My first pedal project (smd) with pictures

[Ice-9]

I have been working on building a pedal and wanted to build it using smd components and pcb's. The first requirement was to get all the switch gear on a single pcb that i could use in all the pedals i make.
This pcb has input and output jacks , psu jack, led, effect circuit protection and batt clip all on the pcb. the second pcb has the entire effect wth the pots . The two boards connect together with 4 wires that carry  power + - and input output. I hope some of you have some good feedback on what improvements i can make and pro's / con's of what i am trying to do.

The first pic is the full unit from the top
[img][http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Schematics-etc/29072008303.jpg.html/img]

the second pic is the switch board from the copper side and the effect with no pots
http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Schematics-etc/29072008298.jpg.html

[Ice-9]

Sorry im having a bit of a prob uploading the pics
here is a link to the first pic

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/Schematics-etc/29072008303.jpg.html

[frequencycentral]

Incredibly neat build - I like the 4 wire thing. What's the effect?

[Ice-9]

This efect is a simple overdrive with gain tone and level.

[Ice-9]

[snufkin]

that is B-E-A-utiful 

[Ice-9]

Thanks for the comment Snufkin. i hope to improve on a few bits. not sure if i want to make them a one pcb affair or eep them seperate.
If i keep them seperate the any effect board i do will just connect to the main board with the same 4 wire. there is still quite a bit space in the box for the effect pcb. I am going to try and get a flanger in the same size 1590bb size case, only problem i think i  will have is geting the bbd chips in a surface mount package. Does anyone know of a surface mount bbd chip ??

[rogeryu_ph]

Nice built Ice-9,
Is that a true bypass? 3PDT? no mil circuit isn't it.... haven't tried smd yet

Roger

[Ice-9]

@Rogeryu_ph - Yeah its a true bypass that ive used in the pcb with 3pdt. If anyone want the pcb pattern to make themselves i can post it up

[R.G.]

Nice work.

The thing I hate about SMD is that film caps don't shrink like silicon and resistors do. You're stuck with having to choose either ceramic caps, huge nominally surface mount films, or a hybrid surface/through hole board.

[DougH]

Impressive! I'm envious of your packaging skills.

[Ice-9]

Thats a good point about the caps i agree totally . Although i do have a 10uf tant smd on there and its not too big. The one thing i'm not sure about is the quality of caps in smd packages, i am using mostly ceramics  which if i was to build a project using through hole caps i would prob use silva mica and film not ceramic for improved sound. I'm not sure if you can get silva mica in smd package ? and film are big as you say.

[fluoreszenz]

Ice-9, that's an amazing build 

Did you solder the smd parts with a regular station or with special equipment like a soldering oven?

[frank_p]

That is great !

[Ice-9]

All components were soldered on using a pair of tweezers and an antex tc 50 watt iron. I just run a flux pen over the pcb after etching it and touch the tip of the iron with solder and the flux does the rest. Its quite easy when you get a bit practice.

[petemoore]

  Not to say it must not be really hard [it looks like quite a few new tricks to this 'ol perf-dog], but you've proved to us it can be done, thank you for the details such as the iron and techniques used !
  Your intuition and learning has allowed you to create a nice working OD, sort of a first around here {You probably saw the same youtube on working with SMD's that a member here was nice enough to show a link to?}.
  Congradulations on your success with it !

[Ice-9]

Hi again !. If you have a link to the youtube video you mention i would like to check it out.

The way i decided to try out using smd was because ive done a few repairs to Dv equipment removing the likes of tsop48 pin chips and replacing them using the likes of a feeler guage (car tool for checking plug gaps) and a soldering iron, what i got from doing this was finding out that the key to success in removing / replacing smd components is , in my case down to using a good flux pen. It makes it easy to do.

What was hard for me to do was etching the pcbs well.  I first tried the laser print on paper ironed ont the copper board, I got some half decent results but decided to try and make a uv light box from uv leds, that was total failure, so i bought a 8watt uv tube and things started to get much better.

Over the next few weeks i'm hoping to improve on all the pcb's and get a few different types of pedals made. If there is any interest in smd and nobody mind me posting some pictures of my results as i go then i will keep on posting some info here.
Thanks everyone that has looked in.

[frank_p]

Hi again !. If you have a link to the youtube video you mention i would like to check it out.

Neh...  The guy just did it by himself.
Great initiative !
Refreshing !

[rogeryu_ph]

Yes, also a link to how to read those smd resistor and other component value
Maybe you could use circuit cable and socket for easy replacement for head and mainboard such as replacing  between a tubescreamer board and SD1 board though the only problem would be pot value. Is there an in-circuit detachable terminal for pot easy replacement?   

Roger

[mnordbye]

I'm impressed with how small the SMD componets are. A bass fuzz would be invisible! 

Great job Ice-9

Magnus Nordbye