Re: [sdiy] PARTKITS for Jürgen Haible designs - 1 - String Filter

[JH.]

Hi,

please allow me to say a few words about this.

When I started publishing my circuits for musical electronics devices in the
internet some years ago, these were strictly schematics-only: There was no
PCB layout, because I've built it all on veroboard.

Last year I started to offer PCBs, and consequently had to start my own
business. (In Germany, you need a licence if you sell more than two of the
same items, and so I did all the necessary legal stuff.)

About a year later, and from the feedback I receive, I can say it's been a
successful year, and I want to go on designing PCBs and selling them.

I've been repeatedly asked about also selling the components required for my
projects, and not just the bare PCBs. I fully understand this, especially as
my PCBs are sold around the whole world, and availibility of components can
be very different depending on where you live. I appreciate all efforts of
customer-organized group-buys, Bridechamber's picking up the Tau project,
and in one case (LDRs for the Krautrock Phaser) I bought a large number of
parts myself and distributed them together with pre-ordered PCBs.

But it is quite clear to me that I do not want to go into the kits / parts
business myself. I rather focus on designing more PCBs - I've always been
more of a musician and engineer than a merchant! - and I think I have
projects in my head already that will keep me busy for the next 10 years or
so. :)

So I've been looking for a partner who would start his own business as an
"authorized dealer" (or whatever you would call this) of components for JH.
projects. Tobias was the first to approach me, and I hope we can establish a
close collaboration that will make it more comfortabe for you to build
something with my PCBs.

Of course these will be two separate companies, and legally, you're still
just buying "FR4 with copper traces" from me, and a collection of parts
based on my BOMs (with "errors excepted") from Tobias - i.e. no foolproof
diy-kit, no guarantees! - but in practice, we plan to do the following: When
I build my second prototype, I'll build it from production-run PCBs (as I
did before, to make sure the final PCB is ok) *and* (that's new, starting
with the Scanner project) I will get a set of parts from Tobias just like
anybody else will be able to buy them, und use _these_ for the second
prototype. Should be a good practical means to make sure everything is all 
right.

All this is not exclusive. You will still be able to just buy a blank PCB,
and use whatever parts you have in your drawer, or buy anywhere else. But I
think it's a great opportunity for all who want to make their DIY activities
more comfortable. Also, I'll get a certain percentage from Tobias' sales, so
buy buying from him you're also supporting my work.

I hope this new development of what has started as a little hobby of mine
will find some positive resonance! :)

JH.









----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tobias Schilly" <ts-parts at web.de>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 1:49 AM
Subject: [sdiy] PARTKITS for Jürgen Haible designs - 1 - String Filter


Hi fellow DIYers,

it is quite obvious that Jürgens projects are very popular, and it is very
much likely that this will still be true in future. As many of you,
especially those of you not living in Germany, very often run into trouble
sourcing special parts for Jürgens designs, I decided, encouraged by Jürgen
himself, to provide complete part kits for his projects.

Information on the specific projects can be found on Jürgens site:
http://home.debitel.net/user/jhaible/hj.html or on electro-music.com:
http://electro-music.com/forum/index.php?f=159

Originally i intended to start with the Scanner project, but hey, why not
the String Filter?
As Jürgen is already shipping the PCBs for the filter this obviously is a
cold start, and i canŽt completely rule out the possibility that improvments
have to be done at one point or the other. ThatŽs why i see this as some
kind of test run, and would like it to be understood as such.

Nevertheless, the kits will of course be complete and of high quality. I
will also try to get my coordination right and send the parts immediately
after I received payment.

About the kits:

Of course the kits contain all parts included in Jürgens BOM (well, kinda
sure, right?) I will consult Jürgen about the parts I choose for the kits,
i.e. I will provide Jürgen a partkit for the production run board he always
builts before shipping the pcbs to ensure functionality.

If selected parts are required I will provide 2 options: either a kit that
contains parts with tight tolerances, or a kit with selected parts, which
will obviously be a bit more expensive.
The same principle applies for alternative assemly options (see Tau board ->
either CA3046/86 or more expensive SSM2210/LM394).

When talking about costs: the kit price is orientated on what one would have
to spend if he would buy the parts in the correct quantities needed for the
project (e.g. parts ordered at Reichelt, Banzai, Digikey, Mouser etc).

The kits are not meant to be low-cost grab-bag, they are more like a good
opportunity to get a complete, high quality parts kit for a moderate price
without much effort. I think this absolutly meets with the qualitiy of
Jürgens projects.

Ingredients:

- Metal film resistors
- Tempcos: PT146 from Precision Resistors
- Machined pins sockets
- Electrolytic caps: Panasonic FC series
- Foil caps: depending on value Panasonic Polypropylene (2% tolerance),
Panasonic Stacked Metal Fil (5%) or Xicon Greenies (5%)
- Ceramic caps: NPO/C0G if possible, X7R otherwise
- Styroflex/polystyrene if required
- Semis: no ebay junk. I get my semis only at Segor and Banzai, in special
cases directly from the manufacturer (like SSM2210...)
- All parts are seperatly packed in labeled plastic bags
- board connectors with attached cables, open on one side

IŽm still not sure if I should also offer extra pot and jack kits, as this
is extremly depending on personal taste and requirements. Input on this is
very much appreciated!!!

All of that means for the String Filter:

Kit: 120 € / 190 US$

Shipping: small parcel via DHL
in Germany: 5 € / 8 US$, insured 8 € / 13 US$
Europe: 8 € / 13 US$
Rest of the world: 14 € / 22 US$

Insured shipping outside of germany is of course possible, but expensive,
and therefor iŽd ask you to contact me that we can figure something out.

Payment: within Germany and Europe I prefer bank transfer, Paypal otherwise.

To find out how much interest in those kits exists please reply to this
mail. I plan to proceed to the next step and ask for binding orders in 1
week from now on, if there is enough interest. And then: letŽs go!

Please also fell free to ask any questions and give me any suggestions,
cause please remember: this is a quite rapid start...

IŽm really curious about your input.

Best wishes,

Tobias.
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