[ssp]

nothing to add yet, i havent had a chance to hook things up, but i will do shortly, i am still going over the final layout on the case and checking it against the placements on my circuit boards.

[ssp]

no updates for a little while, i have to take some time out due to health issues.

[ssp]

update time:

today was the first time in a while i was able to get the kits out. so i did a cnx cable to link the core to the din and the din to one encoder to check connectivity. the thing drove me nuts all day long, i had help from wilba, nils and smashtv at one point as nothing was going right. after a couple of changes to the asm file and moving a cnx over i finally got a response by using the trouble shooting method descrived by tk, so i uploaded midio128 to the core and shorted d7 to vs and got a response on my lcd.

a few checks later and a change in the asm again and a re-test of the encoder and everything worked.

so i plan on spending a few days figuring out how to right a correct asm for all the buttons and encoders i need then trying it out.

also to check this i also disabled the ain board input in the setup file, by setting number of inputs to 0

more to follow over the next few days (i hope)

[ssp]

tonight i hooked up the fsr pad to the dinx board, it took quite a press but it worked, its a shame but i would almost have to seriously give the rubber pad a good tap for it to work, its just not sensitive enough for the din, so im looking into a conductive pad instead of an fsr pad as i dont need the force sensing type all i need is momentary.

prehaps there is a way to increase sensitivity, i think lyle was on about it with me before. its an option, otherwise i will just sell the sensor fsr matix on and buy a load of micro momentary buttons and make a matrix under the rubberpads just enough for a light press to activate each one.

more as soon as it comes

[ssp]

update:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well speaking with nils it took 5 mins for him to suggest how to sort it out, he suggested a small 10k pot , i used one from my spare core kit, i wired the wiper to vs and one leg of the pot to the din pin and also from there to the fsr leg in.

i then had to adjust the pot so that it was so close to the point it was in the "off" state, then a quick press of the pad and bingo it works!! just with a gentle touch

all i can say is many thanks to nils as it would have led to me buying a lot of items i didnt need.

photos tomorrow!!

[ssp]

using serge's mb64e editor software i was able to do a test sysx dump to and from the core perfectly, i did a button learn and then a re-assign on what it did etc. all worked perfectly.

i have now ordered a set of alps RK09K11310KB  these are minature 10k linear potentiometers, these will be mounted to the rear of the case to allow for hands on trimming of the pads. the only other cnx on the rear of the case will be a usb port, power in port and also underneath will be a flap for the bankstick/ card to clip into, i intend to have a clip or slot in bank stick in the unit.

enough babbling i got building to get on with!

[ssp]

busy day converting lots of tech stuff from inches to mm becasue lots of tech schematics i have got are in inches adn as i like to work in mm i had to convert it all, took a while but its all done now.

the main thing was getting all the cutouts and mounting points for the akai mpc pad matrix sorted out, i had to get this exact as the mount plate will have guide holes in for the location pins for the pads and the fsr matrix.


the 4x4 squares are the points where the pads come through the case, the centre points are the direct centres of the fsr marix that sits below it.
here is the fsr matrix from scl


here is the underside of one of the pads, the underneath is coated with a 3M adhesive to help it stay in place on the original akai mpc mount plate.


the plate that will sit behind this pad will probably be 2-3mm thick the reason being so that it doesnt move or flex under constant hits and use, however a foldback plate may be another option which could be made out of 1.5-2mm thick material, the outer edges of the plate being folded in on itself to form a u channel where the mount pem's run through to nuts on the otherside.

i have used serge's mb64e editor with the core now and have been able to learn a selection of dials, edit and dump back to the core fine. all i have to do now is finish the casework this weekend and get it sent off for cutting next week., i wont have it powdercoated yet in case i have to have anything changed.

the plan is to do a full scale 1:1 printout using my big plotter and then transferring it to some card, cutting the holes out and test mounting everything, anything thats not right can be edited prior to the metal being lasercut and folded.

more to follow.

more: just did a 1:1 printout of this matrix assy and laid it up on the fsr and pad matrix they all fit perfectly first time wich is great, this mean i can now transfer this layout to the case ready and mark off that as done on my list, its just tidying up the placements and doing the transport buttons next along with deciding where the trim pots for the matrixtodinx board will go.

[Flying Panther]

Quote

the plan now is once cut, to have it sent back un powdercoated for inspection and a trial fit of everything, and then if its good i will then get the powder coating done

I'm curious where you will get your panel made? As your Hu-Mon panel looks very professionally done as well ;) And does the company do everything (lasercutting, bending the sheet-metal, powder-coating), or do you work with various companies to get this done?

[ssp]

Quote

Quote

the plan now is once cut, to have it sent back un powdercoated for inspection and a trial fit of everything, and then if its good i will then get the powder coating done

I'm curious where you will get your panel made? As your Hu-Mon panel looks very professionally done as well ;) And does the company do everything (lasercutting, bending the sheet-metal, powder-coating), or do you work with various companies to get this done?

well the hu-mon was done using a company that uses solidworks for its cnc and laser cutting machines as standard, the case work was done as sheet metal objects and then its unfolded in the software, the pem locations mapped and then its dumped to the relevent machines. the company then used my files and sent them to the cnc folder to make the necessary bends in the metal all within the specifications i applied to the plans, they then get sent to a company they use all the time and was powdercoated.

the bpm unit will go through the same process, however prior to powdercoating i will check the casework and make sure im happy then have it powdercoated, then i will either have it screen printed or i will lazertrans the graphics to it then clearcoat the panel.

i now have several companies to choose from for the laser cutting and cnc work etc this time i will see which one will offer the best quality at a suitable price.

once i finish this unit i will then dump all the files, plans and specs i have into a thread or as part of the wiki, whatever i need to do so that other people can build a similar controller using all the information i have gained since starting it. and who knows i may finish the hu-mon as soon as i get my bloody wood..

[Flying Panther]

Thanks for the elaborate answer :) Solidworks really is a nice piece of software to work with imho, nice to see that companies can use it aswell.. Saves a lot of effort on converting things to the right format!

[ssp]

update:

had a comlete day on eagle again, had to try and remember what nils taught me last time, and i had promptly forgotten!

after a few questions, some help and perserverance i managed to complete the function buttons board. i have several other boards to do yet but i think that getting some boards done will be well worth it in the end and it will keep things clean inside the unit. this also means that should someone else want to build a similar unit with the plans i will share they can get boards made and get the relative switches and mount them where-ever they want simply by re-arranging the layout on the case.

so far the funtion keys and the lift board for the song-live button have been don, tomorrow i will finish the left side 6 way button section for the banks and then the board for the transport and file selection, after that i will have to do the buttons for the mb64e menu system.

once again thanks for the paitience nils and for taking the time to tech me what i had forgotten in eagle again!

[ssp]

really good day today, got the hang of eagle with placement to 1:1 scale which means i can do a 1st scale print of any layout of switches i do and i can check them against my solidworks printouts of the casework.

today i actually enjoyed working with eagle again and it went ok, mind you i still have some way to get anywhere as good as nils and smashy or wilba! but its a positive start and if i keep practicing i can only get better.

the plan now is to finsh the baords and do a test print of the boards and the whole case to check plaement and see if there is any issues, after that i can sign the case off so to speak and send it for laser cutting and cnc bending then its just the powdercoating and silkscreening i guess unless i have a go with lazertrans, im not sure yet.

with the fsr sorted out and a trimmer matrix for each pad finished its just the transport section to check tomorrow and then the faders board and its done i think!

some pics and details to follow this week.

[ssp]

todays progress.

i managed to finsh the menu system boards, this comprises of two boards, one back board that mounts the 20x2 lcd and the connectors for that and the 8 menu buttons tat are above and below it, because of a height diffrence this also led to the design of a raiser board for the buttons also. once again i did a 1:1 scale print out and checked position and placement and after a few revisions of moving a couple of support pin holes it was done.

also started is the fader board, nils did me a lib object for the faders im using so i did a rough placement with the transport and it has come out great.

project so for:

boards designed so far
bank select
transport
pot matrix
fsr link
function board

to be finalised
fader board and encoders

once this is done i can then do a final 1:1 layout of everything in eagle and then map it into solidworks on the casework, check it and then once its finished get the case made.

sorry no pics camera battery is charging.

[ssp]

several changes have been made and one side of the unit with the knobs, faders and transport will im hoping be one single board with the relative links and connectors to the ain, and din boards.

im hoping to add pictures this evening and some more detailed working information.

[ssp]

well i have been busy with eagle, i have to say that my routing really isnt great and i have still got a lot to learn about using the program, but i have to say its fantastic for me when it comes to exporting the brd file to a dxf and then uploading it onto the case in solidworks, this means i have exact position markers for all the through case buttons and encoders etc and it also means i can lay everything out much quicker now. this has resulted in the case becoming much samller in size now, although it was still dictated by button cap size and also the knobs and 4x4 pads.

i decided on printing boards out and then using printable acetate to check on riser boards and positioning.

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[ssp]

erm let me see what i can remember ...

boards done... check, in nils hands now.
case finished... check, awaiting several quotes on the casework.

case rendered? yep gotta find the pic link again.

shouldnt be long till its made hopefully, i just still gotta figure out the artwark for the front panel.

[ssp]

finally figured out how to attach the bottom case panel without any form of screws showing anywhere, i cut some "u" slots into the bottom case panel ears so that the pem studs slip into them and give a stop to the case when dropped into the top face unit. This will now keep the casework neat and tidy and follow the lines of the software precisely.

the gm5 usb and two midi ports will be the only holes on the rear along with the dc socket now, now i could put the core by the rear edge and just have the cores two midi sockets on the rear, this is ok but i will lose usb connectivity and i want to keep this option, yes a waste of a gm5 but it will serve its purpose well.

heres the solution to secret fixing the casework


also here is the baseplate with the folds for the side cheeks, the holes are 4mm dia which will have clinch nuts on the inside.


here is a closeup of the fold and cuts for the side panels

This post has been edited by ssp: 05 November 2009 - 15:47

[ssp]

well while im waiting for the casework to be cut next week and for the boards to be done, im building an mb-lc control surface and dumping the mackie stuff i learned into the code. this means i can use it as an hui unit with digital performer. luckily i have enough spares lying around to build it so i will do another thread with this is at some point.

also smithy put a real cool idea into my head abut putting a sequencer into the bpm box.

well this is possible however i reduced the case size for a reason, so i thought about having another case made and having the sequencer in that one, so i would have two matching cases but one is the sequencer unit, and this can be chained with the bpm.

lets just say i havent used solidworks so much in a while and the second case is almost finished! i will add some pics over the weekend, thanks smithy its something i wouldnt have thought of to be honest!

[ssp]

update:

case is being cut and formed from designs, flush fit clinch studs in the main face and 4 clinch nuts in the ears of the base.

powdercoat will be aluminium silver as per the software.

boards almost ready to send off to be done (thanks nils) and assembly to follow shortly.

still doing the lc in the meantime but its on hold while i wait for idc connectors.

also been speaking with the guys at uvsoundsource who designed the software for motu, the main reason is the ability to assign any midi cc# to anything in bpm, this will make setting the unit up in the editor much easier

so the plan is to get to grips with illustrator in the meantime to do the graphics for the case front.

new pics of the case and brds here.

This post has been edited by ssp: 11 November 2009 - 18:46

[ssp]

well what can i say apart from its all smithys fault.

took a look at wilbas stuff for the mb-seq, dropped the dxf in and edited it a little and viola, a seq box too. so i guess i better put my name down for a pcb and some other bits. i will have to mount the pcb to the lower case and have the encoders and switches run with link wires and cnx to the front panel and secondary boards. the jog will be an okw low profile same as im using on the bpm. thats another project to build then, thank god i dont drink or smoke, i couldn't afford it!