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Projects => Tech Help - Projects Page => Topic started by: electricb on September 11, 2014, 12:58:08 AM

Title: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: electricb on September 11, 2014, 12:58:08 AM
I have been working on Haberdasher's Flintlock Flanger and am about at the end of my rope. My build went ok, but the flanging was weak or nonexistent. I was getting some flange warble and the knobs seem to be working as they should, but it sounds terrible and there is virtually no sweep.

I ever bought a multimeter with a frequency counter thinking I could bias this up, but the meter is auto ranging and reads 0 at the test point (and at pin 13 of the 4047). I know it works because it reads frequencies elsewhere on the board, but not at the critical place.

Here are some voltages for my clock ICs (supply voltage is 14.9V) . Can anyone help me get this thing working by suggesting things to look for? I don't see any obvious soldering bridges or placement errors, but this is a big PCB. Thanks in advance

   MN3007
1   14.74
2   6.99
3   9.37
4   1.026
5   0
6   6.99
7   9.09
8   9.09

   4007
1   0.27
2   .16-.20
3   0
4   0.2
5   0.2
6   0
7   0
8   0.2
9   0.22
10   5.83
11   7.5
12   0.109
13   13.99
14   13.98

   4047
1   13.86
2   0.1
3   7.5
4   13.98
5   13.98
6   13.98
7   0
8   0
9   0
10   6.99
11   6.99
12   0
13   13.87
14   13.98

   4049
1   13.99
2   6.98
3   6.99
4   6.99
5   6.99
6   6.99
7   6.99
8   0
9   6.99
10   6.98
11   6.99
12   6.98
13   0
14   6.99
15   6.98
16   0

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5575/15016863508_229aed4abf_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oSZmkN)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/15203056342_0a97212536_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/parCZ5)
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on September 11, 2014, 01:11:45 AM
Hmm can you take voltages of IC4 & 8 too.

Something's funny if you get no clock reading at pin 13 of the 4047 but the voltages on it look okay.

Just to be sure are you using the meter correctly, putting the black lead to ground as you measure with the red.

With range full and rate half way or slower, do you get any moving voltage on pin 10 of the 4007?

I notice you have C26 socketed too... it is properly in there isn't it, leads making good contact.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: electricb on September 11, 2014, 11:17:27 AM
Thanks Scruffie. Here are the voltages:

IC4 (TL062)
13.84
7.96
3-12V (ranges)
0
6.97
6.97
3-12V (ranges)
14.66

IC8
11.13
3.76
3.75
0
7
7
5.96
14.4

I do get voltage that fluctuates from 5.7V to 8V on pin 10 of the 4007 with the speed just below half and the range maxed.

C6 is in there - I've tried 10p, 22p, and 30p (no 27s handy) but nothing really seems to make any difference at this point.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on September 11, 2014, 04:17:49 PM
They mostly look okay as far as I can see... what meter are you using? I wonder if it can reach the frequencies needed, you can put the range to zero and then the manual control to both extremes and try and measure for a clock to test.

If we assume for now the clock isn't the issue, maybe there's an issue in the audio path, so the rest of the voltages please.

And have you double checked your FET pinout?

Don't worry, it's a tricky build but we'll get there :)
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: muddyfox on September 11, 2014, 06:04:40 PM

Just popping my head in to say I'm glad you boys are taking a serious swing at this as I'm about halfway through my build (waiting for a slow boat from China for some parts I could have sworn I had on hand).

Thanks Scruffie!
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: electricb on September 11, 2014, 10:44:51 PM
Thanks Scruffie. I really appreciate the help.

FET pinout seems ok. I'm using a 2N2457 so it's GSD and thus I'm using the rightmost three holes. Interestingly, nothing much seems to happen when I switch the FET orientation or even remove it entirely. I get a little extra noise in one particular pinout placement, but that's about it.

I should clarify that I am getting a sweep with everything maxed out although it gets weak really quickly when you back off the enhance or threshold controls. Also when the Range is off, the Manual does seem to work, it's just not very long or deep. The annoying part is that I can't bias it.

My meter is a cheapo Victor VC921 that I got off ebay, but it ranges from 100HZ to 10MHz so it should be ok. I also notice that on other pins (e.g., pin 6 of the MN3007), it does kick in so it seems that it works, just not on the pin that I need it to.

Here are the rest of my voltages:

IC2
4.7
4.7
4.7
0
6.97
6.99
6.99
13.94

IC13
7.7
7
6.99
0.03
6.92
6.99
6.99
14


IC1
7
7
6.4
0.01
6.1
6.1
6.1
14

IC3
7.1
7
7
0.002
7
7
7
14


IC12
7
7
7
0.003
7
7
7
14
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on September 12, 2014, 12:05:31 AM
Okay, measuring at Pin 2 of the 3007, can you adjust the frequency from 34.8KHz to 1.3MHz?

Your voltages basically look okay, I wonder if it's just a bad joint, you tried re-flowing?
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: electricb on September 12, 2014, 12:41:27 AM
I think I'm making progress...but I have no idea where to go next.

Yes, I can get from 38.5kHz to 1.46MHz on the BBD. But to do this, I have to turn C-Range fully CCW and C-Max fully CW.

The interesting thing is now Pin 13 finally lights up and (at max Manual) reads 2.8MHz! Ok, good. So I turn the Manual down...and now get a reading of 0.

However, if I back off C-Max to about halfway, I can get it to read 25.9kHz. However, turn it up any higher and it goes back to 0. If I leave C-Max so that I'm getting a reading at Manual fully CCW, it reads 0 again when I turn Manual fully CW and I have to bump up C-Max to get it to read anything in the MHz range.

I have played with the clock cap and have tried caps that measure 20p, 27p, and 29p and right now, the 20 has worked the "best".

Any ideas, Scruff? I am going to reflow everything this weekend if you don't have any clues from this and if it's a soldering problem, then I will quit building forever.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: gordo on September 12, 2014, 03:50:23 AM
Watching this one with a keen eye as the Flintlock parts should show up tomorrow and it's the next board on the bench.  Electricb, you own this stuff, so it has to be something simple and too obvious to be noticed.

It's hard to see with the reflection off the flux but at the lower left, about 3 pins in from the edge there's a suspicious looking solder.  Maybe a good cleaning will give you fresh eyes?
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on September 12, 2014, 06:10:36 PM
Quote from: electricb on September 12, 2014, 12:41:27 AM
I think I'm making progress...but I have no idea where to go next.

Yes, I can get from 38.5kHz to 1.46MHz on the BBD. But to do this, I have to turn C-Range fully CCW and C-Max fully CW.

The interesting thing is now Pin 13 finally lights up and (at max Manual) reads 2.8MHz! Ok, good. So I turn the Manual down...and now get a reading of 0.

However, if I back off C-Max to about halfway, I can get it to read 25.9kHz. However, turn it up any higher and it goes back to 0. If I leave C-Max so that I'm getting a reading at Manual fully CCW, it reads 0 again when I turn Manual fully CW and I have to bump up C-Max to get it to read anything in the MHz range.

I have played with the clock cap and have tried caps that measure 20p, 27p, and 29p and right now, the 20 has worked the "best".

Any ideas, Scruff? I am going to reflow everything this weekend if you don't have any clues from this and if it's a soldering problem, then I will quit building forever.

Haha, it's a big and tricky build so don't quit over a bad joint!

In the photos it does look a bit like you might have melted the test pad so that might explain why you get nothing there... but everything seems close so I am thinking it's either a dodgy part (any of this stuff from Tayda? Haha) or a solder joint isn't quite perfect or something isn't quite seated in its socket properly.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: electricb on September 14, 2014, 02:52:25 PM
I did a total reflow this morning and made sure everything was firmly seated...still no resolving the issue. If I turn up CMax too much the flanging stops, but the highest I can get is about 25kHz. I think I'll put this one in the pedal graveyard for a while and maybe come back to it later. It will haunt me though...
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on September 14, 2014, 03:03:02 PM
A break can certainly help, but last ditch before that, try replacing the 4007, 4047 and 4049, just in case something funny is going on... the 4007 could be damaged I suppose.

It seems so close!
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: czapa tranzystor 2 on October 19, 2014, 12:04:49 PM
You 2n5457 is a wrong position ? Change for D G S first 3 pins
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: muddyfox on October 19, 2014, 04:58:26 PM

Now y'all have made me decide to finally go and finish my build to see if mine works. It prolly won't get boxed in a while, though...
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: vachonaudio on October 30, 2014, 10:16:42 AM
your JFET is in correct.
good luck.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: gordo on October 31, 2014, 01:21:53 AM
I got the last of my FL parts in today and fired it up and....fail...

I'm not even getting 15V out of the charge pump so I need to pull the diodes and figure out where I've gone wrong.  I think I jinxed myself by trying to encourage everyone else :-\
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: electricb on October 31, 2014, 02:26:03 AM
Good luck gordo! I wish I could help you, but I haven't returned to this build yet. I don't know if I will, but I already drilled the enclosure so I am motivated to finish it at some point.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on October 31, 2014, 03:13:23 AM
electricb, if you can't get it working as the voltages are so close to normal i'll give you a one time offer (as in this is not open to everyone, not that you must decide this second haha) to have it posted to me and i'll get it going. Although be forewarned I am slow as shit getting stuff posted out... but it happens in the end.

Quote from: gordo on October 31, 2014, 01:21:53 AM
I got the last of my FL parts in today and fired it up and....fail...

I'm not even getting 15V out of the charge pump so I need to pull the diodes and figure out where I've gone wrong.  I think I jinxed myself by trying to encourage everyone else :-\
Does it put out 18V on the cathode of D9? I wouldn't pull parts unless it's necessary.

It's a tricky build, you'll get it going  :)
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: wgc on October 31, 2014, 07:01:00 PM
just a crazy thought to the op

is it possible you accidentally swapped a pot?

I don't know the circuit but it seems pretty easy to do and miss something like that
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: gordo on November 02, 2014, 02:10:36 AM
I think I'm officially losing my mind.  I pulled the 4 diodes to make sure I hadn't screwed up something around the power supply.  I have 2 known working 1054's and getting 9.x volts into the charge pump but measuring output at pin 2 I get exactly 5.2V.  Anyone have any ideas?  Without the diodes and regulator installed I should have isolated the charge pump.  I'm stumped...
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on November 02, 2014, 03:10:20 AM
LT1054 pin 2 isn't output, as I said I wouldn't just start pulling parts, what do you get at D9s cathode/regulator input/C34 positive with the diodes installed, the charge pump wont double the voltage without them.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: gordo on November 02, 2014, 03:35:50 AM
Scruff, should have listened the first time.  I'll repop diodes tomorrow and get back to you.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on November 02, 2014, 04:44:06 AM
You can just leave the regulator out if you want to isolate the charge pump :) you can also leave out D7 & 13 as those aren't needed for the charge pump to function.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: gordo on November 03, 2014, 01:22:43 AM
Alright, I've got flanging.  Thanks Scruffie for the help on this one.  I either had a wrong diode or reversed one of them but got the charge pump working and put in a fresh regulator.  Put all my chips back in and this thing sounds really good, even without having set the trims yet.  I made sure they all worked.  I need to pickup a frequency counter to do this right.  In the meantime it sounds like Pat Travers in a box and I can get started on drilling the enclosure.  Woohoo!
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Scruffie on November 03, 2014, 11:47:45 AM
Congrats man! Looking forward to the build report ;)

Me & Keefe suggest the VC97 multimeter from ebay for a well priced frequency counter.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: gordo on November 04, 2014, 04:17:46 AM
Snagged a VC97 from a U.S. source for $22.00 and free shipping. Outstanding. By the time I get the box prepped it should be here!
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: electricb on April 05, 2016, 11:21:50 AM
I'm bumping this back up to the top because I am giving it another go. I bought a new Flintlock PCB when they were on sale last week from lectric-fx and I repopulated it, hand measuring every component to ensure it was up to spec. I am just waiting for the SIP op amps to come in, but I am hoping that build number 2 goes better than build number 1. It took a couple years, but I can't let this one get the better of me!
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: gordo on April 06, 2016, 12:20:34 AM
That's what I did with the Collosolus.  I throuble shot till half the pads fell off and I finally got a second one, which fired up without a hitch.  Hopefully the same happens to you.

I can't believe I missed the 1968 boards.  Of course I don't need it, but I always enjoy your boards.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Droogie on April 06, 2016, 01:54:34 AM
Same here with the Flintlock! I eventually gave up and salvaged the board for parts, then discovered I had a bum pot! Doh! Built a second and it's fine.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Martan on April 08, 2016, 12:06:23 AM
A timely revival! I am about to start putting ICs in the Flintlock. Trying to build the Flange group of:
Current Lover: Works
Collasollus: Bloody mess
Flintlock: Almost there
Nameless: Have parts but haven't started
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Jules on April 08, 2016, 08:09:35 AM
Yeah, I am having another stab at the Flintlock from a couple of years ago when I was a bit green.
So far this year:
Nameless flange - success
Current lover - success
Clone theory - success (not rally a flanger)
I really hope I get the Flintlock going.
Title: Re: Flintlock Flanger Frustration
Post by: Haberdasher on April 09, 2016, 12:38:11 AM
fingers crossed you guys have better luck this time around!