interface plates that mount to container end walls and organize all inter-module connections
rectangle container_a
rectangle container_b
rectangle plate_a
rectangle plate_b
rectangle flexible_assembly
container_a -r- plate_a: receiver frame (welded)
container_b -l- plate_b: receiver frame (welded)
plate_a -r- flexible_assembly: liquid-tight conduit\nM12 connectors\ncooling QDs
flexible_assembly -r- plate_bContainers are placed face-to-face. Plates mate as a pair via flexible assemblies — there is no hard-dock interface. Containers tolerate ±25mm horizontal and ±10mm vertical misalignment, absorbed by hose/cable service loops.
Six variants cover all module-adjacency combinations. Variant codes follow [Module A]-[Module B]-[String/Port Count] where applicable.
| Variant | Used When | Carries | Plate Codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BG | Grid Module present | DC power, grounding, data | BG-2, BG-4, BG-8 (per BESS string count) |
| BB | N_BESS > 1 |
Data + grounding only (no DC) | BB (fixed) |
| CT | Always (1:1 Compute:Thermal) | Cooling fluid + sensor data | CT (QD port size [OPEN] pending GPU vendor DLC spec) |
| CG | Grid Module present | AC feeder + data | CG (fixed, conduit sized from sizing engine Module F) |
| CB | grid_connection == 'none' |
Off-grid AC feeder + data | CB (variant of CG) |
| EX | All deployments | External services on long wall | EX-T, EX-G, EX-B, EX-C (per module type) |
See the spec doc for full penetration schedules per variant.
| Parameter | Standard | Defense (deployment_context == defense_forward | sovereign_government) |
|---|---|---|
| Outer dimensions | 640mm × 840mm | same |
| Thickness | 6mm | 10mm |
| Material | 6061-T6 aluminum (ASTM B209) | 5083-H116 marine grade (ASTM B209) |
| Finish | Type II anodize 15–25 μm (MIL-A-8625) | Type III hard anodize 40–60 μm |
| IP rating | IP55 | IP65 (verified per MIL-STD-810H Method 506) |
| Secondary seal | none | 10mm closed-cell EPDM backer |
| Fasteners | Zn-plated steel M10 (ASTM F593 G1) | 316 SS M10 (ASTM F593 G2) |
For every plate variant required by a deployment, the implementation outputs:
- DXF file — 2D fabrication drawing with plate outline, all hole/cutout locations dimensioned from plate center, gasket groove cross-section, mounting hole pattern with thread callouts, ARCNODE title block (part number, variant code, revision, material spec, finish spec).
- BOM line item — structured JSON referencing the drawing:
{ "part_number": "ARC-PLT-BG4-001", "description": "Interface Plate, BESS-to-Grid-Module, 4-String", "qty": 1, "material": "6061-T6 aluminum", "finish": "Type II anodize", "drawing_ref": "ARC-PLT-BG4-001.dxf", "type": "custom_fabrication" } - Penetration schedule — table of every hole/cutout: penetration ID, X/Y center coordinates from plate origin, diameter or W×H, fitting spec, OTS part number.
ARC - PLT - [VARIANT CODE] - [REVISION]
Examples:
ARC-PLT-BG2-001 BESS-Grid, 2-String
ARC-PLT-BG4-001 BESS-Grid, 4-String
ARC-PLT-BG8-001 BESS-Grid, 8-String
ARC-PLT-BB-001 BESS-BESS daisy chain
ARC-PLT-CT-001 Compute-Thermal [OPEN: QD port size]
ARC-PLT-CG-001 Compute-Grid
ARC-PLT-CB-001 Compute-BESS (off-grid)
ARC-PLT-EX-T-001 External services, Thermal Module
ARC-PLT-EX-G-001 External services, Grid Module
ARC-PLT-EX-B-001 External services, BESS Module
Defense variants append `-D`:
ARC-PLT-BG4-001-D
The fabrication flow is CadQuery-based:
parametric model.py (CadQuery) → STEP → DXF + GD&T drawing → BOM line item + penetration schedule
uv sync
uv run poe build # CadQuery → STEP per variant
uv run poe validate-model # BRep validity + bbox vs spec
uv run poe generate-drawings # DXF + GD&T PDF per variant
uv run poe sim # IP rating verification fixtures| # | Parameter | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GPU vendor DLC loop architecture | CT plate QD port size and count |
| 2 | Off-grid inverter location | CB variant applicability |
| 3 | 4,160V AC option | CG conduit sizing changes significantly at MV |
| 4 | Dry cooler pipe connection size | EX-T plate flange size |
| 5 | MV grid cable entry | EX-G plate penetration sizing |