Post-Lockdown pedal building

Keefy

Kalimna said:

CLR = Current Limiting Resistor, for the LED as you knew. I normally use a 2.2k

Yes indeed. And yes 2k2 is generally happy, but if my LED of choice turns out to be  a retina-scorcher, I might up that a bit.

roberty

Keefy said:

Kalimna said:

CLR = Current Limiting Resistor, for the LED as you knew. I normally use a 2.2k

Yes indeed. And yes 2k2 is generally happy, but if my LED of choice turns out to be  a retina-scorcher, I might up that a bit.

I like 15k CLRs for 5mm LEDs

Looking good @Keefy

It really helps to break it up into sessions. When I sit there working for too long is when I make mistakes 

Keefy

roberty said:

...

Looking good @Keefy

It really helps to break it up into sessions. When I sit there working for too long is when I make mistakes 

Absolutely. I've had a couple more sessions on this and added IC sockets, diodes, transistors, opto-isolator, tantalum caps, and most of the non-polarised caps. I've found that my 47nF and 100nF caps are a bit large so I've ordered some 'box' caps instead.

Cookiemonster

Keefy said:

roberty said:

...

Looking good @Keefy

It really helps to break it up into sessions. When I sit there working for too long is when I make mistakes 

Absolutely. I've had a couple more sessions on this and added IC sockets, diodes, transistors, opto-isolator, tantalum caps, and most of the non-polarised caps. I've found that my 47nF and 100nF caps are a bit large so I've ordered some 'box' caps instead.

I do like the green meanies though. They are bigger, but I really for some reason think they sound a little better

Keefy

Cookiemonster said:

Keefy said:

roberty said:

...

Looking good @Keefy

It really helps to break it up into sessions. When I sit there working for too long is when I make mistakes 

Absolutely. I've had a couple more sessions on this and added IC sockets, diodes, transistors, opto-isolator, tantalum caps, and most of the non-polarised caps. I've found that my 47nF and 100nF caps are a bit large so I've ordered some 'box' caps instead.

I do like the green meanies though. They are bigger, but I really for some reason think they sound a little better

They're fine inside guitars but just too large for where they're needed on this board - except for the four 1nF in that pic.

Keefy

That’s all the components on the main board except for the box capacitors (on order). I went for the 2k2 current-limiting resistor for a bright but not painful LED.

You may notice a broken row of pins either side of the board. These fit snugly into the holes and are soldered to the strip side. I’ll be using them to attach the connecting wires rather than poking the wires through the board - you can easily attach three or four thin wires to any one pin, which is handy. I’ve had a stash of these since the 80s and I can’t remember what they’re called now!

I’ve made a cardboard mock-up of the enclosure so that I can work out where best to put everything. I’m thinking ‘top-mounted’ jacks (yeah I know) as the box is quite wide to start with. The (actual) top has to accommodate 6 pots, a rotary switch, a mini toggle, 2 LEDs, and either 2 or 3 foot switches.

roberty

Impressive stuff @keefy I am enjoying these updates

Cookiemonster

Keefy said:

That’s all the components on the main board except for the box capacitors (on order). I went for the 2k2 current-limiting resistor for a bright but not painful LED.

You may notice a broken row of pins either side of the board. These fit snugly into the holes and are soldered to the strip side. I’ll be using them to attach the connecting wires rather than poking the wires through the board - you can easily attach three or four thin wires to any one pin, which is handy. I’ve had a stash of these since the 80s and I can’t remember what they’re called now!

I’ve made a cardboard mock-up of the enclosure so that I can work out where best to put everything. I’m thinking ‘top-mounted’ jacks (yeah I know) as the box is quite wide to start with. The (actual) top has to accommodate 6 pots, a rotary switch, a mini toggle, 2 LEDs, and either 2 or 3 foot switches.

Inspiring. I think I may try a bigger build.

Keefy

Looks like this will work for a layout although I may swap the smaller knobs (modulation controls) to the right and the chicken head (echo type selector) to the left. The board won't stand so high above the pots but the new stand-offs are still on the way form Guang Dong Province and I didn't want to cut down the perfectly good ones that I have.

Keefy

That's all the board-mounted components now, plus the stand-offs arrived today - these make for a nice snug fit in the metal enclosure.

roberty

Finally boxed this up. I find these PedalPCB ones quite fiddly to do. Managed to keep it reasonably tidy inside

The knobs are cool but there's no indicator on the top edge so I'll either mark them somehow or replace them. Suggestions welcome as to what I could mark them with

The Tone label is a bit wonky, I should trust the drilling template more than my eyes. Quite happy with the overall look though. It's worth spending an extra bit of time on the design 

stickyfiddle

@roberty that looks great! I'd probably try a fret file and sharpie just to make a mark on the outside edge of the knobs. Then I'd probably give up and put Marshall- or MXR-type knobs on...

LastMantra

roberty said:

Finally boxed this up. I find these PedalPCB ones quite fiddly to do. Managed to keep it reasonably tidy inside

The knobs are cool but there's no indicator on the top edge so I'll either mark them somehow or replace them. Suggestions welcome as to what I could mark them with

The Tone label is a bit wonky, I should trust the drilling template more than my eyes. Quite happy with the overall look though. It's worth spending an extra bit of time on the design 

That looks awesome! 

Could you not just put a wee dot of pain/tipex/nail polish? Or a black pen if youd be able to see it. If it was a fine enough pen you could draw a wee arrow or something.

My son has loads of stickers of different varieties so I can usually find or cut something to make wee markers and things. 

SteveF

That’s fantastic @roberty love the graphics design

roberty

Thanks for the kind comments

@LastMantra I have a few Ernie Ball type stickers around so maybe I'll cut some tiny squares and secure them with a drop of glue or nail polish

roberty

Oh I used the Tony Peper's Socket Rockets for the first time and it did make things easier

Keefy

More (slow) progress on the Multiplex Echo Machine. 15 holes drilled in the enclosure! I decided I'd better do a wiring diagram for all the bits rather than just wing it. I'm going to wire it up in the bare box - once I'm happy it's all working I'll remove the guts and do the paint and graphics before re-assembling.

idiotwind

Just spotted you're doing this @Keefy . I did the same build back in March 2021 (without the modulation part) and it was such a traumatic experience that I haven't built a pedal since.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/2891862/#Comment_2891862

Keefy

idiotwind said:

Just spotted you're doing this @Keefy . I did the same build back in March 2021 (without the modulation part) and it was such a traumatic experience that I haven't built a pedal since.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/2891862/#Comment_2891862

Traumatic? Crikey! I gave myself some more room with the bigger enclosure. You probably saw I did the main board back-to-front to start with - with any luck I won’t make any more goofs! I find myself putting off wiring it up in case it doesn’t work…

I’ve gone for 3 foot switches - left is modulation (with flashing LED), middle is tape speed-up, right is bypass. I was going to go for a ‘slam’ switch but I can always add that later if I want.

I like your cassette graphic. I’ve downloaded some monochrome artwork of cogs and tape reels which I can print onto water slide decal and arrange to taste (or lack thereof).

If it turns out as good as I hope, it will be taking up residence on my rock’n’roll ‘board (Pedaltrain Nano).

roberty

idiotwind said:

Just spotted you're doing this @Keefy . I did the same build back in March 2021 (without the modulation part) and it was such a traumatic experience that I haven't built a pedal since.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/2891862/#Comment_2891862

Flew too close to the sun!

There's nothing wrong with getting a kit or two if you want to dip your toes in again . More of the fun bits and less of the hassle