PFUKR build: CD2022

[madbean]

Finally getting my act together for my Pedals for Ukraine build. I decided to go with the Cave Dweller 2022. First etched PCB in quite a long time for me. Faceplate artwork also etched and ready for the next step. Doesn't look like much now but it will transform over the next couple of days.

[Thewintersoldier]

Damn that looks good Brian. Your etching always amazes me. I have never had an etch come out anywhere close to that. Can't wait to see it when it's done.

[Bio77]

Wow!  That's awesome!   

[benny_profane]

That looks amazing! Great job with the etches. Looking forward to seeing this all together!

[peccary]

Wow. That's killer, man.

[harryklippton]

🥵🥵🥵🥵

[EBK]

I have to admit I didn't read PFUKR as Pedals for Ukraine until maybe the sixth or seventh time I looked at it.   
I kept thinking of that Caroline Guitar fundraiser pedal's name.  Was this sly cleverness intentional?

Can't wait to see this build transform!  Already looks great!

[matmosphere]

Dude, Brian, That is classy as hell!!

[madbean]

Well disaster struck. I'm really out of practice with single sided boards and I ended up lifting some pads when I was attaching the pots. It could be salvaged but that's really not good enough. So, I have to start over on the PCB. Not a big deal since it will only cost me an extra hour or so. I won't mention the cussing tirade that came from it.

[storyboardist]

Hopefully the 2nd etch turns out as nice as the first. It's looking great, Brian!

[madbean]

Decided to slow down this time an focus on better technique rather than rushing to get done. This time I used a much higher resolution for the PNP transfer and spent a lot of time soldering correctly, rather than fast. It's a lot easier to get away with blitzing through dual layer boards with through hole plating. I've been rather dedicated to the laziness it affords

[fig]

That's slick!

[zombie_rock123]

Second etch turned out great! I kinda miss etching pcbs but absolutely not drilling the frigging things.

[madbean]

Circuit built. I did one tweak: for LPF2 I lowered the resistor from 33k to 27k and the cap in parallel from 4n7 to 2n7. It reduced the output and brightened it up slightly. Overall, it sounds really good! Definitely more lo-fi than other PT2399 designs but that's been the hallmark of all the Cave delays. Most importantly, no puttering at the max delay time. I also wrapped all the wiring to the pot lugs. This makes the connections practically unbreakable.

Also, here's my ultra sophisticated technique of how to line up the drilling b/w faceplate and enclosure. Tape and guide holes. I never get things perfectly centered but it's close enough.

[jjjimi84]

Hats off to you! Such a cool pedal, glad you got it working.