NI PXIe-1085 PXI Chassis 18 Slot 24GB

As the "mothership" of the PXI/PXIe modular test system, the PXIe-1085 provides engineers with a high-performance, high-channel-count, scalable modular instrument platform through its high-bandwidth backplane and flexible hybrid slots. Each peripheral slot on its fully hybrid backplane can accommodate a PXI Express or hybrid-compatible PXI module, maximizing the flexibility of instrument module placement and meeting the bandwidth, channel density, and synchronization requirements of high-performance test and measurement applications.

The PXIe-1085 is suitable for high-channel-count high-speed testing, automated verification testing, electronic equipment production testing, and hybrid measurement (integrated instruments, sensors, and electrical measurements) applications. It is a core infrastructure for building large-scale modular automated test systems (ATS).

Characteristic of The NI PXIe-1085 PXI Chassis 18 Slot 24GB

MXTD Supplier

Xi'an Mingxi Taida Information Technology Co., Ltd. (MXTD) is a premier, full-scale industrial hardware provider and system vendor backed by a distinguished 12-year track record of engineering innovation. Serving heavy industries and advanced smart factories worldwide as a primary turnkey system partner, our operational model seamlessly bridges pioneering product R&D, state-of-the-art manufacturing, and localized field engineering into a highly cohesive, client-centric framework.

With a robust distribution network and logistical footprint actively spanning North America, South America, Europe, and Africa, MXTD commands a highly resilient international commercial reach. To augment our powerful in-house engineering and customization capabilities, we maintain authorized distribution mandates for top-tier multinational brands, establishing our enterprise as a highly efficient, single-source procurement hub for high-stakes industrial programs. Our workflows are governed by an uncompromising, multi-tier quality assurance matrix and rigorous precision verification protocols, guaranteeing that every hardware deployment delivers unmatched operational reliability, flawless data continuity, and absolute peace of mind in severe deployment environments.

Positioning within The NI PXI Chassis Portfolio

The key differentiator of the PXIe-1085 lies in its system timing slots and high bandwidth of 24 GB/s, making it more suitable for large test systems that require strong timing synchronization and high bandwidth transmission within the same 18-slot chassis.

Note: The NI PXIe-1085 PXI Chassis 18 Slot 24GB has two part number variants—783588-01 (standard version, 24 GB/s system bandwidth) and 860869-01 (ITER version), which have the same slot architecture and structure except for the bandwidth specification.

Product Functions of The NI PXIe-1085 PXI Chassis 18 Slot 24GB

High-bandwidth Data Backplane

• 24 GB/s system bandwidth, 8 GB/s dedicated bandwidth per slot, supporting PCI Express data bus communication

• Supports P2P (Peer-to-Peer) direct connection transmission, enabling high-speed data flow from modular instruments to FPGA modules, bypassing embedded controllers for embedded signal processing

Flexible Instrument Module Compatibility

• 16 hybrid peripheral slots, each compatible with PXI, PXI Express, CompactPCI, and CompactPCI Express modules

• Maximizes instrument module layout flexibility, allowing for flexible configuration of a hybrid measurement system

Timing and Synchronization

• Built-in 10 MHz system reference clock (PXI_CLK10), PXI trigger bus, star trigger bus, and slot-to-slot local bus

• 100 MHz differential system clock, differential signal, and differential star trigger

• Independent system timing slot, supporting higher stability and multi-chassis timing and synchronization capabilities

• 10 MHz reference clock via front panel SMA input/output (10 MHz REF IN/OUT), supporting multi-chassis cascading synchronization

• Onboard VCXO oscillator, supporting external clock input

System Power Supply and Heat Dissipation

• Each peripheral slot provides at least 38.25 W of power and cooling capacity, exceeding PXI Express standards

• Forced air cooling (positive pressure) system with three 169 cfm fans supporting high/automatic speed switching

• The power module itself has two integrated fans for independent cooling

System Health Monitoring and Management

• Internal sensors monitor voltage rails, fan speed, and temperature

• Readings can be displayed in NI MAX or accessed programmatically via the System Configuration API

• Remote power suppression control and voltage monitoring ensure stable system operation

Remote Monitoring and Suppression

• The rear panel provides a remote suppression and voltage monitoring connector, a suppression mode selection switch, and an Ethernet port

• The front panel provides a Power Inhibit switch

Specifications of The NI PXIe-1085

Electrical Specifications

AC Input

DC Output (Maximum Current)

Maximum total available power: 791 W for 12 GB/s version; 775 W for 24 GB/s version

Heat Dissipation Specifications

Dissolving the Boundaries of Traditional Commercial Hardware

Standard, mass-produced components should never constrain the capabilities of your proprietary network architecture. Our elite systems engineering division delivers comprehensive, build-to-order OEM and ODM customization services designed specifically to align critical technical infrastructure with your precise operational specifications.

Operating as a transparent, high-value extension of your in-house R&D teams, we specialize in the engineering, adaptation, and precision fabrication of mission-critical hardware assets, expertly managing:

• Signal Integrity & Fidelity Tuning: Precision-tuned frequency scaling profiles and low-latency, dedicated triggering matrices.
• Structural Ruggedization & Enclosure Form: Application-specific physical chassis and fortified structural mountings built to withstand severe industrial environments.

Through an agile, highly collaborative co-development framework, we work directly alongside your technical personnel from initial proof-of-concept design to final deployment-ready certification. This streamlined lifecycle eliminates your most complex integration bottlenecks while enforcing strict compliance with global industrial metrics and our uncompromising, zero-defect quality assurance benchmarks.

The MXTD Advantage: Cultivating Operational Certainty & Enterprise Value

• Over Twelve Years of Validated Market Tenure: Command a competitive edge by leveraging our 12+ year trajectory of deep-tier mastery in the architecture, deployment, and optimization of high-fidelity metrology platforms.
• Pioneering Technical & R&D Prowess: Accelerate your milestones through an agile research and development division structurally configured to systematically push past conventional technology limits and outpace emerging industry demands.
• Uncompromising Quality & Risk Mitigation: Eradicate operational vulnerabilities in severe field environments via our exacting manufacturing protocols and multi-phase environmental stress-testing regimes.
• Full-Lifecycle Engineering Consultation: Access uninterrupted, end-to-end technical counsel and rapid, decisive expert intervention at every developmental stage of your mission-critical initiatives.
• Fortified & Insured Global Supply Chains: Secure total operational continuity across your global assets through our highly traceable international distribution infrastructure, airtight cross-border logistics, and comprehensive cargo protection.
• Client-First Synergistic Alignment: Partner with a highly flexible, solution-oriented service framework engineered from the ground up to harmonize with and drive your long-term commercial goals.

FAQs:

Q: Why can't the system start if the Power indicator light on the front panel is flashing red or remains constantly red?

A:  

These are the most common power supply self-test error messages from a computer case:

• ​​​​​​​Blinking Red:This indicates that the case's output voltage exceeds the official safety limits (Out of Spec). Please remove all peripheral cards, leaving only the main computer powered on, and then power it back on. If the problem persists, it indicates a severely unstable power supply or an internal voltage bias in the power supply shuttle.

• Solid Red:This indicates that the main power supply hardware is completely damaged or has experienced an irreversible catastrophic hardware failure. Check if the push-reset circuit breaker at the rear of the case has tripped, or request a hardware RMA from the manufacturer to replace the entire rear power supply shuttle module.

Q: Why can the machine be powered on when the control switch at the rear is switched to "Manual" mode, but when it is switched back to "Normal" mode, all the indicator lights on the chassis and control card flash red as soon as the main control computer is powered on?

A: 

The chassis features an Inhibit Mode Selector Switch at the rear. When switched to Manual mode, the chassis forcibly bypasses the host computer's underlying power handshake protocol and directly supplies power to the backplane. If a red light flashes in normal mode but works normally in manual mode, it's usually because the host computer (or MXI remote control card) in the first slot has damaged hardware pins, dirty gold fingers, or a short circuit in the host board's onboard power management bus, causing it to issue an incorrect hardware disable signal. Cross-testing with a known working controller card can be used to isolate the fault.

​​​​​

Q: Why did one of the fans at the back of the computer case suddenly stop spinning, while the other two fans are spinning wildly at 100% speed in AUTO mode?

A: 

This is the NI PXIe-1085 PXI Chassis 18 Slot 24GB's core hardware-level thermal protection mechanism (Fail-safe Control). The rear of the chassis contains three high-power, hot-swappable fan modules. If any of these fans experiences a logical disconnection, motor burnout, or the front panel Fan LED alarm flashes, to prevent the high-end boards (such as VSTs and digitizers) inside the chassis from instantly burning out due to localized heat buildup, the remaining normally functioning fans will be forced to run at full speed for comprehensive thermal compensation. In this case, the damaged fan unit must be ordered and replaced immediately through NI channels.

Q: During high-load testing, I frequently receive system temperature over-limit (Intake Temp) errors. How can I harden the hardware?

A: 

The 18-slot chassis has extremely high requirements for air pressure cooling. First, check if the dust filter at the chassis air intake is severely clogged with dust, as this can cause a sudden temperature rise of 8°C to 12°C. It must be removed, cleaned, or replaced regularly. Second, any empty slots without installed cards must be equipped with genuine NI blank panels. Leaving them empty will cause cooling airflow to short-circuit and escape, resulting in insufficient cooling air pressure for the slots where cards are actually installed.

Q: When a high-precision acquisition card or a third-party device (such as a Keysight power card) is inserted into the slots on the far right of the chassis (such as slots 16-18), the NI-MAX software cannot recognize the hardware at all, but everything works fine in the slots on the left?

A: 

This is due to the PXIe-1085's large 18-slot backplane employing a multi-level PCIe bridge cascading architecture.

Windows Fast Startup Deadlock: If the external computer has Windows' "Fast Startup" enabled, the system will not reinitialize and scan the complex secondary PCIe bus during a cold boot, causing the slots on the far right side to be ignored. "Fast Startup" must be completely disabled in Windows power options.

Correct Power-On/Off Sequence: If using an MXI control cable to connect an external desktop computer, the PXIe-1085 chassis power must be turned on first. Wait a few seconds for the chassis to fully revive before pressing the PC's power button. If the PC is turned on first, the PC's motherboard BIOS will not respond when scanning the external bus, resulting in complete failure of resource allocation for the right-side slots.

Q: After replacing the chassis power supply or updating the PXI Platform Services driver, NI-MAX displays a "Chassis firmware mismatch" message or even shows widespread errors in the identified chassis information?

A: 

This is due to a hardware redesign of the internal components of the PXIe-1085's lifecycle by NI. If you are using different hardware revisions of the power shutter or chassis backplane in older test software environments (such as older versions of the PXI Platform Services package), low-level communication conflicts will occur.

Solution: You must upgrade the PXI Platform Services on the host computer to version 20.0 or later, and flash the PXIe-1085's chassis firmware to version 20.0.0f0 or later. This will perfectly resolve the system-level deadlock and errors caused by the hardware replacement.

Contact Us

Ready to integrate reliable PXI Chassis control into your system? Our team is here to help you select the right configuration and provide ongoing support.

Contact our technical specialists at manager03@mxtdinfo.com  / manager02@mxtdinfo.com for detailed specifications, pricing information, or to discuss your custom requirements. We're committed to delivering the perfect NI PXIe-1085 PXI Chassis 18 Slot 24GB counter /timing solution for your application needs.