[sdiy] My new Moog 960 sequencer clone module project.. slowly but surely ..

Mon Nov 9 20:43:03 CET 2020

Sorry: Long rambling post ahead...

I live in Canada.  We use metric units in our everyday lives.  However, if
you take something to a machine shop, they will typically want the
specifications in 1000ths of an inch.  It's not just electronics.  All the
"trades" still use feet and inches.  2 x 4s are still 8 feet long, and house
areas are still expressed in square feet.  We just had our house renovated
last year, and I never heard the word "centimeter."

Also, at the supermarket, things such as meat are priced per 100g, but often
sold by the pound -- yes, it's very confusing and annoying.  Also most
Canadians express their height in feet and inches and their weight in pounds
(avoirdupois).

The thing to remember is that hardware such as nuts require tools, and most
Americans are going to have tools in fractions of an inch.  Also, when I buy
drill bits, even here in Canada, they are invariably in fractions of an
inch.  I know that I need to drill 3/8" for most jacks and pots, and 1/4"
for switches.  If a company such as Alpha or Taiway changed that, it would
be to their peril.

Also, note that the standard spacing of through-hole leads is often
expressed as 5.08 mm.  Even though this is a metric unit, it is still 1/10".
That hasn't changed (thank the gods).

Finally, the thing I like about panel PCBs (other than the obvious fact that
they eliminate most panel wiring) is that they are easy to lay out and a
pleasure to drill and assemble.  There's something very satisfying about
having a panel PCB all stuffed and ready to just plug into a panel.  Also,
while I appreciate J-P's comment about having to remove all the nuts to fix
one component, it must be said that applying and removing the nuts from
panel components with a panel PCB is infinitely easier than doing it without
one, because the components do not rotate, but remain in perfect alignment.
Hence, if you have a set of proper nut drivers, you can remove and reapply
all the nuts from even a big panel in about two minutes.

The only problem with panel PCBs is that it is somewhat difficult to solder
in switches and get them perfectly aligned.  However, I have a simple
solution for this.  I just take a piece of waste plank and drill a row of
1/4" holes in it which correspond to the switch spacing to make a jig, then
I put the switches upsidedown in the holes.  This keeps them perfectly
aligned while I solder them to the PCB.  If you have something sharp and
pointy, you can even use the actual PCB to mark the plank for drilling -- no
measuring required!  If you use a standard switch spacing, you can even
reuse these jigs for other panels.

LEDs can also be a challenge to solder into panel PCBs as they might not be
at the correct height for poking through the panel.  The best way to install
LEDs is to first install all of the other components, then stuff the LED
leads into the PCB loosely, then actually attach the panel (with at least a
few nuts) and push the LEDs into their panel holes while the panel sits
upsidedown on the bench.  In this way, all the LEDs are at the correct
height.  I have also made LED jigs from scraps of PCB material (of which I
have many pounds!) that bridge two adjacent components.

  _____  

From: info synthcube.com [mailto:info at synthcube.com] 
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2020 10:53 AM
To: jpdesroc at oricom.ca; tom at electricdruid.net; 'David G Dixon'
Cc: 'john slee'; 'Synth-diy at synth-diy.org'
Subject: RE: [sdiy] My new Moog 960 sequencer clone module project.. slowly
but surely ..

[CAUTION: Non-UBC Email] 

Even with the units mess, the evolution of a family of similar-height parts
that, together, make for reasonable panel pcbs for 5U pcb designs is very
exciting. Pete Hartman did the 5U panel pcb for the Klee Sequencer in MOTM
and it really simplifies the DIY construction, unless you’re hell bent on
panel wiring. 

From: Synth-diy <synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org> On Behalf Of Jean-Pierre
Desrochers
Sent: Monday, November 9, 2020 1:40 PM
To: tom at electricdruid.net; 'David G Dixon' <dixon at mail.ubc.ca>
Cc: 'john slee' <indigoid at oldcorollas.org>; 'Synth-diy at synth-diy.org'
<synth-diy at synth-diy.org>
Subject: Re: [sdiy] My new Moog 960 sequencer clone module project.. slowly
but surely ..

Agree !

De : Synth-diy [mailto:synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org] De la part de Tom
Wiltshire
Envoyé : 9 novembre 2020 13:15
À : David G Dixon
Cc : john slee; Synth-diy at synth-diy.org
Objet : Re: [sdiy] My new Moog 960 sequencer clone module project.. slowly
but surely ..

Hang on
3/8” bushing, 1/2” nut, and
6mm shaft?!?

Honestly, the electronics world is such a mess with units.

Tom

==================
       Electric Druid
Synth & Stompbox DIY
==================

On 9 Nov 2020, at 17:48, David G Dixon <dixon at mail.ubc.ca> wrote:

Let me just put in a plug here for the new-style PCB-mount 16mm Alpha pots.
These have solder tabs which are 0.1" closer to the body than the older
ones, and they have much beefier 3/8" shanks (the same as 1/4" jacks) and
appear to be made out of a higher-quality metal.  I buy mine from Small
Bear, and I have been very very happy with them -- here is the URL:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/alpha-single-gang-16mm-pc-mou
nt-6-mm-shaft/

These pots are exactly the same height as the Taiway PCB-mount mini-toggle
switches that I also buy from Small Bear; for example, the SPDT On-On ones
here:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/spdt-on-on-pc-mount/

Small Bear also stocks (at my request) 1/4 switching PCB-mount Switchcraft
jacks, but these are not the same height as the pots and switches, so they
require a separate PCB at a different height:

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/1-4-in-mono-n-c-switch-enclos
ed-pc-mount-switchcraft-112apcx/

With these and some layout art, you can make a very nice panel PCB with very
little wiring.

  _____  

From: Synth-diy [mailto:synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org] On Behalf Of john
slee
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2020 1:29 AM
To: Synth-diy at synth-diy.org
Subject: Re: [sdiy] My new Moog 960 sequencer clone module project.. slowly
but surely ..

[CAUTION: Non-UBC Email] 

Like yourself and David I also wondered about a panel PCB, being thoroughly
allergic to wiring. But sometimes finding parts that are both what you want
*and* close enough to each other in height... can be difficult

Regardless, it is a really lovely build, as Jean-Pierre’s builds always seem
to be, and I particularly like that much or all of the logic stuff has been
wrapped up into firmware.

John

On Mon, 9 Nov 2020 at 20:17, Roman Sowa <modular at go2.pl> wrote:

One thing I hated the most while refurbishing 960 was the wiring. There 
are places where several wires, maybe 5 or 6 are soldered in 1cm2 area 
with not a milimeter of spare wire to pull. I mean it's one of the 
earliest examples of non-repairable thing so popular now in smartphone 
industry. You could take it all apart like panel, all PCBs, and all the 
controls alone would still hold together in grid, so many wires.
And it looks like you're going the same path, so... good luck.
As it was said already, maybe it's good time to consider making panel 
PCB to avoid wiring hell, and move this 50-year old design slightly 
ahead by merely 15 years.

Don't get me wrong, I like what you do, enjoy your pictures every time, 
and I'm impressed by how you still make this thing while the rest of the 
world seems to waste time on pointless wars.

Roman

W dniu 2020-11-09 o 00:30, Jean-Pierre Desrochers pisze:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Just to show you where I’m going so far in my Moog 960 sequencer clone 
> project..
>
> I’m happy with the actual (not finished yet) results..
>
> Here <http://www.arcenson.com/public/Moog_960_clone/> is the link to 
> some pictures:
>
> The first 2 pictures show the front panel made out from
>
> a thin 5 mils PCB with no copper. Spray glued to the metal plate then 
> all punched.
>
> The last picture shows an empty IC socket.. That’s the PIC micro who 
> will actually
>
> do all the original Flip-Flop circuitry jobs..
>
> I’m building two of these !
>
> I LOVE IT !!!!!
>
> JP
>
>
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