ris8_allo_zen0 Posted March 16, 2007 Report Posted March 16, 2007 Hi all,I'm waiting for the last set of components by Mike's shop to have all the stuff needed to complete my "Step C in a candybox" (or "PHAT-BOX-SID" or "Copper Rocher"...). This involves making the modulation matrix.What I can't say is what's easier: to glue each of the LEDs to the surface (bending the 56*2 = 112 legs to make an orthogonal grid) or to solder them in a PCB where the alignment is guaranteed (but height will not as easily)?(note that I've already drilled manually the holes... and they're far than perfectly aligned :( )Please explain me... thanks!Best regards, Enrico Quote
Wilba Posted March 16, 2007 Report Posted March 16, 2007 I just soldered all the LEDs on my custom control surface PCB.Since the PCB and panel were both CNC machined, I was able to do the following:put the LEDs in the PCB holesput the panel on topattach panel to PCBturn it all over, panel face down on a flat surfaceplace LEDs in the panel holesadjust height of the panel/PCB so the LEDs poke through the panel the desired amount (1.5mm)tack one lead of each LED to hold itturn it face up and check LEDs are in positionturn it face down again, solder the other leads.If you've designed your panel holes to a grid that matches your PCB, i.e. something like TK's, 300 mils between LED centers, then it should all work nicely.If you are using some experimenter boards, aka. veroboard, stripboard, prototyping board, then you might need to bend the leads of the LEDs so they fit diagonally on the board, so the LED center is aligned with a hole, and they're all aligned with any switches that might also be aligned to the holes. You'll know what I mean when you start doing it ;DAnyway, however you go about it, if you solder the LEDs while they're in the panel holes, that fixes them in alignment, both horizontally and vertically. Quote
ris8_allo_zen0 Posted March 20, 2007 Author Report Posted March 20, 2007 Thank you for the good advice Wilba! I've seen your professional layout... great work! nothing compared to mine...I knew what you mean because that's what I planned to do :) So I did... but because of the poor precision of drilling I had to adjust each LED, using the leads on the back side of the veroboard, to let it find the appropriate hole! I did this for an entire row, then fixed the veroboard, solder & cut the leads... a long and patient work, but very satisfactory! Even the grid isn't as bad as I figured...You we're also right about the auto-alignment... I'm proud to have LEDs soldered to perfectly fit on my "errors" :DI'll add the photos in this post when I'll come back home.Best regards!Enrico Quote
ris8_allo_zen0 Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Posted March 21, 2007 So, after two nights of work, here's the result!.... Quote
Wilba Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 Cool! I forgot you were the one doing the diamond shaped box.Using a PCB was the right choice, it looks a lot nicer than seeing LEDs glued to the panel. Quote
TheAncientOne Posted March 21, 2007 Report Posted March 21, 2007 Shine on you crazy Diamond :DIn that case he's going to have to call it "SID Barrett".Mike Quote
ris8_allo_zen0 Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Posted March 21, 2007 In that case he's going to have to call it "SID Barrett".MikeNow I'm plenty of good names to choose from for this box :P Quote
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