"DIY" standards ???

[Jim Johnson]

>If you are happy with 1/8" jacks and don't mind your knobs being on .75"
>centers, the 3U high Frac Rack size is certainly a good format to
>consider.

Is the spacing on the FracRac kits made by Blacet and Paia wide enough that
the 1/8" jacks could be easily replaced with banana jacks? (After reaming
out the holes, of course.)

Jim Johnson 
Metaphoric Software
-------------------
Makers of Techno Toys
Software for Electronic Music
http://www.technotoys.com
info at technotoys.com


*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 4/3/99 at 9:27 AM John Blacet wrote:

>If you are happy with 1/8" jacks and don't mind your knobs being on .75"
>centers, the 3U high Frac Rack size is certainly a good format to
>consider. Widths are multiples of 1.5" and the panel thickness varies
>from .060 for Blacet to .090 for Doepfer to .125?? for Paia. (For the
>small panel sizes involved, .060 is quite sturdy and .125 is perhaps
>overkill..) A rack full of Blacet modules is quite light!
>
>I hear there may be another manufacturer using this format soon.
>
>While the Dopfer modules are slightly less high than 5.25" and are a
>metric width, I have been able to fit the small assortment I've aquired
>into the Rack by adding a new mounting hole or two.
>
>If you don't want to deal with the Rack, you can always build a wood
>case and use moulding strips as horizontal stringers and mount the
>modules using wood screws.
>
>Even if you build a lot of your own modules, you may be tempted to try a
>commercial product or three down the line...
>
>The other area of possible standardization is the power supply
>distribution scheme. Blacet uses .156 spacing male headers (Waldom/Amp
>type) on the PCB and the power dist board. Multiple dist. boards would
>be "starred" to the power supply.
>
>The connecting cable uses FM housings with crimp pins and 22 gauge or
>larger wire. Although you have to invest in a crimp tool ($15), this
>system turns out to be quite convenient.
>
>I offered the 10 place power distribution board on this forum a couple
>weeks ago as a kit and quite a few people took advantage of this
>special, so I will extend the offer: board and parts for $10 shipped
>anywhere. (CA residents, add $0.75.)
>
>As for the other items mentioned, I share the opinions of some that
>agreeing on knobs and pots and such is probably not practical. I
>certainly enjoy everyone's contributions and the "food for thought"
>aspect of this forum is of real value. This is probably the area of most
>agreement....
>
>Regards.
>-------------------------
>John Blacet
>Blacet Research Music Electronics
>-------------------------
>blacet at metro.net
>http://metro.net/blacet/music.html