Front panels and new synths

So, what's new... I ordered the Schaeffer panels around the 15th of October. Today it's the 20th of November, and they still haven't arrived. Actually, most of the panels were finished about a month ago, but a series of unfortunate events means they are yet to be sent from Germany. First, Schaeffer broke one of the panels while inserting some screw rods. Then, after re-milling the part, they received it back from anodizing with loads of scratches on it. They then created the same part for the third time, but those imbecils at the anodizing plant managed to anodize it in the wrong color! so, here's to fourth time lucky...

The silk screening kit arrived about a month ago, and it is HUGE! The screens are more than twice the size I expected them to be - I'm concidering buying smaller screens, as it will be hard working with the large frames. However, if anyone needs two-color posters printed, I'm your man :-D.


The kit while still in its boxes



GF holding the frame - printing press to the right

I've spent the time since the kit arrived building a UV-light box measuring about 90 x 60 cm, to expose the screens before printing. I'm going to put 10 UV fluorescent tubes in it, but so far I cannot get the tubes to light. I suspect that it is related to the tube igniter, but haven't verified it yet.




Now for some other really exciting news: I've bought two other synths! One of them is actually my first factory-new synthesizer ever. It's a special edition version, only sold in Australia, so it will take some time getting here. I intend to use it as the keyboard for my modular project, as it outputs control voltages/gate signals compatible with my modular. Also, as this version is called the "Australian Redback edition", I am concidering naming my modular "Venom" - what better to companion a Redback spider than the stuff that gives it it's sting, eh?

The second synth is a 25 year old classic. A well known but rather inexpensive synth with an intuitive and user friendly control surface.

In all, this brings my collection of full size keyboard synths to 5, including 4 80's synthesizers :-D Got to love them... Add to that two mini-keyboard synths, my modular project, the DIY TR-909 drum machine, one DIY TB-303 and the Novation KS-rack, and I'm starting to build up a rather nice collection. Now, if only I could get around to actually USE them for somehing ;-)

Pics and comments about the two newcomers will be up as soon as I receive them.

Finally, I bought a new motor for my CNC machine, as well as a new Z-axis. It's about time I start using this machine, having spent almost NOK 20.000 on it. First up, I think, is cutting some red perspex (plexiglass) for my rotary encoder/led dials. Exciting!

New spindle motor

Fall is here - finally!

...not that I enjoy fall that much, but it means I have so much more time to spend indoors without feeling bad about it. And so loads of things are going on at the moment:

Today I got the box and side caps for the drum machine (in fact, I got three boxes, because it was so much cheaper per box if I ordered more than one). Big thanks to Shah for sending them to me, saving me several thousand kroners! The box looks incredibly good - so good that I won't publish any pics before the machine is fully assembled :-)

I am a little bit disappointed with the powder coating though, as it seems they have missed some spots and not put enough powder in other places. But that is me being picky, the over all result is very good. Tomorrow I'll start measuring everything and finish up the panels I'm going to ordered from schaeffer. Hopefully they won't take as much time to create.

Last week I ordered a silk screen kit - a really good one - capable of printing in two colors. It set me back more than a thousand dollars, so I really hope it does the job...

Monday I received a pcb for the "fat controller" midi-to-CV converter, a 15-output controller for my modular project. I have already ordered all the necessary parts, some quite special, from Mouser, DigiKey, Farnell and Elfa. At the same time I ordered the missing connectors and switches for the two extra boxes, with the exception of five midi connectors.

I have also finished soldering about half of the pcbs for the modular synth. Now I have to decide what format to make it - large synthesizers.com, old school, or small, 19-inch eurorack. I have found some really nice rack rails from tiptop audio, and a place in the US willing to sending the to me, if they can find an envelope large enough.

Hmm, anything else? Probably, can't remember.

Oh, btw, gf started working last friday! AND she got me a function generator for my birthday - something I really needed for tuning the modular :-)

Panel pics

Pictures of the latest panels:



Spacers for the digital givers (tempo dial and mode dial). I've had these made earlier but they turned out wrong.






A giver after mounting but before soldering





After soldering. Seems like I over-engineered again, twice the holes necessary for mounting the parts...





Left dial (tempo) after mounting





Right dial (mode) after mounting





Complete keyboard. I've removed the engraved button caps to prevent damage while soldering etc.





Display. It looks a lot better in real life. I'm amazed by the quality!






Zoom in on the logo. Looks great!

Schaeffer rules!

I received some new perspex panels from Schaeffer yesterday, and must say they blew me away. This time I ordered some brackets and the window for the LCD display. Through some moment of enlightment I decided to put the text engravings for the display window on the reverse side of the panel. This turned out incredibly well and really improved on the overall feel of quality. Pics will be up shortly. However, it made me realise that I much rather want to silk-screen the text on the front panel than engrave it... *sigh* - there goes another 1500 kroner...

Box work

I have almost completed work on the box. I've decided to go with thick brushed aluminium sides (10mm), hopefully from hifi2000.it. I will have JD-1 engraved into the aluminium. The sides will look something like this:








I have no clue about the cost, but it will be a lot. As for the bottom, front and back, I will buy this as one piece from emachineshop.com at a cost of about 350$... No engravings or silk-screening though, and I probably have to spray paint the box myself.


Box before folding


Folded box

The top will be made by Schaeffer as usual, and cost 225 euro.



The display window is also from Schaeffer and costs 43 euro:

Schaeffer parts arrived yesterday

The Schaeffer parts arrived yesterday, and as usual they look fantastic. I love the customer relations at Schaeffer, they call me whenever there is a problem with my drawings and sorts things out in minutes instead of emailing me. This time they worried that the perspex would break apart, but as this was my intention anyway, it turned out fine.

I did however mess up the rotary encoder brackets slightly, the square hole is supposed to go on the other side of the pot. I might have to re-order them later. :-(

Pics will be up shortly.

Inner front-plates ordered

Rotary encoder brackets, made from Perspex








Lower inner front plate, 3mm aluminium








Upper inner front plate, 3mm black anodized aluminium





Led spacer/aligner, 3mm Perspex

The two inner front plates, one holding the keyboard and keypad, and one for the potmeters, have been ordered from Schaeffer-ag.de. In addition, spacers for the leds and parts for holding the rotary encoders used for tempo and mode select, all made out of perspex are ready and sent to Schaeffer. Total price for everything is 166.88 euros.