ABDX-PIF build

[EBK]

If you kind and extremely patient folks will indulge me again, I find it very self-motivating to report on what I build while I'm still building it.   

I recently received an Aquaboy Deluxe board as a generous PIF from Brian.  I'm having a lot of fun putting this thing together.

Here's what I have so far, the completed main board and a 15V charge pump board:



I've opted to use Xvive Audio MN3005 reproductions for the BBDs, a MN3101 clock, and an NE570 compander.

For the enclosure, I can't bring myself to mount the input and output jacks on opposite sides of a 1590BB (just a personal quirk, not a negative judgment), so instead, I'm working on a landscape orientation with offboard pots (even though it will pretty much take up the exact same width on a pedalboard).  Here's a rough idea of what I have come up with so far (I love Inkscape):

[chordball]

Looking good! I dig that layout a lot. Any reason for an smd NE570 other than that it's probably what you already had?

Also, what vactrol is that? It's the same one that's used in the new micro-tron. I've been curious what it was but could never find it anywhere.

[EBK]

Thanks!

Through-hole NE570s are no longer in production, so the SMD version is far easier to procure, and I need to keep sharpening my SMD skills to be ready for the future.  I don't actually have a solid reasoning other  than that (a Coolaudio v571d would have worked instead). No cost savings here, as the adapter board cost as much as the chip. 

The vactrol came from Smallbear:
http://www.smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/photocoupler-coolaudio-vtl5c3/

[somnif]

For future reference you can get many adapter boards a bit cheaper through OSHpark rather than the proto-advantage stuff.

[EBK]

For future reference you can get many adapter boards a bit cheaper through OSHpark rather than the proto-advantage stuff.

I did look at OSHpark first.  One problem is that this is a 300-mil wide chip, and I wanted to adapt it to a 300 mil DIP.  Most adapters create a much wider DIP footprint.  The Proto-Advantage board has pads for surface mount headers on the bottom to keep the pins narrow.

[chordball]

Thanks!

Through-hole NE570s are no longer in production, so the SMD version is far easier to procure, and I need to keep sharpening my SMD skills to be ready for the future.  I don't actually have a solid reasoning other  than that (a Coolaudio v571d would have worked instead). No cost savings here, as the adapter board cost as much as the chip. 

The vactrol came from Smallbear:
http://www.smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/photocoupler-coolaudio-vtl5c3/

Ah, thanks for that. I thought only xvive did a "real" VTL5C3. Interesting.

Looking forward to seeing your completed build. If I'm lucky maybe I'll get mine built before 2019!

[EBK]

I'm blowing the dust off of this long-neglected project of mine. I still don't think I'll finish it soon, but some progress is better than no progress, right?

Anyway, I've finished tweaking my graphics design (I think).



Now I just need to figure out how I am going to actually make this real (I could always give PPP a bajillion dollars to make it.). 

Here is the internal arrangement from my fit test:

I'm 80% confident this will work in this configuration.

[alanp]

Trivia for the day: the male symbol comes from the Roman god, Mars (it's supposed to be a shield and spear.) The Romans were heavily into Mars as a god.

[EBK]

That symbol is in a layer named "Mars" in my Inkscape file. 

[EBK]

Enclosure has been drilled.

Next, I plan to polish this up and give it some sort of candy blue coating.  I've been experimenting with dyed Polycrylic, which shows some promise.

[dawson]

Wow- that is a clean layout, indeed.  Well done sir, I'm looking forward to seeing how that finish turns out.

[cooder]

Looking like a sweeeeet thing coming there...! Tasty. Dig the graphics too. Noice.

[Boba7]

Looks awesome, I cant wait to see more pics!

[EBK]

The most important thing that science produces is data, even when the result is a failure.  I got a ton of clumping in the Polycrylic when I tried to dye it darker.  Trying one more time.

[alanp]

Maybe clear, tinted epoxy, sanded back to a mirror finish?