The Thomas Henry Mega Percussive Synthesizer

magman · Joined: Feb 04, 2009 Posts: 331 Location: Liverpool, UK

I think this is the tool you are looking for.

http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=571-598031

You shouldn't have to bend the wire at all, just rest it on top of the connector and push down with the insertion tool. You also have to be careful not to use too thick a gauge of wire, or this can splay the connector and give an unreliable connection.

These connectors are known as IDC's, or Insulation Displacement Connectors, the idea being that when you push the wire down into the connector, the sharp edges of the connector cut through the insulation and make contact with the conductor inside the wire. It is actually a very good method of connection in some ways. Apart from being very quick in a production environment, the insulation is displaced by the connection process, which gives a gas tight seal between the conductor and the contact, which reduces the oxidation of the contact leading to a relatively long lived connection.

Regards

Magman

hendrixworkshop · Joined: May 06, 2009 Posts: 58 Location: Austin, TX

Magman,

Thanks for the quick answer. I'm ordering that tool now.

Andy

hendrixworkshop · Joined: May 06, 2009 Posts: 58 Location: Austin, TX

I'm assuming that the input/output jacks in these pics are banana plugs? I've seen how partial bugbrand is to these.

The parts list off the Stites website calls for "1/4 " phone jack, n.c.". The Mankato calls for 1/8" jacks. And here I see the banana jacks on the Bug MPS. Am I caught up in what boils down to different preferences? I'm planning on building 2 MPSs, a TH101, TH201 and a TH301. Should I be putting 1/8" jacks in all of them?

I'm almost ready to wire up the panels (still designing MPS front panel ala the Bug MPS 3 space frac). I think this is the point in which I should standardize (if need) for the future.

I appreciate any help on this subject.

Andy

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wmonk · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject:

Hi Andy,
it all depends on your taste. If you like 1/4" jacks, use them on all panels, if you like bananas, use bananas. You can use different connectors in one project, but most people out here standardize to their preference.
It doesn't really matter which type you use, but when using bananas you must sometimes add a switch to get the same results. On the other hand, with bananas you don't need multiples in a modular system.

Hope it's clear,
Thomas Peter

nadafarms · Joined: Apr 15, 2009 Posts: 4 Location: USA

if anyone has a finished mps drum synth I'll buy it! I'm in Berkeley, CA

I can't even tighten screws... but I want one of these bad.

Funky40 · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:23 am Post subject:

Hello:

my MPS Boards are in progress, two things:

1. the 820pF cap is poly. Whats meant ? polystyrene ? ( or polypropylen)

2. Has somebody tips how to group the knobs ?
what belongs together ? ( I must admit that i havn't had a closer look exept of following thiis thread back then, but infos where not much )

thanks

hendrixworkshop · Joined: May 06, 2009 Posts: 58 Location: Austin, TX

Does anyone know a source/part number for the "L" brackets (and hardware) used to anchor the pcb to the front panel? I need a few sets for all the Thomas Henry modules I have in the works, but mainly to finish my 2 MPSs.

Thanks,

Andy

Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject:

Funky40 · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

Thanks uncleK

funkyfarm · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject:

Here's what I've planned !

no impact cv potentiometer (attenuator) but a cv socket on rear panel.
And maybe three separate trigger sections Smile

will remove ENV I, N and S serigraphy through it helps understanding ; or just put ENV under SWEEP and DECAY pots.

maybe i'll put white pots on top (pitch/filter)
grey ones on decay
or brown
black elsewhere.
as you can see i'm real excited !

MPS030.fpd

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Uncle Krunkus · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:17 pm Post subject:

Sorry funkyfarm,
I can't read .fpd s Sad

funkyfarm · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:15 pm Post subject:

you know what ? you're lucky !
I came to see if swiss Funky40 was still awake in the night and to know if he saw the .fpd and
I've just imported a screeprint of it in illustrator to play with colors Smile

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it will lie in a box (to put on a table...next to the klee seq)

funkyfarm · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject:

I said "colours" ?

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(okay, that's too much and awfull)

funkyfarm · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject:

For the SHELL section, can I put X PITCH (for main pitch) Y PITCH, Y DEPTH and X/Y BALANCE (and X SWEEP and X DECAY...) ? or Carrier and modulator ? that is it ?

That's really hard to get clear distinct sections...

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creatorlars · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:57 am Post subject:

Here's my silkscreen layout. I am building two of these. I wanted to get a little more ornate than my usual layouts because I LOVE my Clangora so much and am expecting the same out of these...

I wish I had spent more time looking at the schematics and put send/receive on each section. But I already have two MOTM 2U panels drilled with this layout, so oh well! Smile

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funkyfarm · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject:

(this is real art !)

Funky40 · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:15 am Post subject:

hey, thanks for posting Very Happy

I just came back now to this to start now my Frontpanel.
I have two Boards populated, some more in backlog.

My plan is to build two modules with all the Pots and jacks, and patch then with those,
and then to work out some "preset Sounds" so that i can make some of my modules with much less pots.
I guess i will make trimmers in the back of the Module so that i can change Presets Laughing