PAiA Output Module

davebr · Post by **davebr** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 12:15 am

A customer wanted me to design him an output module in a 2X wide module. It has an output buffer, A440 reference oscillator, and a headphone amplifier, all with mute rocker switches. Details are on my PAiA Output Module page.

Dave

cslammy · Post by **cslammy** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 10:48 am

Dave: Looks great!

Q: How did you do the silk screening/artwork for this panel?

I am trying to get silk screening or some other process going that's better than the decaling process I use now for small Q runs.

I can't imagine you couldn't sell that many of these, as it's a very specialized product, so i figure you must be doing low quantity?

fracmonkey · Post by **fracmonkey** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 7:02 pm

He uses Front Panel Express. Nice graphics. Not sure how they are done. Check out their web site. Very popular with short run folks but not cheap.

I see some folks just using another pc board for the front panel. These can look very good.

werock · Post by **werock** » Thu Dec 20, 2018 10:52 am

Front Panel Express do 'printed' graphics as well as engraving, I think in another post Dave posted that he had used the printed service.

I've just ordered a printed front panel rather than engraved for the first time for a DIY snare drum module, so will be interesting to see how it compares to the engraved ones.

cslammy · Post by **cslammy** » Thu Dec 20, 2018 12:08 pm

werock wrote:Front Panel Express do 'printed' graphics as well as engraving, I think in another post Dave posted that he had used the printed service.

I've just ordered a printed front panel rather than engraved for the first time for a DIY snare drum module, so will be interesting to see how it compares to the engraved ones.

let me know how it turns out.

I guess I didn't try to get into FPE that much, since I couldn't make heads nor tails out of their UI, and I think it won't eat Gerbers or DXF files right? Just their own proprietary format?

Even something simple, like demarcating the outline of a 1u Frac panel, eluded me. I am pretty good (I think) with Eagle, Illustrator, and Autocad, but still, maybe it's just me. If their site could import DXF files I'd give them a lot of business.

werock · Post by **werock** » Fri Dec 21, 2018 6:04 am

cslammy wrote:
I guess I didn't try to get into FPE that much, since I couldn't make heads nor tails out of their UI, and I think it won't eat Gerbers or DXF files right? Just their own proprietary format?

Even something simple, like demarcating the outline of a 1u Frac panel, eluded me. I am pretty good (I think) with Eagle, Illustrator, and Autocad, but still, maybe it's just me. If their site could import DXF files I'd give them a lot of business.

I don't think it does import those formats, for my recent order I created an SVG which I exported as a high res png which FPE can use for printed graphics. I'll post an image once the panel arrives, but it's going to be held up a bit due to some sort of holiday coming up...

Rob_C · Post by **Rob_C** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:39 pm

cslammy wrote: Even something simple, like demarcating the outline of a 1u Frac panel, eluded me. I am pretty good (I think) with Eagle, Illustrator, and Autocad, but still, maybe it's just me. If their site could import DXF files I'd give them a lot of business.

Attached are two Front Panel Designer files (frac ear and a 1U mult) from other Wigglers that I found on the web some time ago that may help get you started. At least one of these is from Fracmonkey, I believe. These have engravings rather than 'printed' graphics.

davebr · Post by **davebr** » Thu Dec 27, 2018 2:00 am

Sorry for the late reply as I don't watch this forum all that often.

I design the physical panel in Frontpanelexpress. That has just the panel dimensions and holes and in this case slots. I design the panel graphics in Photoshop.

I export the Frontpanelexpress design as a pdf and import that into Photoshop as a background layer. Initially I took a quality image of an existing PAIA panel and layered it on top of the background layer. Then I played with line widths and fonts until I matched the original fairly well. Then i cut and pasted knobs and jacks. Then I deleted the panel photo layer and the background layer and saved that as my template.

I can place the knobs and jacks over their respective holes on the panel layer so I can judge spacings. Then I build the graphics using my template as a basis. When done I delete the knobs, jacks, and panel background layer so I am just left with the text and graphics over a transparent background. I save this as a .png file. I then insert that into the Frontpanelexpress design as a printed graphic. It is the same size as the panel so no alignment is needed.

If I am trying to match another panel design then I take a photo and layer that on top of the panel layer to use as a guide. Then I delete it when done.

Dave

werock · Post by **werock** » Mon Dec 31, 2018 12:16 pm

cslammy wrote:
let me know how it turns out.

My panel has arrived, and I'm very happy with the printed graphics. At normal viewing distances, it looks very clear. I've included a couple of pictures, including some close ups. At high magnification, there is some lack of definition as you might expect, but it looks fine at normal viewing distances.

Apologies for my crappy photos, most of the lack of definition comes from my bad phone camera! I designed the panel in their usual front panel design software, but did the 'CR-78' line in Inkscape, and then imported that into Front Panel Designer.

fmbeaumont · Post by **fmbeaumont** » Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:57 pm

davebr

Hi,
I’m trying to find the PCB layout for the 2720-2A VCO. I have two of the 2720-2’s, but want to build the 2720-2A. They say it’s more linear. Any chance you could help me with this? Thanks!
Kind regards,
Fred

Ron_H · Post by **Ron_H** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 3:41 am

fmbeaumont wrote:davebr

Hi,
I’m trying to find the PCB layout for the 2720-2A VCO. I have two of the 2720-2’s, but want to build the 2720-2A. They say it’s more linear. Any chance you could help me with this? Thanks!
Kind regards,
Fred

You might find what you’re looking for here:

https://www.paia.com/talk/viewtopic.php ... afa20bf6ec

fmbeaumont · Post by **fmbeaumont** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 5:35 am

Thanks!

Also, how do I select the correct value for R8? (See attached)

Ron_H · Post by **Ron_H** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:30 am

Best I can do is.....a google search for:
"2720-2" site:paia.com/talk/

So maybe this thread: Rebuilding a 2720 & Spice

or one of the others????

Sorry I cannot help more.

Rob_C · Post by **Rob_C** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 12:23 pm

If you go to davebr's website and look at his excellent pictures, it appears R8 is blue-grey-red, which is 6.8k.

Link ->Paia 2720 synthesizer restoration

I used a 10k alpha pot for R8, and mounted it at the edge of the 2720-2A board, so I could easily dial in a value that worked for my oscillator. I just left the pot there rather than replacing it with a fixed resistor.

Rob_C · Post by **Rob_C** » Wed Mar 13, 2019 9:56 pm

fmbeaumont wrote:davebr

Hi,
I’m trying to find the PCB layout for the 2720-2A VCO. I have two of the 2720-2’s, but want to build the 2720-2A. They say it’s more linear. Any chance you could help me with this? Thanks!
Kind regards,
Fred

Or, build a 4720 oscillator instead. You can use your 2720-2 panel and your 2720-14 Sine / PWM panel. This PCB transfer pattern attachment was made from a scan of an empty 4720 oscillator board. I have not etched a board from this, so it is "untested." If you use this image for toner transfer etching, don't forget to reverse the image when printing.

fmbeaumont · Post by **fmbeaumont** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:00 am

Can I still use my original 2720 keyboard and controller?
Thanks for all of the info!

fmbeaumont · Post by **fmbeaumont** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:14 am

Do you have the actual dimensions of the PCB Board so I could scale it for printing?

Rob_C · Post by **Rob_C** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:06 pm

Yes, you can use your original 2720-8 controller and keyboard.

The PCB dimensions are 4 inches across the front panel by 4.5 inches deep. As the front panels are also 4 inches wide make sure your PCB does not exceed this measurement or is just a little shorter.

fmbeaumont · Post by **fmbeaumont** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 5:18 am

Thanks for your help!

Rob_C · Post by **Rob_C** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 3:03 pm

If you have additional questions or issues related to PAIA restoration, you're welcome to start a new topic. And if you build the oscillator (or finish your restoration), please share a pic with us!

fmbeaumont · Post by **fmbeaumont** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 5:31 pm

Will do

MUFF WIGGLER

MUFF WIGGLER

PAiA Output Module

PAiA Output Module

PAIA custom panels

PAIA 2720

Re: PAIA 2720

2720-2A

Re: PAIA 2720

4720

4720