It's been a while, but I'm back with a new project

Broadwave · Last edited by Broadwave on Sun Nov 13, 2016 6:53 am; edited 2 times in total

Sunday 6th November 2016.

Ahhh, it's good to be back - Had a few health problems that have now been sorted (Long story, BP II diagnosis... something that I should have had sorted years ago - But at least I feel like I've got my old head back on).

So, to kick off - As they now do digital printing direct to aluminium, I've ordered a printed/cut panel from Front Panel Express for a new project. The panel cost £226, which is a good incentive to make sure I complete the new synth Wink

I had a bunch of ARP VCOs, a Moog Filter and a couple of Roland ADSR PCBs hanging around so I'm putting them to use in a build that's reminiscent of the Odyssey, but with a 3rd VCO and patch points, the sloping panel is inspired by Korg's Minilogue. I've kept the ARPs PPC, as I get on well with it, but I'll be using small round FSR for pressure detecting - I've used them on past Oddy fixes as they have a really nice response.

There's not much else to say until the panel arrives and I can start with the Pot/Switch/Socket mounting PCBs.

I'll use this thread as a build log and supply as much info as I can, as I go along.

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blue hell · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 10:30 am Post subject:

Welcome back.

Looks like that's going to be a nice synth :-)

ringroad · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 2:41 pm Post subject:

Nice, looks really good.

I'm really interested to see how the panel turns out, haven't seen any decent examples of the FPE printing direct to aluminium.

Inventor · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 4:23 pm Post subject:

We never met, so welcome back and it's nice to meet you! Do you have any interest in ChucK or 3D printing? The latter is my "current" passion!

Les

Broadwave · Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 2:50 am Post subject:

Friday 11th November 2016.

Broadwave · Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2016 6:40 am Post subject:

Sunday 13th November 2016.

Most of the plug-in modules are drawn up and boards ready to etch. I've just got the keyboard side of things to do (MIDI to CV/Portamento/Aftertouch/Mod) The three main "carrier" PCBs also still need to be done, I've got quite a bit of thinking to do on these, as I've got to take into consideration the send/returns to the patch sockets - I may mount the sockets on a separate board and connect them to the CV switches via ribbon cables.

The mounting board for the VCF is capable of taking different designs - The ARP 4072 is in as standard, but If I want to plug in a Minimoog filter, I just lift up the front panel and plug it in (although I may change this later so VCFs can be plugged in directly to the rear panel)

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Broadwave · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 1:18 am Post subject:

Wednesday 16th November 2016.

Completed the costing, and all remaining components are ordered - Total build cost should come in at around £528, which includes photo PCB, developer, etchant, all the mounting hardware etc.

Still working on the remaining carrier boards Rolling Eyes

VCO carrier board
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Broadwave · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 8:03 am Post subject:

Monday 21st November 2016

The panel has just arrived. It's ok - the digital print is a bit low rez, but good enough for a home brew Wink

Everything seems to line up, so I can start the PCBs now.

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Skrog Productions · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 11:33 am Post subject:

Hi , that looks great ,nice build in progress , i get the same print effect on the vinyl stickers i get done for my blue modular , even under a meter away it looks fine Smile

.

Dave.

Broadwave · Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 2:57 am Post subject:

Sunday 27th November 2016

The module boards are done, drilled and plated - I'm waiting for a wooden box and fluorescent light fittings/UVA lamps to arrive before I can make the 3 large boards - My current UV box is too small Rolling Eyes

Broadwave · Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 12:48 am Post subject:

Tuesday 29th November 2016

VCOs are stuffed and ready for testing. Fully discrete versions of the Odyssey MKIII VCO - No Op-Amps here thank you, easy to build, reliable and very stable Wink

The CMOS 4011's clean up and boost the squarewave to 0-10v for the ARP Ring Mod (on the larger board), also based around a 4011.

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Out of interest - The size of my complete Odyssey VCO compared to the 2600 4027-1 VCO Saw Core submodule

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Broadwave · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 11:10 am Post subject:

Wednesday November 30th 2016

All the plug-in modules are built - testing begins tomorrow. Still waiting for a few UV tubes to arrive, so I can get on and build the bigger exposure box. Can't do much until then Rolling Eyes

L´Andratté · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 4:46 am Post subject:

I´ll keep my eyes on your approach to such a big project!
For the moment just WOW Shocked

Inventor · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 10:57 am Post subject:

Broadwave,

You are really organized! Such a large project would be a tossed around mess in my lab! Nice plan of action too - keep us posted!

Les

Broadwave · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 12:52 am Post subject:

@Inventor - Thanks, I guess it helps to be slightly bonkers, but I'm not always that tidy - organized chaos usually rules Wink

The 3 main carrier boards were way to big (200 x 220mm) to make using my current Lightbox. So, one of two solutions...

1 x "Decoupage" Box - £14.99
3 x 12" Fluorescent Light Fittings - £22.50
3 x UV "Flykiller" Tubes - £8.79
1 x Aluminum "Crinkle" Sheet - £8.99
Glass sheet & 2 bits of MDF - From the back of the shed

Build cost £55.45... or you could buy a "Professional" one with a similar surface area for £340 Shocked

It works very well, but to be on the safe side, I'll add a 4th tube, as I had to rotate the board half way through exposure (the outside edges on the test PCB was under exposed)

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Skrog Productions · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 3:32 am Post subject:

nice uv box , certianly making a saving building your own one , cool Smile

Keep up this great build thread, it is inspiring me to build something again Smile

.

Dave.

Broadwave · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 9:06 am Post subject:

Tuesday December 6th 2016

VCO board complete and tested - All working fine Very Happy

LFO and VCF board tomorrow.

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PHOBoS · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 1:14 pm Post subject:

looks great!
one question: how did you do the tin plating ?

AlanP · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 11:01 pm Post subject:

Yay! Zero ohm resistors! (First saw those tracing back Lovetone boards.)

Very, very slick design work and execution.

Broadwave · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 12:33 am Post subject:

L´Andratté · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 3:39 am Post subject:

What a great project! Popcorn time

Edit: Broadwave could you point me to a place to look for those pin headers and sockets you are using (or a search term), mouser gives me several thousend search results for pin header (as usual), don´t know where to look...
I´m using ribbon cable for those duties atm, but your way looks so much more neat!

Broadwave · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 11:31 pm Post subject:

Broadwave · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:15 pm Post subject:

Friday 8th December 2016 - Not a bad months work Wink

LFO/Noise/S&H/VCF modules checked and working (ARP 4035/4075 are built - Minimoog and Roland M121 are on the way). They'll be accessible from the back panel for easy swap-out - the hideous wire links are only temporary.

I've still not decided on which drive circuit to use yet, but I may end up with the 2600 pre-amp as it's great for overdriving external signals too.

Everything else is now working and ready for the final push, all the carrier PCBs fit the panel perfectly, so I can breath a sigh of relief Smile

I'm just waiting for quotes for the 2mm aluminum chassis, but I may still end up making it out of MDF.

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Cfish · Joined: Feb 24, 2016 Posts: 477 Location: Indiana

Wow Broadwave. This just gets more and more impresive. Makes my builds look like a kindergartner's finger painting's, and not the smart kindergartner, the one mixing his boogers with glue before he eats um.

Broadwave · Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 1:00 am Post subject: