My =ultimate= multi-fx pedalboard...W.I.P

[flo]

Hou vol Auke! 

[Auke Haarsma]

Thanks Volhouden zal ik!

Yesterdayevening I had some time to design a PSU pcb. This time went back to an old idea. At that time I couldn't to get it to work as I wanted. But for this time I have better hopes. I've learned a lot since 2007

Basically it is now designed like this:
Laptop Adapter puts out 16V DC (3.5A) -> into 78L12 and 7812. From the 7812 I regulated down to a bunch of 78L09's. These 78L09's will each power two effects. They all share the ground.

also:
-Big cap (470uF) before and after the 7812.
-Small caps (10uF) at each 78L09 and the 78L12
-two LEDs as indicators. One for the adapter (so at the 16V point) one for the 9V's.
-one 78L09 is 'special'. It is the last one. This one will be used to power all the LED's of the footswitches etc. I seperate this ground from the fx ground by a 10R resistor.

Schematic:


Layout:


PCB:


I just stumble upon this thread: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=73863.0 I may need to incorporate some of those ideas...

[Lame]

Any updates?

[Auke Haarsma]

Not much sadly, but thanks for asking! I appreciate that!

I am changing the PSU a bit more. Now replaced the last 78L09 with an LM317. This way I can control the brightness of the LEDS via a pot. It is still in the design phase.

I have another project going on: I am building a Echo Base delay for some1 I know. I am using Slackers' schem, but I design my own PCB (for fun... but it takes quite some time to do it decently). I want to fit the echobase in one of Mick Farlow's enclosures I got last summer.

I expect to finish the PSU-PCB next week.

[Auke Haarsma]

Small update with some pics of my new DIY-room:

And some in-progress pics of the EchoBase I am building for some one (so not for the Multi-fx...). The PCB is designed by me. The EchoBase ofcourse by Slacker!

First couple of parts are installed:

In the background MicFarlow's beautiful enclosure! The delay hopes to end up there

[Auke Haarsma]

Updated the PSU-design after receiving some valuable feedback:


Basic ideas for this design:
-can be used with either  a laptop adapter or fed by transformers.
-all I have to do is for the laptop-option: connect dc in to the +16V pad. Bridge all others pads below the 78xx's.
-to use the transformer outputs: no bridging, each transformer output feeds (after rectifying etc) a pad for the 78xx.
-10uF and 100nF after each 78xx to prevent oscilliation
-lm317 on the far right to provide juice to the LED's.

[Auke Haarsma]

Some updates on the EchoBase I am working on. Got myself a drillpress a couple of months ago. First time I could put it to use. Time- and frustration saver for sure! Drilling enclosures was never so easy
Pots are pcb-mounted.

Not yet finished, but we're getting closer. 2PDT footswitch will not be soldered directly onto the pcb. I'll use some wire to allow some flexing when being stomped.

[Auke Haarsma]

Finished the Echobase last weekend. Had a few small probs, but long story short... here's the pics:






Echobase with indicator leds for Tails and Modulation. And: tempo-LED which blinks with the uhm, tempo.


Also, while waiting on some additional information on my multi-fx powersupply, I started with breadboarding the Mesa Boogie Lonestar amp:



Currently working on the schematic and pcb in Eagle.

[80k]

Wow, just found this thread. This is a huge project... the amount of patience necessary to complete it is impressive! Awesome thread, and please keep updating!

[studiostud]

Nice little workshop!  One thing I would pick up if you don't have one already is a Dremel.  That tool has been at the top of my MVP (most valuable purchase) list for a while.  Especially with making PCBs.  I can use a cutting wheel to cut out the PCBs from larger pieces.  Then a grinder bit to file down the rough edges.  Then, once it's etched, I have the attachment unit called the Dremel Workstation which lets you mount the dremel tool vertically and essentially turns it into a mini-drill press.  I have a mini-jacobs chuck bit that I use with 1/32" or 1/64" drill bits and, with the raw speed and precision of the setup, it cuts those holes like butter. 

[Auke Haarsma]

Nice little workshop!  One thing I would pick up if you don't have one already is a Dremel.  That tool has been at the top of my MVP (most valuable purchase) list for a while.  Especially with making PCBs.  I can use a cutting wheel to cut out the PCBs from larger pieces.  Then a grinder bit to file down the rough edges.  Then, once it's etched, I have the attachment unit called the Dremel Workstation which lets you mount the dremel tool vertically and essentially turns it into a mini-drill press.  I have a mini-jacobs chuck bit that I use with 1/32" or 1/64" drill bits and, with the raw speed and precision of the setup, it cuts those holes like butter. 

Well said, I totally agree. And yup, I have one. Besides to prerequisites to DIY-ing (parts, solderstation etc), my 'MVP'-list would be:

• Digital Multi-Meter
• Dremel
• Breadboard
• Broadband Internet connection so I can regulary visit this board and the likes (ROG, GEO etc)

And with regard to the multi-fx project: Yeah I am still working on it! I got an anwser regarding a PSU-board I bought, but I wasn't the answer I was hoping for. Seems I may have to reconsider the PSU once again...

In the meantime I have almost finished my side-project, the Lonely Star. I am preparing a project file to share this great sounding and versatile circuit with the forum soon.

[bamera]

Auke Haarsma, I truly admire your patience with this great build of yours.

Just to respond to your last comment on your lonely star project, I´m really looking forward to building it once you have finished and posted the final result. I followed the original post closely and I´m glad you´re still working on it.

Take care, Daniel

[Auke Haarsma]

Thanks for your kind words Daniel!

Patience indeed is what is most needed. And sometimes I wonder if I have enough patience to finish this. I almost ditched this project a couple of weeks ago. I ran in to problem after problem... very discouraging. However, most of the probs were just mistakes I made. So, with patience, I solved them.

I have been working on the multi-fx the last couple of weeks. And, I have made some nice progress. Seven effects are wired and in the enclosure:
-channel spliter (no effect)
-SHO
-Omega
-DOD250
-Neutron (filter)
-TS
-BigMuff
-RAT
-BSIAB2

Oh,  that's EIGHT effects already! You see, when things go a bit smoother I make more progress than I think

Next up to be wired in is the Dr Boogey. However, I feel not completely comfortable with it. So I pretty much decided to replace it for something else (still looking for a replacement).

After that we have the modulation section left to do: NeoVibe, Chorus, Phase, Trem en Delay.


I finished the Lonely Star project some weeks ago. check it out here:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=76873.0

[Auke Haarsma]

updated with a pic of the outside and inside.





Here you can see that I have been very very pragmatical with my PS solution. I couldn't decide on the PSU I wanted. Several designs I tried all didn't deliver what I expected. The PSU was blocking my progress for a long time. Then it got to me.... I just use a vero-board where I connect all +9V/gnd cables to and power it with my 1spot for the time being. If I ever decide to make a dedicated/isolated psu I can just disconnect the current wires easily and solder them back on to the new psu.

Current draw btw is low: below 100mA in the current setup (loads of LED's and a couple of distortion boxes). And not too much noise other than the noise I alwas have with my testing setup... (too noise to use, but I think/hope/know/guess/wish the noise will go down when the full enclosure shielding and grounding of shielded wires is finished).

[flo]

Probably if you decouple each FX's power supply line with a 100 ohm in series and a 100uF to earth, things will quiet down. Try it with some of the noisy ones and see if it helps.

[Auke Haarsma]

Thanks Flo, that seems like a pretty easy way to tame the noise. I'll keep that in mind.

[Processaurus]

I've been recently working on a board that also has a ground plane and no solder mask (didn't etch it myself, just the cheapest option at Advanced Circuits), it has been an absolute nightmare of crummy little shorts to ground, have you had problems? 

[Auke Haarsma]

No not really. I did have some problems with getting that etch right. My toner-transfer-technique didn't proof to be the best... took my 3-4 tries to get it 90% right.

However, those traces / groundplane are a bit too close to eachother to my liking. So wit that experience I kept the traces more seperated on future projects like the lonely star:


I also used thicker traces, less chance of a broken traces, easier to etch and easier to solder.

[carrejans]

Hi Auke,

How is this project going?

[Auke Haarsma]

Hi Jan,

no progress since uhm august I see. It is still lying here on my bench. I will finish it... just don't know when.