The 2020 Show Us Your DIY Builds Thread!

[J3RK]

I built a Quad Function Generator based on the Intellijel Quadra + Expander (which was based on the Buchla 281) into a 5U module. I used a Panel Board to eliminate panel wiring and a Translator Board to connect the Panel Board to the Circuit Board without having to compromise the layout of either one. Here is the finished module:

15_Finished_QPG.jpeg

And here is a couple of pictures of the board stack (every board has circuitry on it -- the main Circuit Board has all of the Quadra circuitry, the Translator Board in the middle has all of the Expander circuitry, and the Panel Board has circuitry for the Quadrature Mode switches -- on the Intellijel unit, these are 4PDT switches, but here I opted for SPDT switches and DG333s):

7_Board_Stack_1.jpeg
8_Board_Stack_2.jpeg

I'm actually considering offering these for sale on Modular Grid. What do y'all think of that?

Very nice! My current system only has two function generators. I need to come up with a quad version like this.

[soup]

cgs sequential switch in frac...

IMG_1159.jpg

IMG_1168.jpg

[hox3d]

Beautiful, as always.
What are those switch caps? Do they feel rubbery? At the moment I use some from NKK, but I'm not satisfied with the feeling/finish.

[gnsk]

I am in awe of your deadbug skills. Cool! I have the Noise Reap sampler built using the same chip. Lo-fi but a lot of fun. Your take on it looks much more complete.

(have you heard of this amazing new circuit board technology that has been invented recently? It's like taking a photo of all your wires and then telling your computer to print it out!)

thanks! Also i looked your Noise Reap's circuit. It helped me a lot to understand.
the amazing new technology's name? i searched but only got the "3D printed electronics(PE)"
anyway point-to-point is lots of fun, like making the buildings and pipes in small module.

[soup]

Beautiful, as always.
What are those switch caps? Do they feel rubbery? At the moment I use some from NKK, but I'm not satisfied with the feeling/finish.

Thanks. The switch caps are the soft touch ones from small bear...

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcomme ... oft-touch/

Rubbery is a weird adjective, I don't know if that's good or bad? I'd probably describe these as grippy. I like them but they are only available in a few colors.

[hox3d]

Well, grippy seems better, and that's what I meant.

Thanks!

[gnsk]

"Radio Sender"

* radio transmitter in Eurorack format assemblage
* on/off, Attenuators, Frequency-up button
* 2 channel (stereo FM)
* left in -> right in normalized
* 3HP

radio-sender-vorne.jpg

radio-sender-dorsal.png

rm-zu-rs.jpg

* Radio Music -> Radio Sender -> HackRF one portapack -> back to modular;

maybe feedback loop, FM radio filter, detuned freq., noise from radio->delay, false demodulation(AM, NFM), interference, or some other SDR experiment

[synkrotron]

"Radio Sender"

Very neat indeed. I am impressed

[synkrotron]

Okay,

Having browsed through this topic a number of times I feel slightly, no, very embarrassed with what I am about to share with you.

A simple build, that is for sure, and a module that no doubt everyone has a go at in their early days, I would have thought.

Previously all I had made was even simpler passive attenuators.

This build is slightly more complicated and contains "real" electronic components.

I give you my attempt at a Passive Low Pass Gate. Well, two, so I guess that makes it a Dual Passive Low Pass Gate.

And, yeah, I know, it isn't really a LPG, but I sure do enjoy using my Meng-Qi DPLPG so that's another reason for giving this a go. Time for some photographs *gulp*:-









So, not only dodgy low light images (the last one took three seconds to expose) but a very shoddy effort.

I do enjoy DIY, providing it is doing something I enjoy. I have made all sorts over the years... Bookshelves, TV stands, a 12m^2 wooden shed, that kind of stuff. Stuff I hate is putting up curtain rails... Does my head in that one.

I have experience with soldering but I was fifteen at the time, now sixty. It is only since getting into modular that I started to solder more often.

I have no experience worth talking about with regards to "point to point" soldering. So that mess that you can see above I blame on that.

What do you guys do when it comes to point to point stuff? I didn't really have a plan. I was thinking of modelling each component in 3D using BricsCAD (similar to AutoCAD but a fraction of the cost) and then assembling the components in the virtual world first. But after thinking about that for ten minutes or so I decided that it would take too long and just made it up as I went along.

Although it is a DPLPG they are slightly different and the lower one uses another vactrol which has its LDR wired before the capacitors (I have put two capacitors in parallel, which sounded better on the breadboard). So I can use CV to alter the tone of the output. It's not that great but decided to stick to the plan.

I therefore started with the upper, and simpler PLPG and then building the second one once I had finished and tested the first.

I'm glad to say that they both function as expected.

I put a second LED as an indicator in series before the vactrol. I noticed that it was more usual to put that LED in parallel but during tests I found that I preferred the in series arrangement, sound wise. Without that LED I found the PLPG to be too fast and clicky and the second LED helps to get rid of that.

I haven't installed it yet because, although nothing short circuits at the moment, I would feel a lot happier once I have gone around a lot of the bare wires with some insulation tape. I am hoping that it isn't going to get too warm, which would probably cause the tape to sag away a bit. I'll probably take it out for inspection now and then just to make sure it is okay.


cheers, and thanks for reading about my first Big Build

andy

[gnsk]

What do you guys do when it comes to point to point stuff? I didn't really have a plan. I was thinking of modelling each component in 3D using BricsCAD (similar to AutoCAD but a fraction of the cost) and then assembling the components in the virtual world first. But after thinking about that for ten minutes or so I decided that it would take too long and just made it up as I went along.

i'm not using 3D CAD or some software for point-to-point soldering. real world is fast and intuitive to me. and desoldering is simple.

i'm doing;
* With color pencil on schematics, group the component with related component. i.e. TL072 with 104 cap and resistors, jack with resistor, PT2399 with related resistors, caps. "make module in module"
* in each group, soldering components as near as possible, without wire, only from component itself. layering.
* position and soldering the each soldered component behind jack or panel.
* wiring each groups.
* add power connector, it is also pre-soledred with beads, caps, diodes.
* make position, trying not to use additional wires, and not to far each to each. "topology"
* trying to support physikalisch each with each.

hopes helpful

[sduck]

Okay,

Having browsed through this topic a number of times I feel slightly, no, very embarrassed with what I am about to share with you.

That's beautiful! Love the point to point wiring. There should be more of that in synth diy.

[synkrotron]

hopes helpful

Yes, thank you very much

I think I did okay with my build with only 15 components, not including the jack sockets. I managed without printing out the schematics and I had them up on my computer screen instead. But I can see the advantage of being able to make notes for larger projects.

I didn't time my build but it must have taken at least three hours all together. Hopefully as I build more I will get a little bit faster.

That's beautiful! Love the point to point wiring. There should be more of that in synth diy.

Haha! I suppose it does have a certain organic beauty

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

I love it! However, I believe that you would probably have an easier time if you used veroboard instead of point-to-point wiring. Also, your circuit would be more secure and less likely to touch other stuff behind the panels.

Incidentally, I just posted a video of my new 5U Dr. Octature build. Check it out on my thread Something New from Doc Sketchy

[synkrotron]

I love it! However, I believe that you would probably have an easier time if you used veroboard instead of point-to-point wiring. Also, your circuit would be more secure and less likely to touch other stuff behind the panels.

Yes, you are right, I should look into that veroboard stuff. In the meantime I wrapped it up with some insulation tape. Doesn't look so nice now but it is quite solid and I can no longer poke the LEDs back through the front panel

Incidentally, I just posted a video of my new 5U Dr. Octature build. Check it out on my thread Something New from Doc Sketchy

I'll do that now

[audioCTRL]

NLC "Delay No More 3"
* 18hp -> 10hp repackt
* For troubleshooting, tried to build each parts in module as module.

thanks andrewF!

delaynomore-vorne.jpg
delaynomore-dorsal.jpg

Lovely mess - DIY at its very best!