Searching a simple VCA DIY project

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 7:35 am

After I received the mouser parts, and see the the size of SMD

, I think I need to solder with solder and flux paste, have you any brand/reference recommendations?

adam · Post by **adam** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:29 am

chip quik is popular for a few builds

and http://oshstencils.com/

adam · Post by **adam** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 8:32 am

a flux pen is better than paste (you know what i mean, easier in a pen)

Orgia Mode · Post by **Orgia Mode** » Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:53 pm

Hales wrote:After I received the mouser parts, and see the the size of SMD , I think I need to solder with solder and flux paste, have you any brand/reference recommendations?

Get leaded paste
Get a 'very' fine gauge syringe tip
Make sure to use it before it expires

Stencils are relatively cheap and very helpful.

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Fri Dec 06, 2019 10:49 am

Have you any experience with this hot air gun?
can he do the job?

https://www.amazon.fr/KKmoon-Dessoudage ... =hi&sr=1-4

adam · Post by **adam** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 7:33 am

does it come with any extra tips?, a smaller tip is useful sometimes

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 2:48 pm

yes, it has 3 different tips size

adam · Post by **adam** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 2:59 pm

it's probably ok

papz · Post by **papz** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 3:21 pm

This is probably the simplest VCA project ever : https://escapefromnoise.com/modular/vca ... ctrol-vca/

Orgia Mode · Post by **Orgia Mode** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 3:37 pm

Hales wrote:Have you any experience with this hot air gun?
can he do the job?

https://www.amazon.fr/KKmoon-Dessoudage ... =hi&sr=1-4

I'm sure its fine, but don't buy from Amazon.
I work with a Chinese clone with both iron and air gun. Its worked for years with the same tips and heater elements.
MIne looks just like this, but I don't have the DC power supply:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/853D-3in1-Sold ... SwZL5dw9Cn

papz wrote:This is probably the simplest VCA project ever : https://escapefromnoise.com/modular/vca ... ctrol-vca/

Thats a cute little thing.

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 7:47 am

I received all the necessary materials to start building Ripples. I trained myself to solder smd. I now manage to open the eagles files. I wanted to know if there are assembly instructions available, which say for example with which components to start?

forestcaver · Post by **forestcaver** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 7:59 am

Hales wrote:I received all the necessary materials to start building Ripples. I trained myself to weld smd. I now manage to open the eagles files. I wanted to know if there are assembly instructions available, which say for example with which resistors to start?

No. There erent.

(Veils and Ripples are not designed to be built as diy projects. Emilie has kindly donated the designs. They are really quite advnced builds, especially veils, if you have never soldered smt or have limited soldering experience. Putting them together isnt particularly hard though if you have a bit of experience and hand eye coordination. The hard bit is debugging - you cant really debug these builds without a multimeter and oscilloscope. A test power supply is really important as is some form of function generator. It may be worth considering whether to put them to one side and gain some experience first??? They’re not particularly cheap to build and are easy to destroy.)

If it helps, here are my diy notes and comments - look in modular->notes, tools and diy-modules.

www.batguitars.co.uk

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:24 am

OK thanks forestcaver… it's a little scary!
Should i start with power section first? For the moment, I don't yet have all the parts (Pots, jack sockets, power cable, …) I also don't have an oscilloscope and no multimeter either.

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:09 am

How do you organize yourself to solder the components? I wonder if I should solder an entire line of different components next to each other to solder an entire area at the same time and thus prevent overheating several times the same area.

papz · Post by **papz** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:25 am

To prevent waste of time and money and unpleasant frustration, it's better to let this project aside for now and start with easier builds to familiarize with soldering and troubleshooting. Then you'll want to get back to this build when you'll have the experience and tools required.

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:34 am

Do you mean that oscilloscope and multimeter are fundamental to build Ripples? It's a little frustrating because I was encouraged to buy these kits that seemed accessible, but not anymore?

papz · Post by **papz** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:47 am

Oscilloscope and multimeter are fundamental to build and troubleshoot any DIY module.
Experience is fundamental to build and troubleshoot complex SMT modules like this one.

But you're free to think the opposite, to ignore what experienced people tell you... and to learn it the hard way if you wish so.

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 11:02 am

I don't want to ignore what experienced people tell me. I bought these kits and all the equipment following the advice of people on this post who claimed that Ripples was possible and "SMD beginner friendly" project. So it’s surprising that now that I’ve got it all, it no longer seems possible…
According to you what would be the project(s) that would allow me to learn and prepare myself for Ripples? I have already mounted Befaco Muxlicer and Fonitronik Cascade.

papz · Post by **papz** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 12:08 pm

One single person pushed you to Ripples and this person runs a DIY MI PCBs business. Maybe it's related ?

No specific project will prepare yourself for this build, I mean a general experience is recommended, so are the scope and meter.

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 12:18 pm

Yes of course I understand what you mean…
Adam say that about Ripples build on his site:
"I normally recommend Ripples to SMD beginners, it is one of the easiest of these boards to construct the building experience provides a strong foundation for the harder projects, some people have gone straight from building this to soldering Braids."
So it's a lie and just a business argument?

papz · Post by **papz** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 12:24 pm

It's good to read between the lines.
On the internet, one finds all.. and its opposite.

Hales · Post by **Hales** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 12:36 pm

I dont' know what to do, and don't understand why people didn't alert me earlier and let me order this project if it's impossible for me to build it.
These are substantial expenses for me: hot air gun, solder paste, flux pen, tweezers…

forestcaver · Post by **forestcaver** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 12:40 pm

Suggestions if you do build ripples first - buy a multimeter and test every component before you place it (all the passives) - takes longer but reduces errors. Build a cheapo oscilloscope eg dso138 (~£15) which will help (but you get what you pay for). If you have limited test kit build an xr2206 fnction generator (~£5) to test things. Build a sacrifial power supply eg meanwell dcw05a-12 (~£7) or an mfos clone linear supply (this will avoid damaging your existing modules or your rackpower supply). Magnification is really helpful/essential.

Without a multimeter you are really guessing! It’s not unknown for companies like mouser etc to send wrongly labelled resistors etc. Without one you have minimal chance of testing voltages etc

With Ripples, I’d do the ics first then the passives.

I use a soldering iron and wire.

But seriously, if you have to ask, it implies you may need a bit more experience first.... dont want to discourage you and it may all work out fine.... (ripples was my first try at smt so it is doable, but I had done a fair bit of through hole....). As I say, putting it together is the easy part - fault finding without knowledge and experience can be more challenging....

I still think building veils is very ambitious though (0402 is fine - I sometimes prefer it to 0603 - it’s a bit faster as the soldering of each joint is so quick - fraction of a second as the thermal mass is so low, but soldering the opamps on veils takes a bit of experience - the pads are the same size as the pins and they are very close together - tssop vs soic on ripples). You see an awful lot of failed veils builds on forums.... I think veils is a lot harder to build than eg marbles or plaits..... but ymmv....

forestcaver · Post by **forestcaver** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 12:46 pm

Hales wrote:I dont' know what to do, and don't understand why people didn't alert me earlier and let me order this project if it's impossible for me to build it.
These are substantial expenses for me: hot air gun, solder paste, flux pen, tweezers…

Because not everyone will see every post?

Also, it’s up to you what you do.... my advice could easily be wrong for you - I could be talking out of my arse - it’s the internet after all! Everyone has an opinion! Take any piece of advice with a pinch of salt and make your own decision :-)

It’s not impossible but be aware of the challenges....

papz · Post by **papz** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 12:47 pm

I didn't read previous posts prior to recommend the simple vactrol VCA above, I just meant to reply your initial question.
Probably forestcaver didn't see it before and when he warned you, it was too late.

The expense is not lost anyway, you didn't buy these tools for a single build, did you ?

MUFF WIGGLER

MUFF WIGGLER

Searching a simple VCA DIY project