Modular Synth Panels

Hi,

I just designed a 3U wide panel for the Buchla 281 quad function
generator. This is pretty much my first panel that I've designed. I
want to fit 4 of TOPPS from electro-music.com PCBs behind this panel
using as little space as possible. I have uploaded the FPD file into
the file section and would like some more experienced panel designers
to look at it and let me know what they think, basically will
everything actually fit onto the panel,will any of the writing be
obscured by the jack washers etc...

Thanks for any input or advice,
Dave

Hey guys,

Thanks for the info, I'll try printing a panel out (great idea!)

Dave

--- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Listmayer"
<andrewlistmayer@...> wrote:

>
> You might want to print it out and place all your components on it

to make

> sure, though. It would be an expensive mistake if something didn't fit.
>
> On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 11:12 AM, Andrew Listmayer <andrewlistmayer@...
> > wrote:
>
> > It looks like the jack washers might partially cover the "2" and

"8" around

> > the pots. Other than that, if you are using 16mm(or less) pots and

1/2"

> > knobs it should be a tight squeeze but workable. Nice job.
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 4:25 AM, Dave <lexvortex@...> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I just designed a 3U wide panel for the Buchla 281 quad function
> >> generator. This is pretty much my first panel that I've designed. I
> >> want to fit 4 of TOPPS from electro-music.com PCBs behind this panel
> >> using as little space as possible. I have uploaded the FPD file into
> >> the file section and would like some more experienced panel designers
> >> to look at it and let me know what they think, basically will
> >> everything actually fit onto the panel,will any of the writing be
> >> obscured by the jack washers etc...
> >>
> >> Thanks for any input or advice,
> >> Dave
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

What I do to make the label spacing right is enlarge the drilled
holes to the size of the part that lays on the panel face. Example:
Switchcraft 1/4" jack washers are 5/8", so enlarge the .375" jack
holes to 5/8" and you'll see how much space the washer will take up
and place your label accordingly. Make sure to put your drill hole
size back to normal before you order!!!

It's an expensive panel. Purely a matter of preference, but I would
get rid of the ticks (what's the use anyway?). I would also swap the
gate jack and response switch with the A and D jacks. Seems more
intuitive to me but OF COURSE that is just a matter of opinion.

Another possible money saver is to not get the engravings infilled.
For this panel that costs $31. You can do this yourself with a laquer
stick that costs a few bucks (and still have more left for many panels).

If money is no object then I'd say to adjust your labels and pat
yourself on the back for a panel well done.

Congrats,
p.
Megaohm Audio

--- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "Dave" <lexvortex@...> wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
>
> Thanks for the info, I'll try printing a panel out (great idea!)
>
> Dave
>
> --- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Listmayer"
> <andrewlistmayer@> wrote:
> >
> > You might want to print it out and place all your components on it
> to make
> > sure, though. It would be an expensive mistake if something didn't
fit.
> >
> > On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 11:12 AM, Andrew Listmayer <andrewlistmayer@
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > It looks like the jack washers might partially cover the "2" and
> "8" around
> > > the pots. Other than that, if you are using 16mm(or less) pots and
> 1/2"
> > > knobs it should be a tight squeeze but workable. Nice job.
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 4:25 AM, Dave <lexvortex@> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi,
> > >>
> > >> I just designed a 3U wide panel for the Buchla 281 quad function
> > >> generator. This is pretty much my first panel that I've designed. I
> > >> want to fit 4 of TOPPS from electro-music.com PCBs behind this
panel
> > >> using as little space as possible. I have uploaded the FPD file
into
> > >> the file section and would like some more experienced panel
designers
> > >> to look at it and let me know what they think, basically will
> > >> everything actually fit onto the panel,will any of the writing be
> > >> obscured by the jack washers etc...
> > >>
> > >> Thanks for any input or advice,
> > >> Dave
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> >
>

It looks way too busy to me, and I think I'm confused about something....

I have 4 of Topp's pcbs myself. Haven't gotten around to doing
anything with them yet. Each pcb has 2 pots, and there's the 2 extra
pots that're at the bottom of the buchla module. So that makes 10
pots. So what's confusing me is why you have 16 pots on your panel?

I've been toying with ways of getting the 4 pcb's behind a 2u panel -
I think it can be done, and maybe even look fairly cool, but I just
haven't spent any time trying things out yet. I also have a bunch of
the bananalogue vcs pcb's, which are a similar proposition.

Steve

--- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "Dave" <lexvortex@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I just designed a 3U wide panel for the Buchla 281 quad function
> generator. This is pretty much my first panel that I've designed. I
> want to fit 4 of TOPPS from electro-music.com PCBs behind this panel
> using as little space as possible. I have uploaded the FPD file into
> the file section and would like some more experienced panel designers
> to look at it and let me know what they think, basically will
> everything actually fit onto the panel,will any of the writing be
> obscured by the jack washers etc...
>
> Thanks for any input or advice,
> Dave
>

The extra pots are for attenuating the CV ins and they also (if set up
right) control the curve of the function from linear to expo when
nothings plugged into the CV ins, it's all explained in the 281 thread
at electro music.com

--- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "sduck409" <sduck409@...>
wrote:

>
> It looks way too busy to me, and I think I'm confused about

something....

>
> I have 4 of Topp's pcbs myself. Haven't gotten around to doing
> anything with them yet. Each pcb has 2 pots, and there's the 2 extra
> pots that're at the bottom of the buchla module. So that makes 10
> pots. So what's confusing me is why you have 16 pots on your panel?
>
> I've been toying with ways of getting the 4 pcb's behind a 2u panel -
> I think it can be done, and maybe even look fairly cool, but I just
> haven't spent any time trying things out yet. I also have a bunch of
> the bananalogue vcs pcb's, which are a similar proposition.
>
> Steve
>
> --- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "Dave" <lexvortex@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I just designed a 3U wide panel for the Buchla 281 quad function
> > generator. This is pretty much my first panel that I've designed. I
> > want to fit 4 of TOPPS from electro-music.com PCBs behind this panel
> > using as little space as possible. I have uploaded the FPD file into
> > the file section and would like some more experienced panel designers
> > to look at it and let me know what they think, basically will
> > everything actually fit onto the panel,will any of the writing be
> > obscured by the jack washers etc...
> >
> > Thanks for any input or advice,
> > Dave
> >
>

I see. I read about that, but that's not a mod I was interested in, so
I forgot about it. Good idea, though.

--- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "Dave" <lexvortex@...> wrote:
>
> The extra pots are for attenuating the CV ins and they also (if set up
> right) control the curve of the function from linear to expo when
> nothings plugged into the CV ins, it's all explained in the 281 thread
> at electro music.com
>
> --- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "sduck409" <sduck409@>
> wrote:
> >
> > It looks way too busy to me, and I think I'm confused about
> something....
> >
> > I have 4 of Topp's pcbs myself. Haven't gotten around to doing
> > anything with them yet. Each pcb has 2 pots, and there's the 2 extra
> > pots that're at the bottom of the buchla module. So that makes 10
> > pots. So what's confusing me is why you have 16 pots on your panel?
> >
> > I've been toying with ways of getting the 4 pcb's behind a 2u panel -
> > I think it can be done, and maybe even look fairly cool, but I just
> > haven't spent any time trying things out yet. I also have a bunch of
> > the bananalogue vcs pcb's, which are a similar proposition.
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > --- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, "Dave" <lexvortex@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I just designed a 3U wide panel for the Buchla 281 quad function
> > > generator. This is pretty much my first panel that I've
designed. I
> > > want to fit 4 of TOPPS from electro-music.com PCBs behind this panel
> > > using as little space as possible. I have uploaded the FPD file
into
> > > the file section and would like some more experienced panel
designers
> > > to look at it and let me know what they think, basically will
> > > everything actually fit onto the panel,will any of the writing be
> > > obscured by the jack washers etc...
> > >
> > > Thanks for any input or advice,
> > > Dave
> > >
> >
>