madbeanpedals::forum

Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: pickdropper on October 02, 2018, 04:09:17 AM

Title: A Quiet Place
Post by: pickdropper on October 02, 2018, 04:09:17 AM
This is my 1590a layout of the ISP Decimator circuit.  I really wanted a tiny version for my board.  I haven't put it on a board yet, but will shortly.

(https://i.imgur.com/GucxrS3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mc7tIgP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vVn9FS6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/u3vVyaj.jpg)

I see that I missed a bit of flux on the board.  I'll go back and clean that later.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: cooder on October 02, 2018, 04:11:24 AM
Sorcery....  :o
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: matmosphere on October 02, 2018, 04:38:06 AM
Very nice, impeccable inside as usual. I have to say, I rather like this artwork aesthetic you've been doing lately.

How did you cut the faceplate?
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: jjjimi84 on October 02, 2018, 04:53:15 AM
Gord lord😳 bravo sir, bravo.

Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: culturejam on October 02, 2018, 05:01:37 AM
I daresay nobody has done a "faceplate" graphic like that. Well done, sir.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: m-Kresol on October 02, 2018, 05:49:30 AM
Wow, that's a damn fine build you have there.

I guess the enclosure is laser engraved, but how did you achieve that recessed look in combination with the black? Did you remove parts of the (thick) powder coating to get the recess and then another pass for the graphics and filled it back up with black colour?

also, what do you use to remove the flux? this is super clean... I never get it like this and it takes forever with isopropanol.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: mjg on October 02, 2018, 08:22:05 AM
That really is stunning, inside and out. 

Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: Boba7 on October 02, 2018, 08:40:39 AM
Insane, beautiful, I still cant  believe my eyes when I see your builds!
Amazing...
Quote from: m-Kresol on October 02, 2018, 05:49:30 AM
also, what do you use to remove the flux? this is super clean... I never get it like this and it takes forever with isopropanol.

Same here, I pretty much gave up on cleaning the board!
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: pickdropper on October 02, 2018, 11:13:12 AM
Quote from: Matmosphere on October 02, 2018, 04:38:06 AM
Very nice, impeccable inside as usual. I have to say, I rather like this artwork aesthetic you've been doing lately.

How did you cut the faceplate?

Thanks, I cut and engraved the faceplate on a laser engraver.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: pickdropper on October 02, 2018, 11:18:03 AM
Quote from: m-Kresol on October 02, 2018, 05:49:30 AM
Wow, that's a damn fine build you have there.

I guess the enclosure is laser engraved, but how did you achieve that recessed look in combination with the black? Did you remove parts of the (thick) powder coating to get the recess and then another pass for the graphics and filled it back up with black colour?

also, what do you use to remove the flux? this is super clean... I never get it like this and it takes forever with isopropanol.

Actually, the enclosure itself has no engraving.  The faceplate was reverse engraved and cut on the laser engraver/cutter.  I then backfilled it with ink.  Because it's small, I did under a microscrope with a syringe and a small dispensing needle. 

I often use high purity isopropanol as a first pass cleaner, but it does leave a residue behind (unless you do a number of washes).  After the quick isopropanol wash, I sometimes use actual flux remover.  It's nasty and expensive, but it does remove the residue significantly better.  Just make sure you are in a well ventilated area.  With either one, I find I get better results if I use a clean, soft bristled tooth brush to scrub.  For more targeted cleaning, I use q-tips.  I twist the head of the q-tip to tighten up the cotton a bit.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: mrclean77 on October 02, 2018, 12:57:56 PM
 :o I feel like I might use some kind of "shocked" emoji a good bit, but when I got to pic 3, I know I felt my eyebrows raise and eyes bulge out haha

Nice work as always. Graphic is great and unique, but those guts, man.....
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: m-Kresol on October 02, 2018, 03:14:37 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on October 02, 2018, 11:18:03 AM
Quote from: m-Kresol on October 02, 2018, 05:49:30 AM
Wow, that's a damn fine build you have there.

I guess the enclosure is laser engraved, but how did you achieve that recessed look in combination with the black? Did you remove parts of the (thick) powder coating to get the recess and then another pass for the graphics and filled it back up with black colour?

also, what do you use to remove the flux? this is super clean... I never get it like this and it takes forever with isopropanol.

Actually, the enclosure itself has no engraving.  The faceplate was reverse engraved and cut on the laser engraver/cutter.  I then backfilled it with ink.  Because it's small, I did under a microscrope with a syringe and a small dispensing needle. 

I often use high purity isopropanol as a first pass cleaner, but it does leave a residue behind (unless you do a number of washes).  After the quick isopropanol wash, I sometimes use actual flux remover.  It's nasty and expensive, but it does remove the residue significantly better.  Just make sure you are in a well ventilated area.  With either one, I find I get better results if I use a clean, soft bristled tooth brush to scrub.  For more targeted cleaning, I use q-tips.  I twist the head of the q-tip to tighten up the cotton a bit.

Thanks for claryfying. I just now realized that there is a faceplate at all, just not covering the whole top surface.

I guess SMD is easer to clean up as the parts are not in the way as much and you loose less solder. Poor excuse on my part, but I will take it ;)
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: jubal81 on October 02, 2018, 07:11:46 PM
And it doesn't even look cramped....Pretty doggone slick.
Looking at it, though, wondering if you'd considered just putting the footswitch on the main PCB - looks about the same height. Then maybe mounting the pots to a second PCB with a ribbon connector.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: cooder on October 02, 2018, 07:30:07 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on October 02, 2018, 11:18:03 AM


Actually, the enclosure itself has no engraving.  The faceplate was reverse engraved and cut on the laser engraver/cutter.  I then backfilled it with ink.  Because it's small, I did under a microscrope with a syringe and a small dispensing needle. 

I often use high purity isopropanol as a first pass cleaner, but it does leave a residue behind (unless you do a number of washes).  After the quick isopropanol wash, I sometimes use actual flux remover.  It's nasty and expensive, but it does remove the residue significantly better.  Just make sure you are in a well ventilated area.  With either one, I find I get better results if I use a clean, soft bristled tooth brush to scrub.  For more targeted cleaning, I use q-tips.  I twist the head of the q-tip to tighten up the cotton a bit.

You know, there are also self-help groups in your area I'm sure that can help with that, I'm pretty sure.
The OCD I mean.

It usually starts like this:
"Hi I'm Dave and I build stompboxes..."
(deep sigh and murmur in the group... another one of those... they are the nuttiest type...)


And from there it will develop into a nice woolly friendship with weekly meetings and occasional decaf coffee outings on the weekends.
You will be able to sleep without having removed the speck of flux late at night. You can do it in the morning. Maybe even after breakfast.
And after a year or two you might be able to even leave it for a day or two, discovering another speck of dust on the day after that resting period. Your blood pressure will go down by a cent too, maybe. ;)

Seriously perfect work, awesome.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: Rockhorst on October 02, 2018, 09:26:44 PM
I'm with Cooder here...your OCD must've been very pleased when you designed that one.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: pickdropper on October 02, 2018, 09:51:57 PM
Quote from: jubal81 on October 02, 2018, 07:11:46 PM
And it doesn't even look cramped....Pretty doggone slick.
Looking at it, though, wondering if you'd considered just putting the footswitch on the main PCB - looks about the same height. Then maybe mounting the pots to a second PCB with a ribbon connector.

I generally avoid putting the footswitch on the main PCB, especially with such a long cantilever like this.  It a safer bet to wire it off board.  Admittedly a conservative approach, but the wiring wasn't too bad on this one.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: diablochris6 on October 02, 2018, 11:46:28 PM
Holy guacamole. That has to be Howard Hughes-level of cleanliness and perfection in that PCB design. Epic build.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: pickdropper on October 03, 2018, 11:15:58 AM
Thanks for the kind words, folks.  This build was definitely a bit on the OCD side, but I had a lot of fun with it.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: Martan on October 03, 2018, 08:30:20 PM
Just wow. Very impressive all around.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: BryGuy on October 04, 2018, 02:19:14 AM
Awesome
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: madbean on October 04, 2018, 11:30:17 AM
My 46th birthday is a couple months away and I know what you can get me!

Seriously, that is pretty outstanding.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: Leevibe on October 04, 2018, 01:52:40 PM
Perfection aside, that is just a beautiful object.

... and then there's the perfection. There's that too. How does the silence sound?
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: midwayfair on October 04, 2018, 03:33:49 PM
I think you've officially outed yourself as a robot.
Title: Re: A Quiet Place
Post by: juansolo on October 07, 2018, 08:20:28 AM
Impressive sir, most impressive.  8)