How do you mount a PC board in effect?

[momo]

Hello, so I have a beginners question, Im building my first effect(neovibe), and I would like to know how to mount the board. Ive seen in pictures, some use the white plastic little towers that stick to the wall and you insert in the pc board holes. Now I dont have space for that, and I have seen some just "lay" the bottom part(with the soldering), on the backplate, so this is what i would want to do. How do you stick it on the plate, and I guess i would have to insulate the back so that there are no solders shorting out on the backplate.
Thanks is advance guys!

[ambulancevoice]

those white towers are nylon standoffs (with adhesive backings)
there stuck inside specific holes on the cicuit board which then hold the board in place
and the adhevsive can stick to the enclosure or the back of pots (like on byoc kits)

some enclosure have pcb slots inside that you can mount the board vertically in

out you can just make your own stand offs somehow
with screws or bolts

[albatross]

Hi,

The "white towers" are called adhesive PCB Pillars, for resting/mounting against the backplate, I would cover the backplate inside with foam or use velcro, that should work, i wouldnt personally mount a board like that though.

you can also buy hex pcb pillars which you can buy in different sizes which can do the job your looking for

[markm]

This is how I usually do it, standoffs JB Welded to the enclosure.

[darron]

if you are using a 3pdt true bypass switch, then i think it's best to mount it of that:



has anybody ever had problems with doing this? maybe the traces could peel off the pcb? i doubt it though...

[dennism]

Industrial strength self adhesive velcro comes in sheets that you can cut to size to fit the board.  It holds it in place in a very strong way, is not permanent if you need to work on the board and is inexpensive and available at any hardware store.

[markm]

has anybody ever had problems with doing this? maybe the traces could peel off the pcb? i doubt it though...

I've never tried this but, I would guess it dpends on the quality of board material.
Some is as rugged as the Arizona desert and others the traces peel easier than an over-ripe bannana!
I think the switch mount technique is a good one though it would require a bit of extra engineering.
Nice!

Industrial strength self adhesive velcro comes in sheets that you can cut to size to fit the board.  It holds it in place in a very strong way, is not permanent if you need to work on the board and is inexpensive and available at any hardware store.

The nice thing about the standoffs I use is the unit is very serviceable as there are only 2 phillips-head screws to remove and the board is out!

[petemoore]

has anybody ever had problems with doing this?
  I've never done it so can only spec. on it.
  ...I'm still waiting for the 'complaint dept.' on it...but don't see a line forming..
  When I first saw this technique I thought 'uh...that'll put stresses on the board...and maybe the switch lug, but, it seems there are plenty of boxes with this type board mounting construction, I've yet to see a problem reported with it...I don't think there's a 'code' like house building...something like don't hang a heavy circuit [like with an inductor ] long ways off one end / 3'' max between 'studs'...lol.
  Seems like there could be a bit of sharp vibration like a diving board..I would guess over enough time the technique might show a higher failure rate than '4 corner - board to plate' construction.

[Pushtone]

This question: three time this month.

Q:  How do you mount a PC board in effect?

A: By Using The Button
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=47661.0


A: Or Reading the Wiki http://www.diystompboxes.com/wiki/index.php?title=PrintedCircuitBoards

I can see why members get so tired of the post-before-search syndrom.

You know why I don't post questions too often?
Because I find the answers by searching and reading. 

[markm]

You know why I don't post questions too often?
Because I find the answers by searching and reading. 

Same here!

[woulfer]

You know why I don't post questions too often?
Because I find the answers by searching and reading. 

I just said that in another thread. Can't go wrong with the search button!

[MicFarlow77]

Suggestion... relabel the Search button to read, "Quest for Knowledge" button.

I have had dozens of questions and have yet to post to get an answer.

I search and search, and then I look again, lest I ask a question and lo and behold, it was here all along, and I end up with egg on my face, so to speak. This is a great and inspiring community and there are tons and tons of good technical info, practical info, painting info, mounting info... you name it, and it's here somewhere, it may just take some reading to get to it.

One more thing... I have done many many searches and often get dozens of pages of results..... I generally read thru most of them... The amount of info gathered that way is immeasurable. I have often answered questions I didn't even know I had or, in reading thru 7 or 10 different answers to the same question, the light finally comes on and something clicks and several pieces of a puzzle fall into place.... invaluable..... (seems like I remember a quote along the lines of more value being in the journey, not necessarily the destination....)

Another thing, one of these day's, I am just going to sit down and read some of Aron's, Pete's, R.G's, DragonFly's, BasicAudio's, MarkM's ( I know I am forgetting many, but just trying to illustrate a point...) posts, simply because these guy's have covered an amazing amount of ground and generally leave no stone unturned....

Please, everyone keep up the good work and one of these day's, if I ever have to ask a question, it will be a doosey...... :-)

Thanks,

Mick

[markm]

Please, everyone keep up the good work and one of these day's, if I ever have to ask a question, it will be a doosey...... :-)

Thanks,

Mick

That's Great!!
HILARIOUS
I like that.
Ya know what I do sometimes when I'm researching a project?
I use "Notepad" in Windows and copy/paste some of the info I have searched out here and put it into it's own folder.
I used this method ALOT while researching the Soul Preacher Comp project and it paid off numerous times for me.
Just an idea for those with a thirst for knowledge.....like Me!

[MicFarlow77]

Hey Mark,

That's a great idea... I never thought of doing that for this stuff.. I do it all day for my day job as a systems engineer....with servers all over the country that I am responsible for, spread out among 10's of locations and domains, I have to use Notepad.... Excellent idea to use it here... (sometimes, the most obvious escapes me.. making this an even more valuable tip )

Thank's much.....again, just another way to make this journey even more valuable and efficient!

Mick

[gez]

Nylon 'cheesehead' screw, glued to box with superglue and left overnight; can't shift it when it's set.  The board just bolts onto it.  The stuff on the RHS is anchored by Omeg PCB mount pots with the pins bent at 90 degrees.

[moody07747]

Hello, so I have a beginners question, Im building my first effect(neovibe), and I would like to know how to mount the board. Ive seen in pictures, some use the white plastic little towers that stick to the wall and you insert in the pc board holes. Now I dont have space for that, and I have seen some just "lay" the bottom part(with the soldering), on the backplate, so this is what i would want to do. How do you stick it on the plate, and I guess i would have to insulate the back so that there are no solders shorting out on the backplate.
Thanks is advance guys!

so without room for a standoff you could just put some black electrical tape on the inside of the box.  It will stick on there well and keep everything from shorting out.

[col]

I got a huge pack of double sided industrial strength sticky pads from a £1 shop and simply use 3 or 4 of these to hold a circuit board in place. I have never had them come off, I did when I used the sticky Velcro.

[choklitlove]

i've just been using double sided sticky mounting tape lately.  it's padded foam about 3mm thick.
mounting:


or just putting some on the back of the PCB (without taking the plastic off one side) so it doesn't short:


and one time i just hot glued one to the case:


and sometimes i just let them dangle there.  i make sure they won't short, and with some builds, the wire and other components keep them from moving at all.  not professional, but i'm the only one using them, and i don't care.

[momo]

Hey guys, for all of you that did contribute, thanks alot! for those of you who complain, well, ya I do research, Ive been researching on this site and reading everything about the Neovibe because that will be my first build and I want to do a good job. I did do a search for mounting pc boards, but you see its like having a second/third/fourth opinion, and as you can see, this "This question has been asked 3 times this month", has generated good responses, which tells me that there were and always will be someone on this great site to contribute with fresh ideas, this is why the site exists!...
So for all you guys complaining, when you see a new thread by Momo, just dont read it!

Cheers

[Pushtone]

and as you can see, this "This question has been asked 3 times this month", has generated good responses, which tells me that there were and always will be someone on this great site to contribute with fresh ideas

They are not "fresh" ideas.

In fact every response is identical to the responses in the thread I posted above.
It is in essence, a duplicate thread.

When you come up with a new technique to mount a PCB... post that.