Doug Wellington

Sure, I can do white lines... Hmm, I might even have some green ink somewhere...

OK, one more update, since things seem to be going more smoothly than I expected. :D (Plus a couple people have already signed up for them on the wiki page, so I figured I should explain so that everyone knows what the options are...) I have designed a series of metal and wood cases for the various projects I am working on. (MB-808, MB-9090, Wilba's Sequencer, etc) One of my case designs is for projects that currently use the PT-10 plastic case from Pactec - http://www.pactecenclosures.com/Plastic-Enclosures/PT-10.html My design is a direct replacement - it uses the same top and back metal panels as the PT-10, so it is an easy upgrade. I am making these cases from various hardwoods and since I have to machine each piece of wood anyway, it's not a big deal to use different kinds of wood, so you all won't be limited to one choice... If you're interested in having me make one of these wooden cases to ship with your MB-6582 panels, please edit the group buy wiki page and put "wood" in the PT-10 column. Once I get an idea of how many of you are interested, I'll be able to get a better idea of the price. (I'm aiming for less than $50, depending upon which wood(s) you choose.) I'll publish designs and pictures over the next week or so.

If you want corner holes, I'll use the PT-10 panel. If you don't want corner holes, I will cut a new panel for you and put studs in the corners. Either panel will have the standoffs pressed into it for mounting the PCB...

OK, I added some more options to the group buy page. You can choose whether you want the separating lines to be red or blue, plus you can now add in an order for a PT-10 case. If you get a PT-10 case, please let me know if you want the standard PT-10 panel with the mounting holes in the corner, or whether you prefer a "Wilba" panel that has no mounting holes showing through the front panel...

I'm also planning to get the expanded boards, so if I can contribute the boards I got to some needy Aussie (and aren't they all?) just let me know where to send them...

Yamaha is very good about service manuals - I have manuals for almost every piece of gear I own. Let me know if you can't get one locally and I'll order one for you...

OK, more fun... While I'm waiting for my full-fledged CAD program to be shipped, I've been playing around with Google SketchUp, the free 3D modeler from the second largest evil empire on earth. I just uploaded a basic model of the case design I'm working with. You can see a picture and get the model at: http://www.midiboxaddict.com/mbwilbaseq/

The first batch of faders is here! I'll send PMs out this weekend...

OK, I just got samples of a bunch of the different caps for the MEC switches! You can see pics at: http://www.midiboxaddict.com/parts

There is no welding. A hole is drilled part way into the surface and then the stud or standoff is pressed into the hole with a lot of force. Due to the shape of the end of the stud/standoff, it forces the metal to flow into a shape that retains it. The hole needs to be .043" deep, and can be used in .062" panel. They are fairly robust - for example, it requires 890 Newtons to pull an M3 standoff out of 5052 aluminum...

Heehee! Mocap anyone?

Yes.

ROFL!!! Wish it was that easy in real life...! ;D

How would I decide not to say something out loud unless I thought it first? Yeah, well, that's what I mean. Can't stop originating thoughts without turning off the brain with drugs. Now, *holding on to thoughts* - that's a whole different topic! ;D

I almost went to med school, I have worked in a couple hospitals, and my mother-in-law is a nurse. At the same time, I have fairly severe osteo-arthritis, and it has been suggested that I may have fibromyalgia, so I see both sides of this... There is a lot of what could be called "dark" humour in the medical environment. IMHO, the important thing to understand is that most of it is a coping mechanism. When you are surrounded by sick and dying people, *people that you care for and get attached to*, it is easy to get depressed. When you deal with a terminal patient, or when you see a battered woman for the tenth time, it is *HEART BREAKING*. As much as one may wish to remain aloof and detached, we are human, and we are dramatically affected by those around us, especially those who suffer! This "slang" may seem callous, but it gives a connection between care-givers. Having this connection is a huge help in surviving the day to day ups and downs! Just knowing that someone else feels as you do, and understands, is supportive and reassuring. Please don't judge health care professionals unless you have been one... P.S. Stryd, while I know how to hold my tongue, I've never been able to stop myself from thinking things. Can you suggest how I might stop myself from thinking things, without drugs...?

Yes, I'm willing to ship to Europe. I've heard that some packages to Europe have been lost, so I would prefer to ship with a method that will provide a tracking number and delivery confirmation... The original MB-6582 panel design uses glued on spacers, but I have changed the design to have pressed in standoffs. This will add a few dollars to the cost of the panel, but it will save all of you assemblers a lot of time and hassle. All you'll have to do is attach the pcb to the standoffs with some screws... Please be patient with me, I am actually buying a cnc mill and a stud insertion press to do this. It will be cheaper for all of us for me to do it this way, but I have to wait a short time to receive these things and get them set up...

I'm learning how to use a CAD program, so hopefully I can upload a diagram soon. Basically, the full-on Wilba panel has all the fasteners attached to the back of the front panel - nothing shows up on the outside of the case. The standard PT-10 panel has four holes already drilled in it so that the screws that attach the front panel to the case show on the outside. All the rest of the fasteners will be attached to the back of the PT-10 front panel just like the Wilba panel. Does that make sense?

Umm... To be clear, yes, it is a hole going all the way through the panel for a screw... There is one in each of the four corners where the panel bolts to the case...

Somebody get a doctor!!! Oh, wait, it's just bugfight being dramatic... ;D My plan is to not use any JB Weld at all, regardless of its merits. I'm using pressed in studs in the corners and pressed in standoffs in the other spots. Wilba is going to give me a CAD file with locations for the standoffs - we won't need to use as many pressed in standoffs to accomplish the same thing as all the studs we needed with the JB Weld...

It's cosmetic. (Well, that and you can save a few bucks if I use the panel that comes with the PT-10...) ;)

But they were CHEAP! ;D

The silkscreening that I'm doing is available to anyone. I'm not trying to do a general group buy on the PT-10 case, but if you're buying a panel from me, I'll be happy to ship a case with it. There are holes in the corners of the PT-10 panels, so you'll have to let me know if you want me to use the PT-10 panel or to make the separate Wilba panel with no holes...

I'm using that exact 2x16 red on black Crystalfontz display in the MB-808. :) If you guys can wait until I make the MBmatrixSEQ (probably early next year, after I finish the MB-808 order and get some of my cash back), I'll be ready to place that big order for the 2x40 displays... EDIT: If you're in a super hurry, I think I've still got a couple of the Optrex 2x40 displays from the group buy a couple months back...

I'm working on about four different bulk orders at the moment, in addition to the MB-808 and MB-6582 panels. More info soon!

WHAT??? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!