findbuddha

See http://midibox.org/forums/index.php?app=gallery&module=user&user=3436&do=view_album&album=51 for what TK's up to. I'm awaiting more details of the project, like a schematic - I'm not sure if anyone else is designing a PCB for it, so I've been having a fiddle with KiCAD. I'm pretty sure it'll fit on one of Gold Phoenix's 14.5"x10" boards.

Here's a quick mockup of a panel with the default SEQ/Wilba control surface, a 16x16 BLM, and 2x16 extra encoders + a few buttons for DAW/synth control. This is using roughly the max height available from Ponoko's materials (384mm), considering the width of the control surface PCB requires the panel to be oriented this way. Ponoko says: USD$78.77 ex shipping.

I assume you mean Wilba's control surface PCB? AFAIK it's not necessary to do anything with those - mine works fine.

I was lucky enough to get the last PCB from the last order.... I was planning to use through panel screws. I don't mind (black) screw heads visible. My entire enclosure will be made from ponoko materials, so there's currently space around the edge of the panel to allow for screwing onto the 5.5mm bamboo. As far a group buy goes, I'd be happy to be the guinea pig and pay for the first/test panel, but I think I'm going to have some additional holes in there that other people won't want. There's quite a few DIN/DOUT spaces left after Wilba's PCB takes its share, and I'd like to use some of them. I'm currently thinking 32 encoders for DAW/Mixer/Plugin control, and a few buttons for choosing the functions.

I'm still yet to finalize my files, but I just ran a test through with this panel file in 3mm black acrylic, lcd windows in 3mm clear acrylic, and some simple end pieces of 5.5mm natural bamboo. Total came to $100 USD, shipped to me in Australia, from the ponoko hub in New Zealand. I'm still pondering adding extra buttons and/or encoders to my panel, for custom functions like VST or DAW mixer control. :)

Thankyou!

I don't have all the switches, I just bought a few to sample. Thought that was best before I buy 256+ for a big BLM/control surface. :) Wilba, where do you get your protoboards? The typical aus stores don't seem to sell pad-per-hole stuff. I'm looking at this stuff at the moment: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/5PCS-CIRCUIT-PANEL-PCB-DIY-Prototype-Board-180x300mm-/170447513484, or this stuff: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Prototype-Circuit-Board-23000-pad-per-hole500x300mm-/150394989810, but I'm a bit worried about such a large sheet breaking in transit. Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'll give it a try :)

Check http://ucapps.de for an idea of what modules you'll need, and http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/ for PCBs. Looks like you'll need to do some custom coding, check http://svnmios.midibox.org for tutorials, examples and the existing apps. Probably best to start with a Core32, has inbuilt USB connection and AFAIK coding should be easier. Unfortunately you'll have to do hours of reading :) :frantics:

This may be a silly question :) I have some E-Switch TL1100F160Q. Datasheet says they need a hole ~1.3mm diameter. They won't fit in the holes of the scraps of protoboard I have.... Is it possible to find pad-per-hole protoboard with big enough holes, or should I choose a different switch? Failing that I get custom PCB made - I was going to do this anyway until I found out that gold phoenix can't do big enough for what I want (in one order). Cheers! :sorcerer:

Try http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_opl3.html :)

I notice the OPL3 PCBs are sold out at SmashTV's shop - can we assume they'll be back at some point?

The bicolor LED issue has discouraged me from using any of the pre-made button pad PCBs - how do you plan to overcome this? :)

I understand what you mean - software is so flexible. I wonder if the responsiveness of the iPad's touchscreen will provide for a satisfying experience? I assume it will be fine for non-timing critical button pushes, not sure about things like virtual encoders and XY pads etc. This also requires good latency from the WiFi OSC connection. Unfortunately for me I think the iPad will be more expensive than a hardware 16x16 BLM (discrete button + led, not illuminated buttons), and I have no other reason for getting an iPad. :frantics: I'll have to work out total cost of all buttons, leds, PCBS and extra panels/casing from Ponoko. If I'm going to buy a tablet device I'd also like better connectivity options than the iPad offers - we'll have to see what HP, Google etc. bring out. Do you still plan to add the code to support the hardware 16x16 BLM? Cheers :)

TK, I'm curious how you see the role of touchscreen devices for the purpose of implementing largish BLMs (say 16x16)? I've got my SEQV4 nearly finished (just waiting on front panel/case), and I'm not sure in the future whether to choose hardware or software BLM. Also I wonder if there will be cheaper touchscreen devices than the iPad, that still provide a useful interface. Cheers :)

Ok, hopefully final draft now. I've enlarged the panel to include mounting room for desktop case. panel individual.zip

Can someone please give a quick look over this svg? Any tips would be appreciated. Mostly it is a direct conversion of wilba's 17" dxf. I have removed the 'extra' ring around the mounting holes, changed the lcd windows to a simple cutout, and widened the vertical spacing of the lcd mounting holes to match the optrex displays I'm using. I plan to double up the engraving layer before submitting to ponoko. File was composed in Inkscape. Thanks :) panel.zip

I assume you'd open your command prompt, cd to the dir with the Makefile in it, then type make.

Wilba, I'm in the process of converting your DXF for the 3mm black acrylic at Ponoko... Any tips? I'll post the SVG here when done. How would you suggest to do the lcd window? Is the idea to allow the surface of the screen closer to the surface of the panel? Or could I just do a plain rectangular cutout in the panel, the correct size to allow the LCD a flat surface to press up against? Thanks :)

Thanks

I just realised I soldered the resistor networks R30-33 direct to the board, instead of using the little sockets. Do they need to be removable? Thanks :)

I am also n00b, but I have noticed there are some examples in SVN: http://svnmios.midibox.org/listing.php?repname=svn.mios&path=%2Ftrunk%2Fapps%2Fexamples%2Flcd7%2F Hope they help :)

one, with links to others.

Not yet. The material I'll use (acrylic) is very cheap. It's laser cut not milled so that's fairly cheap too. My plan is to use 3 layers of acrylic + led for DIY illuminated button caps. I hope to be able to get one of the layers from the cutout holes in the front panel to save money. It's easy to get a quote - get a starter kit from here (inkscape is free)

Looks interesting.... are you trying to make button caps? I'm about to get some made at Ponoko.