0] MECB Backplane Extension

[Editor]

I'd always envisaged making this Extension for the Backplane, adhering to the MECB board size mechanical standard.

However, I haven’t really had the need for a Backplane Extension in my experimentation to date.

But, as we now have a few MECB cards to play with, the beginning of 2025 seemed like a good time to add this option to the line-up.

This Backplane Extension enables you to take your existing Backplane, which supports 4 or 5 MECB cards, and expand it to support 8 or 9 MECB cards.

You'll find all this here: Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB) – Backplane Design

[djrm]

Hopefully your new board preserves the 20mm socket spacing across the board boundary, my cut and shut version doesn't work quite right in this respect with the board rails in the case I now have.

[Editor]

Hopefully your new board preserves the 20mm socket spacing across the board boundary, my cut and shut version doesn't work quite right in this respect with the board rails in the case I now have.

Unfortunately this wasn't possible (as an extension), mainly due to the existing Backplane having a right-angle socket at it's edge, so any backplane extension design already rules out having a continuous consistent socket spacing (across board boundary).

Therefore, the only way of achieving a longer backplane (with consistent spacing for all connectors), would be to make a new longer backplane PCB. I decided I would stick with the 100mm square MECB board standard mechanical specification (and its Minimalist design intentions).

Video has been completed, and is pending publication. I'm just finalising the description / blog entry.