M185 sequencer Project - NEW PCB VERSION

[julian]

Im comming close to having a eurorack panel finalised.
I cut a test panel today, but im waiting on some specilised endmills in the correct size to come through. Those square switch cut-outs are a pain in a dense panel, as the cutout dimensions are directly dependant on the corner raduis, which is, in turn, dependant on the cutter diameter - I want the switch cutouts to be as small as possible, which meens using smaller than normal end mills.
Anyway, ill take some snaps of the test panel after the weekend.


Quick question -

I know a few people are interested in the euro panel. Im cutting them in black gloss - the same sort of material as i use on the x0xb0xs.
I think shiny panel componets look good against the gloss, so ive fitted stainless allen cap screws in m2.5 and m2.0 (the switches Ryk supplies need both sizes)
I ended up buying 500 or so...

Then i realised that the panel was optomised for alpha pots, and cliff jacks, and they have the correct cut-out for the push button switches i have here.
As previously mentioned, ill have the panels availible anyway, but would it be sensible to offer a complete panel component kit too? (excluding the switches supplied by Ryk, but including the hardware to mount them)

In total this would be -

18-off stainless M2.5 allen cap
22-off stainless M2.0 allen cap
4-off cliff 3.5mm soket (as used by doepfer etc)
11-off Alpha 16mm pots (as used by doepfer etc)
4-off Momentary push button
1-off Slide switch (for range)
11-off soft touch knobs (as used on the p3 sequencer)
8-off 3mm red led (panels are cut for a snug / exact fit, without holder)

I have no idea as to cost at present, but i could work that out if there was interest?

Basically this would be evreything visible from the outside of the module, less the switch packs supplied by Ryk.

[a100user]

Hi Julian

I have two boards ordered so will take two panel kits - regardless of price (you know what I mean )

Agree that the shiny black finish will look very cool.

This will save me time - I have none - and give a consistent finsh on both units - which is great.

All the best

David

[The Bad Producer]

I'd like to see the panel, sounds cool!

Any idea on cost yet?

Charlie

[dingebre]

On the topic of panels and switches, does anyone have the dimensions for the switches? I need to know how close to the edge of the panel I can mount them. I have a width constraint in my system where I want this to go (40HP) and I need to know how wide the switches are.

Thanks in advance.

David

[julian]

Ryk posted some datasheet info on about page 6 of this thread.

If you have problems, i can give you some real world measurements after the weekend.

Julian

[jaidee]

The switch details/diagrams are on page 8 of the thread.

As far as I can see, the screws specified for both types of switch are M2.6 - I'm, not sure where M2 comes into play.

A few questions for julian which may be of general interest given the anticipated flurry of activity when ryktnk gets the new boards out:

Are you still doing the 5U MOTM-style panels at £45?

Are these 3mm thick panels as per the usual MOTM spec?

Can you incorporate any design mods at this price (to be more specific, I would prefer 3mm LEDs as per your original test panel, and would prefer the switches to be lined upon the left - left justified - as per ryktnk's original panel, and might want to change the hole size for the momentary switches)?

Thanks

[julian]

Hi there,

M2.5 are good for the 8-way switches, but not for the 4-ways, nor the 2-way that im using for the range switch, which require smaller diameter.

The data sheet for the 2-way spec's M2, and im pretty certain the 4-way supplied by Ryk have the same size holes.


I will verify this after the weekend for you.


As for 5u panels - ive been working on the euro panel just recently. Of course, it is pretty much what has been seen in the 5u, but ive rearranged some stuff and generally neatened it up some. Ive also spent some time optomising it for small diameter single flute cutters, to try and get the corner radius as small as posssible, whilst still maintaining quality of cut.


Anyway, all this can then go into both frac and 5u panels, but ive been focussing on the euro panels as, surprisngly, there was next to no interest in my offer of 5u panels.


As for customisations - yes, and no. Yes, always possible, but doing a load of 1-offs is somewhat different from doing bulk panel runs.

...and finally,

I always use 3mm matt black anodised for 5u panels. This is the same material as the Oakley panels were aways made of, and the same as any panels ordered from Schaeffer. The MOTM panels supplied by Synthtech are, of course, painted rather than engraved.

So, yes, thickness and colour are as per the MOTM system, but with engraving on an anodised surface, rather than printing on a painted surface.

(im only using the gloss on the euro panels, probably not the frac either)

[julian]

Im sorry for the slow reponse this week...

Anyway, the switches supplied to me by Ryk for testing are shown below.

In the first shot, you can see the diameter of the smaller screw is about 1.9 (ie M2). I didnt take a shot of me measuring the M2.5, however, in the second shot, you can see there is a clear difference in diameter between the two different slide switches.





Again, these switches were supplied to me by Ryk for the panel prototyping. I can not be certain that the switches supplied in the next batch are identical, but i assume they would be. Of course, the only thing to change on the panel would be a set of holes anyhow.

The next photo is of the eurorack panel i am testing. This panel is a poor example, and realy should not be taken as direct indication of the finished job. The quality of the cut on the slide switches is not good.



The reason for this is that i used a different type of cutter to get the tight radius, and the cutters were not great. I have ordered in some of my usual brand in smaller diameter, but they have not got here yet. You can see that i havent even bothered to finish off the panel in the photo (the right hand side is not cut to size)

The design will also change very slightly. I will move the two push buttons (prev and next) to the row above, and move the two jacks (CV out and Gate out) to their places. I think this will make for a more pleasing visual appearence, and not hurt the ergonomics.

The text rows starting with "tempo" and "clock in" will move up somthing like 0.8mm and the uppper row of slide switches will move down by about 1.2mm. The leds will move to be visually equidistant between the pots and the slide switches.

Im going to make up an L bracket for my panel to affix behind the "tempo" "portamento" and "gate time" pots. The m185 pcb is only small, and i think a board mouned horizantaly here will be fine.



Please note - this panel is for the V2 software!

[a100user]

Hey Julian,

Looking good. Did you keep to the 42hp panel width?

Agree that swapping the push buttons and the jacks will be a better solution.

Still want two sets of panel kits when they are available.

All the best

David

[julian]

[a100user]

Ergonomics will be much better keeping the jack sockets in a line at the bottom of the unit.

Cool.

So once the Ryk receives the switches and PCB's, I assume you'll want to double check the new switch batch sizes and mounting holes?

Any thoughts on lead time for the font panel kits? Also costs for the kits?

David

[magman]

Julian,

I like the look of this panel, along with the 5U panel you showed us a while ago.

I will be contacting you when I get round to building my panels, as I will be wanting 2 5U panels myself. One modification I am looking at though, is using countersunk allen screws, which I think I'll get away with on the 3mm think 5U panels (I'm planning to countersink my own holes though, so don't worry about this).

I suspect I will also be making changes to the pots, push-button switches and LED's as well, to fit better with my other modules, so my version is likely to be more of a custom design

Keep up the good work.

Regards

Magman

[jaidee]

**SCREW SIZE -WARNING**

I've double checked my 4-way switches and I've discovered that five are threaded for M2.6 as per the specification sheets posted by Ryk a while back BUT the other five are threaded for M2!!

BE SURE TO CHECK before ordering screws and panels!!

Here is my modification of the excellent MOTM panel posted by lexvortex.

I've removed some of the tick marks and numbers, and left justified the switches as per Ryk's original panel.

---

m_185_seq_JDR_5.fpd
Description:		Download (listen)
Filename:	m_185_seq_JDR_5.fpd
Filesize:	2.87 KB
Downloaded:	282 Time(s)

---

[ryktnk]

[ryktnk]

Hello

I have double checked the latest 4-way switches
and they all appear to be the M2 size, as mentioned by Julian.

Sorry for any confusion.

-ryk

[diablojoy]

ryk any update on these ?
trying to wait patiently but failing miserably
denis.

[ryktnk]

[Funky40]

[a100user]

[quote="ryk"]

as mentioned previously I am waiting
for the UK Postal Strike to finish, and will then start to PM
and shipping.

-ryk[/quote]

Hey Ryk, in that case I may not see them until 2010

[julian]

quick note for those waiting on panel updates -

i paid the customs charges on the cutters ive bought for the project today, and they should be delivered tommorow. (as mentioned, these cutters are smaller than those that i usually use, but the same design, so should cut with a tight radius AND a good finish, rather than one or the other!)

im pretty tied up with other things untill the end of the week, but ill get some production examples photographed and online early next week.

[a100user]

Nice one Julian.

Are you still looking to offer the kits?

If so when do you think they could be available? As Ryk is ready to start shipping PCB's this would make a great project for the new year.

Thanks

David

[julian]

[a100user]

Hi Julian,

Euro panels and panel hardware kit times two please

[j.dilisio]

I'm working on a panel design for V2.1 firmware. As I understand it, the only changes from V2.0 are the removal of the CV in jack and the relabeling of the fourth mode. Correct?

[ryktnk]