Today, I picked up the initial supply of Stooge modular brackets. These
brackets are designed to accommodate a large variety of PCB sizes and
mounting arrangements as requested by many of our DIY and format conversion
customers.
There are 3 new pieces:
http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/brackets/modular_brackets.jpgSorry, the picture is not so good. My camera is in the UK right now with my
world-traveling son.
1. A jack only bracket. Notice two things about this bracket. First, one
of the holes is elongated side-to-side instead of up and down like a pot
mounted bracket. This is done to allow for a variety of jack spacings.
And, in particular, it spans both the side-to-side AND up-and-down spacing
which is standard to the MOTM format. I did this so that the jack could be
used as part of a modular bracket assembly up and down, OR side to side
perhaps for a small daughter board. Secondly, the hole center-to-bracket
bend is MUCH less than the pot brackets. This is because the jacks do not
line up with the pots on a module. More on that below.
2. A single pot bracket. This is identical to a portion of one of my
normal brackets. It fits 3/8" bushing pots and rotary switches including
the turn stop hole.
3. A flat plate for PCB mounting spanning the smaller attachment brackets 1
and 2. This is large enough for the largest of the Ken Stone CGS PCBs.
So, with these three new parts, you can custom assemble brackets to
accommodate virtually ANY spacing you have between pots and jacks. There is
one restriction -- The pot bracket is too wide to go in the top pot
position. I did this on purpose so it could be wide enough for small
daughter boards. You can mount the panel with one jack bracket and one pot
bracket, 2 jacks brackets, or 2 pot brackets. A little drilling is
required. The flat plate can attach to the small brackets with machine
screws or (I plan to try some) pop rivets. Since the jacks and pots do not
align, the hole center-to-bracket bend on the jack only bracket makes the
two align.
Of course, either of the small brackets can be used for add on daughterboard
for other modules.
I will use the parts to make my first demonstration bracket for the CGS
Analog Shift Register, which is an "all-jack" module. I plan to up date the
website when I get my camera back. In a day or two, I will set prices and
make these available for sale.
The prices will seem a bit odd. The metal shop has adopted a new price
structure. These little brackets cost more than the big 4 pot brackets. I
know! I cannot explain it. Sigh.... Especially since they are allowing me
to continue to buy the old brackets at the old price. I plan to take a
smaller mark up on the individual pieces to offset the price increase. And,
if you buy then as a set of 3 (any combination of 2 small mounting bracket
plus flat plate), I will have a 3 piece price break too. I plan to call it
the 3 Stooges discount. <snicker> More info soon.
Stooge Larry (bracket king)