#272

Thanks for update, looking good :cat:

1 Like
#273

tiny TELEX update

  • Everything needed for the build is on order: panels, pcbs, processors, parts, pots, patch-cables, packaging, packing-materials, and precision-headers. All parts were in stock and on their way now; no backorders!
  • A few BETA units will be going into the wild for testing shortly - might see some reports here from the guinea pigs.
  • Updated the documentation a bit more to explain setting the device addresses.
  • Will be revising the syntax for specifying longer slew and trigger times using a dot notation (TIME.S vs TIMES).
  • Am about to add the “experimental” functions for the TR outputs; have had a couple of treats in r&d that I’d like to get in before i’m lost in the build. I’ll let you know when they are code-complete and tested.
  • One small precautionary part change is likely in order to increase protection for the trigger outputs on the output module.
  • If I get panels and PCBs at around the same time, they will most likely ship to the DIY folks in advance of my work building out all the other units.

So - the good news is that everything is on track from a timing schedule. Before you get too excited, two things are lurking that could hold up my ship date:

  • First, we are still looking into the lockup of the TT when it reads values from external modules (TXi and Ansible). The good news there is that @tehn is on it and it sounds like he has a handle on things. Others are also joining in the hunt which is awesome!

  • The second factor will be how long it takes me to make these things. My BETA build over the weekend was a bit of an eye opener that I need to increase my build speed by an order of magnitude. I’m creating some guide materials that will help me place parts more quickly. I’ve also 3D printed these awesome SMD Reel Dispensers so I’m not fumbling around with the tiny little parts so much.

I’ll keep everyone updated here as we go along.

4 Likes
#274

I’m so impressed with the build speed necessary to keep up with a project like this. I find myself craving a DIY/Boutique Electronics Build Speed Master Class, hehe. But just getting this window into your process is fascinating and much appreciated!

2 Likes
#275

Great news :slight_smile:
Take your time :wink: teletype is already a great module by itself ! And good luck !

1 Like
#276

So awesome!
You are rocking it!

1 Like
#277

Update - 9 Jan 2016

Things are moving along quite well with the project. It will still be a while - but everything is on track.

BETA UNITS

This weekend the first six BETA units left LA for my guinea pigs. Three pairs of TXi/TXo modules. This was an opportunity to create the companion materials like the printable command reference, II bus connection instructions, the USB/Eurorack power warning, tiny bags of washers + screws, Eurorack power cables, and bus cables. Still don’t have the antistatic bags or final environmental packing materials, but this was a good test run (and an eye-opener about how long doing all that stuff takes).

FIRMWARE INTEGRATION

There is another far more technical thread that is focusing on clearing up any lingering issues with the Teletype’s II bus. Massive progress was made over the weekend. We have been doing some pretty extreme tests to push the limits and help identify potential issues - in the category of “don’t try this at home” kinda stuff.

The best news is that we are now successfully reading from the TXi on metro events without locking the Teletype! That was a thorny issue that had me losing sleep for the last few months. :slight_smile:

We also saw some amazing performance with write-only configurations. Here is a quick video of the Teletype driving 4 TXo modules and Ansible. It is running a 10ms metro script that is pulsing 24 triggers and ramping 24 CV values from 0V to 10V. This thing ran for hours (ignore my alpha units):

We’re still looking into read performance with lots of devices on the bus and have yet to work on a solution for typos that send commands to ports that aren’t connected to the TT. The hard stuff, however, seems to be behind us.

THINGS ARE ARRIVING

Shipments are coming in faster than had been expected. This morning the PCBs (and Potentiometers) landed in LA:

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The majority of the parts arrived last week:

Mouser.JPG800×450 105 KB

Still a few straggling bits that got pulled into the backorder vortex - but it is all coming together.

CONTINUING TO WORK ON BUILD SPEED OPTIMIZING

There is a lot to build here soon. I’ve been working on 3D printing some build helpers to make the process go more smoothly. These little guys will help me put solder paste using a stencil on the back of PCBs that already have components on the other side. Need to print and test them - but I’m excited at the prospect. The PCB rocks around so much that I struggle to get the paste on (or to do things by hand). This will negate that.

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Also, I’m making some build guides that call out component placement so I don’t spend tons of time hunting around for and triple checking the locations.

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Totally stole the idea from @c1t1zen - you should see what he does with a projector. Amazing! This as slides on a screen should save a ton of time and reduce errors significantly.

12 Likes
#278

Thumbs up. Great news. Already got some modules that are part of big teletype+tx* plan! This will be last pieces.

#279

This all looks great!

Are you making those build guides by hand? I’ve been looking for a process to help speed up our prototype assembly, but eagle is pretty woefully bad at helping with manual part placement. I imagine there must be a way to turn centroid files into something akin to your guides, but it feels like a massive undertaking to create it…

At the least I should get around to writing a .ulp to highlight all components with the same value…

Let me know if you’ve got any tricks!

#280

By hand in photoshop. I’m sure it could be automated in some way by setting up a layer in Eagle with custom objects that get exported - but I’m not schooled enough in Eagle to make it work. This was pretty fast for me.

Have you seen what @c1t1zen does with the technique using a projector? I ripped off the idea from him. It is AMAZING. Here he is doing a bunch of builds of Ornament + Crime:

I’m just going to use it as a helper guide on a screen or iPad.

b

6 Likes
#281

That orojector technique is out of this world!

1 Like
#282

Woah that’s crazy- Probably only 50% slower than a pick-and-place, and $40k less expensive! I’m only ever building one-offs by hand so unfortunately not for me, but this is such a great approach for small-scale manufacturing!

2 Likes
#283

Yeah - he’s also putting these onto solderpaste before going into an oven - I think he just uses a small suction tool to pick up and drop them into place.

#284

The suction tool is another idea that I stole from him. It is an aquarium pump, hacked to invert polarity and fitted with a syringe with a hole (making an on/off control). It works quite well and cost nothing to make. Here is mine:

There are instructions and YouTube videos out there showing how to make this and what pump to buy…

1 Like
#285

For someone(me) with no SMD knowledge, how is the paste applied to the board? And once it is, and the components are placed, is it simply a matter of heating the entire board?

#286

Usually, a ‘mask’ is placed over the board - ordinarily metal, you can get away with plastic - with precise holes above all the pads. You smear solderpaste over the mask, and then remove the mask, leaving the pads covered in paste. You get the mask made at the time you get the PCBs made.

And then you just put it in a temp-controlled oven - ideally, one designed for the task, but many people hack toaster ovens with PIDs.

Of course, you don’t need any of this for SMD - I built my Ornament and Crime with a soldering iron, tweezers and regular solder, and the SMD kits I’m currently designing are intended to be assembled by hand with a regular iron. But this is the more industrial process they’re designed for, and it makes it much easier for doing things in bulk.

2 Likes
#287

Exactly what I’m doing. :slight_smile:

  • I purchased custom stencils from OshStencil (https://www.oshstencils.com).

  • Apply the paste and then drop the components in place using the hacked aquarium pump (above).

  • Bake the boards in a hacked toaster oven (the ControLeo2 - http://whizoo.com/)

The build for the TELEX modules is about the same level of complexity as Ornament + Crime. I’ve successfully done both by hand without any of the additional equipment. The toughest part is the DAC which the TXo and the OC share (DAC8564). That beast is tiny and it is hard to keep the pins from bridging by hand - but not impossible. Many people build Ornament and Crime by hand.

The TELEX have a bit more complexity because, instead of most everything on one side of a larger board, components are on both sides of two boards for each module - with extensive rows of header pins to connect between them and the Teensy processor. I’ve been successfully able to reflow both sides of the boards in my toaster - which is a godsend - but it is a little tricky getting the paste on the backside. That is why I’m 3D printing the jigs (above) that allow me to put boards flat that already have components on the back so they can accept solder paste.

3 Likes
#288

Sorry for the aside, but what’s the story with @c1t1zen building a bunch of O&Cs?

I’m terribly interested in the module, but simply don’t have the time or focus to acquire parts and build.

#289

It is a great module; I have a few myself. Lots of depth in its various crazy modes in the extended firmware.

Magpie Modular is offering pre-built OCs with beautiful panels. @c1t1zen was building units for them. They seem to be sold-out.

http://magpie-modular.myshopify.com/collections/built-modules/products/pre-order-ornament-crime-built-module-white-sandblasted-panel?variant=29967904195

Oscillosaurus also sells a beautiful panel and PCB package - if you can find someone to build it for you (perhaps on MuffWiggler):

http://oscillosaurus.com/shop/ornament-crime-pcb-panel/

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An even more “standard-looking” PCB/panel package is available at SynthCube:

Hope that helps.

1 Like
#290

Thanks a lot; I appreciate that.

I was aware of most of those options. I just thought/hoped that perhaps another round of builds would become available through a new to me source.

I’ll pick one up if/when one serendipitously crosses my path.

#291

Happy to see others taking the projected parts placement & vacuum pump idea to use in their own projects.
@Larrea every time I do a batch for Magpie Modular they sell out before either of us promote it. I can give you a heads up next batch.

@Galapagoose Thanks! This manual pick and place with projection is really speeding up my batches by hours…I just need to layout my SMD parts better before starting. Think @bpcmusic’s 3D printed dispenser is my next improvement.
I currently use a T-962A IR reflow oven (replace the masking tape with Kapton) and modded the firmware…It’s brilliant once you get proper controls over the thermocouples with the new Swedish firmware. $300+ on Amazon.
I’m also looking to get a TVM-802B pick and place machine for my own modules when I get into production. Lot’s of great reviews on it with people creating Eagle scripts and such…and only $4K instead of $40K

3 Likes