Lyra-8 DIY expansion and panels

[Flounderguts]

[Updated February 2 2021]

Hi All...

If you've followed the Lyra-8 DIY thread at all, you'll know that I've been working on a set of PCBs that incorporate all of Vlad's "tweaks."

I've started a webstore at flundrton.com to provide this stuff. As of today (Feb 2) the first batch of wings are sold out, lots of 2nd gen wings are in stock. As well as the integrated expanded panel, the standard size panels (266x266mm) are back, with a 2nd version with a mandala-style touchpad for those who don't like/can't find the DIN screws. I also have a small batch of panels that fit the Hammond 12123 enclosure, and they also have touchpads, only a double-helix spiral pattern. They look pretty cool...pix at the bottom of this thread!

Panels, parts, and documentation are all on the site...for documentation, go to the bottom of the page and look for the links. If you have built a Lyra-8 or Lyra-4, I'd love to host pictures of your builds!

I spec'd the expansions with SP8T switches that were available from Adafruit. They seem to be out, but the switches are easy to find on AliExpress and other places. They are known as SR-16 1P8T, and I have managed to secure a source. I'm selling them for a bit less than Adafruit.

There are 2 panels for the expansion, as well. They both should fit a 19" rack. The main panel mounts the tweaks to either side of the Lyra-8 mainboard. They are made of PCB material in black, with white silkscreen and gold ENIG.

Main panel: $95 (19" x 7U)
I/O panel: $25
Standard panel: $40 (same price for Hammond!)
Standard I/O: Coming soon!
Gate in expansion: Coming soon!

There is a gerber posted for an experimental front panel sized to fit the Hammond 1444-12123 enclosure...the panel is meant to replace the bottom panel that Hammond sells to eliminate DIY drilling It's not quite the same as the one I had made. I tested the panel on a Hammond enclosure that I bought for that purpose, and the dimensions that Hammond advertises are not quite correct...+/- 1.5 mm, maybe? I had ok luck turning the panel 90 deg and redrilling the enclosure by hand...as the panel fits *the case* perfectly.
ALSO it has conductive touch pads built in to the panel instead of using DIN screws, and drill guides printed on the backside (as well as traces) to mount toggle switches for shorting.

Also posted (in the next day or two) is a DXF file for anyone who wants to drill a Hammond 1456WL1BKBK enclosure to fit the expanded wings into an appropriately sized enclosure. I'll post a PDF of the graphics as well. (still working on this, Feb 2)

Lyra-8+ DIY Expansion Build Doc here
Expansion Bill of Materials here (also in the Build Doc)
Simple Schematic of Expansion here
Gerbers are available on the store in their own section (they are set up as products, but they are $0.00) There are some Gerbers missing, but only until I get the latest version finished...I did make some changes to both the main panel and the wings, but I will keep all versions of the Gerbers posted.

I'd love your feedback! Thanks for your support...developing this expansion has been really fun

[Flounderguts]

Render of the standard panel

[Flounderguts]

The rendering engine on EasyEDA can't display soldermask exclusions over silkscreen...here's a render of the panel with the silkscreen, and with it removed...the gold under the black will show up coming through it.

This is the expansion, tho.

[Flounderguts]

Here's the 1U I/O ...

It's hard to see, but there's a pattern under the soldermask...the two gold cubes on the right are repeated under the soldermask across the whole board...

[teleport]

Hi - I'd be interested in joining the list for the tweaks expansion set and associated panel.

Am I understanding correctly that the tweaks are pcb's that are additional to the main board? I've got an unbuilt main Lyra-8 and this feels like some good motivation to get it underway.

[Flounderguts]

Yes...the tweaks are outlined in Vlad's assembly document. I just catalogued them and chose values. I'll post renders of the wings in a few minutes. Do you want the I/O as well?

[whyfarer]

I am (still) interested in the expansion PCBs!

[Flounderguts]

Attack Release Fast Release Slow PCB. Switches to turn them from stock to tweaked.

Voices, Delay, Distortion. The original values are marked on the panel, and there are switches to stock values on the voice pots.

[teleport]

Do you want the I/O as well?

Yes - I'd definitely be interested in the i/o. Thanks!

[Addam]

can't wait for this. I'm down for pretty much any additional "group buy" for additional parts like switches mentioned, too. Have plenty of resistors, though

[Stoneyards]

Yeah, me too - I'm in for main expanded panel, io panel, switches, headers or other less common parts.

thanks!

[edit to add panel details]

[steviet]

I sent you a PM, but just to get it on the public register take me off the list for the PCB and put me on the list for one of the STANDARD Lyra-8 DIY panels.

[yan6]

Any chance this is compatible with a factory built lyra8

[Flounderguts]

Any chance this is compatible with a factory built lyra8

The expansion should work with a factory instrument, but you will have to perform some surgery on it, and find a way to mount the panels in an expansion box or extension. If you want to try that, I'd be happy to give you the drill spacing in a dxf, pdf, or other cad file.

The hardest part will be desoldering the components out of the original board, and devising a cable with all of the connections to your expansion. There are 80 connections that have to be made (40 controls, 2 wires each)

[D.Tilbury]

You did a killer job with these man. Really stoked about getting this going. Thank you.

[Flounderguts]

Just got a really nice email from Mr. Henry at Daier Yuqing. Switches are a go, and they should ship sometime today

I'll figure out the costs once they get here...they may be subject to a tariff...but I can't comment on that because politics.

[Flounderguts]

Panels have arrived.

[Flounderguts]

Standard front panel looks amazing!

[Flounderguts]

Unfortunately, the expansion front panel has a terrible mistake.

Can you see it?

If you look above the right hand "pitch" knob, you will see that the "hold" is offset to the right. I must have bumped the footprint with the mouse, and I missed it in the proofs!

If you want one of these blem panels (which would require a drill and perhaps an adhesive sticker) you can have one for price of shipping.

The silkscreen over the soldermask also isn't well aligned:

I have already ordered them in black to replace these (oof...that was a bit expensive!!) and they should be here in (another!) two weeks. And yes, I fixed the hold hole AND ordered matching black I/O panels.

[Flounderguts]

The white I/O panels are absolutely spectacular, though!!

I really like how the copper under the soldermask looks...very subtle pattern.

I will be building up the wings by the end of the week, with a full photo tutorial of the build, which I will post on my website and link to this thread when it's done.

[whyfarer]

thanks for the updates, flounderguts. sorry to see/hear the hold misalignment.

If possible, can you add me to both panel purchases? they're looking great

edit: thanks!

[Stoneyards]

Yes, great to see the progress - thanks for the refinements. It's a complex thing to do. Looking forward to the final product!

[steviet]

Thanks for all your work! That standard panel looks amazing. Can't wait to get mine!

[Flounderguts]

The good thing about messing up is that I get to mock it all up before hand. There were no other issues, but the panels were *awfully tight* inside the rack...I made a little extra space on each side, and shimmied section A (on the left) down a few mm.

I also tested it with the switches, and they align perfectly and are actually long enough to get the nut on!

Here's one of the blems mocked into a rack:

And here's a switch going through the wing and the front panel...I was nervous that the nuts might not catch on the plastic bushing.
The switches have a nub on the front to index them, and the drilling is there on the panel, so we aren't depending on the bushing friction to hold the switch from rotating when you wiggle.

Speaking of switches, I bought a bunch to go with the expansions, as the two US distributors of these have spotty inventory.

[Bjarne]

Yes, your standard panel design looks absolutely fabulous!

I note that you’ve skipped the screw holes for the 4 stand offs that normally hold the main board. Are they not needed?

Cheers

Standard front panel looks amazing!