Newbie- couple of questions (pcbexpress and sourcing components)

[MrPedal]

Trying to move on up after my first two kit builds was a success. For my next build I'm still not sure if I'm going with veroboard or making my own pcb. Ive definitely learned alot from them (use smaller solder,use less solder, dont use lead free solder and when you use regular solder TURN THE HEAT DOWN!!)

Anyway I'll start with the total newb question. I'm trying to get the hang of using pcbexpress to draw up a schematic, and I can't figure out how to make signify an input and an output  *facepalm. Lol it's probably something very simple that I'm missing because of my ignorance. I don't know much about electronics but I've learned how to read a simple schematic, don't know what it all means, but I can read em.

My second question is about sourcing parts. I'd really like to buy a kit with all the common resistors, caps, some diodes etc. instead of purchasing components one by one as needed, is there a good way to do this?

Thanks in advance! I hope I posted in the right place

[mth5044]

Welcome to the forum!

Small bear has a few bundles of stuff, but if you use the search function of this forum, you'll find this question asked quite a few times with great answers.

[ubersam]

I started with expressPCB (along with DIYLC) but I haven't used it in a while. From recollection, I used port symbols from the library to indicate the input and output pads. There might be something similar in pcbexpress.

[chumbox]

Hey Mr Pedal

First off welcome to the forum.

For ordering parts it can vary from where you live in the world but I use Tayda Electronics for standard parts with good results and Small Bear for more 'boutique' transistors and the like.  Instead of aiming for a kit, it's always good to get a whole bunch of common different resistor and cap values and standard transistors, as you never know when you are going to need one or the other and they are all dirt cheap.  Also pedals use very similar transistors and parts values (within reason) across the board.  You'll start to see patterns as you look at schematics.

If you have just completed two kits builds I would personally suggest doing some vero builds to really get a hang of putting these things together off some verified vero stompbox sites (there are some great ones around). Mainly because vero is cheap and there are plans online you can follow as you get your skills up.  In saying that I think there is nothing wrong with teaching yourself PCB design as it's another great skill to have but it can take a little more time and effort initially.

If you do decide to keep plugging away at PCB I cannot comment on expressPCB but I am a big fan of Cadsoft EAGLE which is well used among the DIY stompbox community, so there is heaps of forum threads and information about it.  There are also many stompbox specific tutorials online using EAGLE.  From there you can get the PCBs printed up in small batches through OSHPark, which is great if you only want a few to prototype something, or maybe you only need a few. 

Above all, enjoy it! It's a bunch of fun, even when they don't work sometimes.

[MrPedal]

Hey Mr Pedal

First off welcome to the forum.

For ordering parts it can vary from where you live in the world but I use Tayda Electronics for standard parts with good results and Small Bear for more 'boutique' transistors and the like.  Instead of aiming for a kit, it's always good to get a whole bunch of common different resistor and cap values and standard transistors, as you never know when you are going to need one or the other and they are all dirt cheap.  Also pedals use very similar transistors and parts values (within reason) across the board.  You'll start to see patterns as you look at schematics.

If you have just completed two kits builds I would personally suggest doing some vero builds to really get a hang of putting these things together off some verified vero stompbox sites (there are some great ones around). Mainly because vero is cheap and there are plans online you can follow as you get your skills up.  In saying that I think there is nothing wrong with teaching yourself PCB design as it's another great skill to have but it can take a little more time and effort initially.

If you do decide to keep plugging away at PCB I cannot comment on expressPCB but I am a big fan of Cadsoft EAGLE which is well used among the DIY stompbox community, so there is heaps of forum threads and information about it.  There are also many stompbox specific tutorials online using EAGLE.  From there you can get the PCBs printed up in small batches through OSHPark, which is great if you only want a few to prototype something, or maybe you only need a few. 

Above all, enjoy it! It's a bunch of fun, even when they don't work sometimes.

Thanks I'd heard about eagle and I might want to mess with that in the future, I'd heard about people using fab companies to make em, but I thought that was for big bulk orders, didn't think you could just have a few made

For now I'm doing pretty much what you said. Planning on a fuzz factory build with veroboard (velleman board actually) and I basically just ordered about 200 of each component that I needed except for the transistors of course. I'm thinking that will be a pretty good way to do it, and then if I see something I don't have in the next build I'll order a bunch of whatever that is too.

[smallbearelec]

Chumbox mentioned EAGLE CAD and OSH Park and ubersam mentioned DIY Layout Creator...Thumbs up to all three! My first step in designing is always to get something working on the breadboard. A couple of my tutorials on this can be found in the Projects area of this Forum. Others are in the DIY area of my site:

http://diy.smallbearelec.com/HowTos/HowTos.html

I draw schems using bitmap symbols that I created. Not the most efficient, but I'm used to it. DIYLC does schematics, and I will likely try it for efficiency. What I really love DIYLC for is doing board layouts; it's much easier to learn than an industrial-strength program like EAGLE. I'll do a perfboard layout with DIYLC, knowing that I will be able to squeeze it tighter in EAGLE. Build on perf, de-bug the layout and then re-draw in EAGLE. OSH Park will take an EAGLE .BRD file and deliver three copies of a small board for less than $10 a board. If I want several hundred, EAGLE will output the Gerber files that most fab houses require.

Someone mentioned me regarding sourcing parts. One thing that I realized that I neglected to put in my store

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/

is small kits of common value potentiometers. You''ll see those this week.

Happy construction!

[Fast Pistoleros]

Thank you Small bear for the outstanding customer service, replacing my OC140 for me. much appreciated my friend.

Like the previous poster said, I buy a few standard items from tayda, blms, diy stompbox (aussie paul) and gpcb; I only use small bear for all active parts, switches and so forth ..shielded cable, hook up wire etc.

You kind of have to uses 2-3 places to get everything you need sometimes as they each carry different items in stock. Mouser is another one I use for miniature/micro parts which the others do not carry for example. You will find this out when you start to build more and more complex pedals as time goes by. For example, I am building myself an autowah; and for the bom I had to use 3 stores to get the proper IC chips i needed in dip form. One form each store lol

A kit may be the right wat to go as a newb because you will get a bunch of parts that are usable ..when you are new ordering the wrong parts will happen and can be expensive..then when you get that inevitable big pile of unused stuff, you can PIF to someone who will use it!  There are some fantastic peopel in this community and i was PIF'ed a few transistors and a tonepad pcb which are top quality as well.

Tonepad is a store i have never purchased from but I can tell you the stuff is top notch and I have been meaning to get a few things to try out from them. I can see why girls have an affinity for shoes, I swap out my pedals to try like girls swap out shoes lol..only thing is, my very best RM I ever made was like the 1st one I did and I wish I had it back  now . looked like crap but sounded awesome


my tonebender with Small Bear OC75 Set  sounds great ..just need to tweak it a little more to my liking..hopefully I can have it all set up in a week or so