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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 02:12:50 AM

Title: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 02:12:50 AM
Modularized with sockets and faceplates for ease of swapability. In a hand brushed 1590DD.
I'm planning at least another triple in a 1590DD to be connected with a hinge to this one.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 02:15:52 AM
More photos
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 02:18:32 AM
1590DD and 1590BB size comparison. Shows future Modular Mega Nano.

Faceplates are three layers... Clear inkjet sticker paper on top, clear plastic 1mm sheet in the middle, adhesive vinyl on bottom( just the teal and white)

I'll post some more photos of the process later when I get a chance... There is blood involved, so stay tuned...
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: benny_profane on July 19, 2019, 02:36:19 AM
Looking great! I'd been waiting for these to pop up as a finished project! Glad to see them working out for you.

Are these arranged in series?

<insert there will be blood reference here>
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: fair.child on July 19, 2019, 03:53:10 AM
I dare you to do 9 Pedals in one enclosure then that's legally called Mini Mega Pedal
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: cooder on July 19, 2019, 04:49:28 AM
Excellent build, great stuff! 8)
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: DLW on July 19, 2019, 09:16:19 AM
Very cool! There is a gerber for a triple switch board in the VFE pack, right? I wonder if that would streamline a project like this.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Willybomb on July 19, 2019, 11:33:26 AM
Nice work.  Love a good multi.  I see you had to grind out the middle top screw housing - I've been there, done that too.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: dan.schumaker on July 19, 2019, 11:41:23 AM
Nice look!  I've been using the clear vinyl for a little bit now for pedal art, and I really like how it turns out.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: mjcyates on July 19, 2019, 12:14:03 PM
Very nice!
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 02:11:59 PM
Quote from: benny_profane on July 19, 2019, 02:36:19 AM
Looking great! I'd been waiting for these to pop up as a finished project! Glad to see them working out for you.

Are these arranged in series?

<insert there will be blood reference here>
Thanks! Yep, it's straight series right now. There is a vague long term plan to use stereo jacks for two parallel paths and a internal switch for each circuit to be able plug to plug it into a parallel looper like a Klein Bottle, but that's a little ways off.


Quote from: fair.child on July 19, 2019, 03:53:10 AM
I dare you to do 9 Pedals in one enclosure then that's legally called Mini Mega Pedal

I'm going to link two of these together in some way that makes it 6 across. In the long run I might replicate it to do a whole other 6 across for a second tier. I might even do a two linked 1590bb's as the second tier. That makes 10-12, so it'd be legal. :)

Quote from: DLW on July 19, 2019, 09:16:19 AM
Very cool! There is a gerber for a triple switch board in the VFE pack, right? I wonder if that would streamline a project like this.

There is a triple pedal switching board in the vfe bundle but i didn't want to use it since it wasn't as modular as having separate switch boards. Plus, its expensive and I already had these.

Quote from: Willybomb on July 19, 2019, 11:33:26 AM
Nice work.  Love a good multi.  I see you had to grind out the middle top screw housing - I've been there, done that too.

Yep, that was a face palm moment. Rookie mistake on my part... I was using the Mammoth 1590dd drill template, which doesn't show the center screwhole, as a base to overlay the madbean 1590b template with the center punch spots. Pics to follow

Quote from: dan.schumaker on July 19, 2019, 11:41:23 AM
Nice look!  I've been using the clear vinyl for a little bit now for pedal art, and I really like how it turns out.
I'm not sure how it will hold up long term since its not very moisture friendly, I may have to clear coat it but not sure I want to just yet. Pics to follow
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 03:41:59 PM
Planning the board and switch spacing for the drill
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 03:46:21 PM
Testing brushing methods on the back of the enclosure. This shows what a wire brush drill attachment will do. I ended up using the drill brush and  then an 80 and 320 grit abrasive buffs on a Dremel to smooth it out
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 03:48:44 PM
Drilling the enclosure with the inkscape combined templates from mammoth and madbean.

This is the very first thing I used this drill press on. My dad was clearing out stuff from his workshop and gave me it to me.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 03:53:24 PM
Drilling finished
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 03:56:18 PM
Test fitting the pots and boards. I had actually built the alpha dog in a 1590b with the board mounted jacks and power so I had to modify it for modularity. The scream and redhorse we're new build just for this.

You can see the center screw column had to be ground out with the dremel. Doh...
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 03:58:58 PM
There Will Be Blood...

Yes, there is a blood stain on my Scream board
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 04:01:29 PM
Here are the 2" 10 connector Molex ribbon cables I used. They are scored so you can just pull them apart with your fingers. I'm pretty sure these are the same type (except shorter) that Peter used in the production builds.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 04:06:20 PM
Getting ready to attach the pots for the Scream and Red Horse. I happened to have all the correct custom pots used in the production builds for both pedals.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 04:12:53 PM
Fitting the hardware. I should have used enclosed jacks but I didn't have any and forgot to order them. I did have some switchcraft mono, so in they went. They are a tight fit against the enclosure face. Since the switch boards are free floating and could short against the jacks, these will likely be changed at some point.

I had a power jack pin bend on me after I got it installed. Not sure how that happened or where I got these from
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 04:21:22 PM
I tried this super brittle cheap plastic sheet for the faceplates at first. It didn't go very well. 3 of the 6 were destroyed during drilling even stepping thru about 6 different bit sizes.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 04:24:44 PM
This was the first try with just the plastic and the clear sticker paper on top. They were a bit too crooked and had cracks and stuff so I decided to redo them. I thought about reverse printing and sticking it to the underside of the plastic for added protection but I decided not to.

I had to drill out the black knobs for the RH to make them 1/4" and now they rotate a little crooked.. whoops
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 04:27:38 PM
This stuff worked much better and was way easier to work with. It was not nearly as brittle and generally much more forgiving
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 04:31:42 PM
I cut the plastic, sticker and vinyl all separately with an exacto knif and a straight edge over cardboard and they seemed to fit ok. Edges are not perfect, especially on the holes but it was good enough for a first try.

I used the first face as a test to see what water would do to the ink on the stickers. This was just smearing with wet hands.
Title: Re: VFE-MB Modular Mini Mega
Post by: Aentons on July 19, 2019, 04:38:33 PM
Topped it off with the gold screw treatment.

Quote from: Daniel Plainview
I'm finished