Making turret-boards using solder-pins.

[Liquitone]

Hi all!

I have been asked to make a tutorial on how I design and build my circuit-boards a few times, and I finally found the time and energy to make you one.
The example pictures are from several different projects as I haven't documented every step in a single project. I'm posting the tutorial as a PDF so all the images won't slow down this page, and so you can download it for easy viewing.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1oITFpUkTjwMlY1QnQzbmhyNlE/edit?usp=sharing
or via WeTransfer, where the link will only be available till June 24; http://we.tl/gPm01IIgIN

[Buzz]

Thanks. By the way, they look amazing.

[GibsonGM]

Great work! Thanks for the share!

[stallik]

Thanks Kay, awesome work

[duck_arse]

..... "file not available for download" .......

[Liquitone]

That's strange, they both work for me even when not logged in to google. Anyone else having the same problem or know what the problem could be?

[greaser_au]

What kind of pins are these?  I've been looking for a low cost supply of 'snale' PCB pins

thanks
david

[duck_arse]

ahh, well, you see, I clicked on the image placeholder while the image wasn't showing, and then at the site the image wasn't showing, so it wasn't downloding.

now the image is here, and it is downloading the pdf ...... all is now tikkety-boo.

[Liquitone]

cool, glad it works after all.
The pins are Vector K24 and K31 which you can get at Mouser in packages of a hundred or a thousand, and even gold plated ones.
I always bought a hundred to test them out before buying a thousand, because although relatively cheap it's still a lot of money.
http://nl.mouser.com/Electromechanical/Hardware/Circuit-Board-Hardware-PCB/_/N-5g2e?Keyword=vector&FS=True

[greaser_au]

The pins are Vector K24 and K31 which you can get at Mouser in packages of a hundred or a thousand, and even gold plated ones.

Wow. These things take me back...  just looking at the gold-plated ones in the link made me remember that particular stench that tinning gold with 60/40 solder emits...   

Thank you, Sir. Muchly  appreciate the burst of nostalgia (it sometimes makes us old farts happy to remember when we were young!!).

david

[duck_arse]

@greaser - rockby, on special!

https://www.rockby.com.au/CatresultsSql_12.cfm?select=85&stock_no=16897

[deadastronaut]

awesome work man...

[Liquitone]

Thanks all! I'm glad I can offer something in return.
.

[greaser_au]

@greaser - rockby, on special!
https://www.rockby.com.au/CatresultsSql_12.cfm?select=85&stock_no=16897

Thank you!

david

[Liquitone]

Those pins may or may not work, depending on the board you use, but it's worth trying different types to see what's best for you.
Because the 2mm FR4 boards I use is quite thick and rigid I ended up with the knurled or swaged pins, because others wouldn't want to stay put or where a nightmare to press in the holes.
Thinner boards may work better with these pins, or even unclad vero-boards which are great to start with. it doesn't look as pretty but you can just mark the holes and press in the pins so no drilling or drilling template is needed.
I made my first turret build on copper-pad-per-hole vero and soldered the pins to keep them in place with non-knurled pins. but these would get loose and start to wiggle when soldering on the components. The Vector K24/K31's are easy to press in and stay in place perfectly on veroboard.

[greaser_au]

yes, I did see that these do not appear to have a knurling ( I will likely grab a packet as they are seriously inexpensive and will suit other projects I have on the go  - I *really* hate soldering wires into boards and would rather use a pin and wrap-joint the wire, despite the extra effort).   Rockby also have what look like a press-fit shoulder pin (will have to e-mail them!)

david

[Liquitone]

Yeah, that's what I''ve seen them being used for mostly, on this Jen Wah and I think RMC does this as well. It's handy having access to the solder-point on the top side of the board.
The Molloon Class-A is the first pedal I've seen using them as turrets. I came across it while looking if small turrets existed when I planned my first turret build. That Molloon served as a big inspiration for me.

I got this, eehm, thing in trade for some repair work and to my surprise it also uses pins as turrets for resistors. the circuitboard seems very well build, but I have no Idea what it actually is,
so its main purpose now is to add a flair of mad-scientist lab to my workplace.

[greaser_au]

I'd lay odds that those resistors on pins are specially selected for calibration- so they can be changed without removing the board at (re)calibration time.

Some quite specialist lab gear there, can be used for measurements in quantum physics, biology, and, astronomy.

david

[Liquitone]

Yes, that was what I was thinking as well as i found guides and services to calibrate this thing. It had something to do with measuring quantum time phase difference or something according to a article I found. Now I don't have a physics or engineering degree so i doubt I will ever fully understand it. I doubt if I could find a buyer for it. maybe NASA?

[Kipper4]

Very nice work mate.
I aspire..........