I've built the Cave Dweller and really dig it for what it is, but I sometimes want the additional filtering like in the Sea Urchin circuit. I like that delay in the 1590A, so I did an SMT layout of the Sea Urchin. These boards were populated by hand, but I may give a reflow oven a go at some point; I just need to get some paste. If I really decide to do it right, I would get a stencil for that, but I will likely be too cheap for that.
There was a goof on the backside of the board: the regulator pinout was wrong, but a few traces cut, a few jumper wires and I was on my way. There was also a silk screen error that you'll see in one of the pics, but that wasn't too big of a deal.
Here are a few pics of the populated board:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/MiniBlue4.jpg)
Here's a couple of microscope shots of the board, just for the hell of it:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/MiniBlue2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/MiniBlue1.jpg)
Here is the boxed pedal. Polishing it was a PITA, but I am happy with the results. It looks nice as long as you NEVER EVER TOUCH IT. :-)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/MiniBlueBoxed1.jpg)
And here are the gut shots:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/MiniBlueBoxed2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/pickdropper/Guitar%20Pedals/MiniBlueBoxed3.jpg)
that looks like a production pedal. Great work.
My wife just looked at this (and a few other of your builds) and said to me, "Well, it gives you something to aspire to." Amazing job.
:o
This just looks ridiculously professional. I'm always impressed by SMD done by hand.
How much smaller than 1/8W resistors are the SMD resistors?
Thats amazing work dude :o
Great stuff.
Quote from: midwayfair on August 31, 2012, 01:22:26 PM
:o
This just looks ridiculously professional. I'm always impressed by SMD done by hand.
How much smaller than 1/8W resistors are the SMD resistors?
They are quite a bit smaller, but still manageable. For this build, I used 0603 resistors and 0805 caps. I've done 0402 by hand before, but it is a bit more of a pain. It can also make troubleshooting more difficult because they often don't have values marked (like the caps don't). 0201 is VERY VERY small and I wouldn't bother on a hand-soldered board (even some pick and place machines don't like 0201).
And thanks for the kind words, everybody. I appreciate the feedback.
Top shelf sir. Congrats
Looks great! Very professional.
:o Amazing job!
-Aaron
holy cow that is fantastic! super neat job too.
i wish there were more smt projects.
pro job wish i had one of those minis for my board
Classy, professionnal and inspiring job! Congrats ;)
Very nice!
I quit! You sir are a god among men!
Bravo! Crazy awesome work.
off da hook! ;D
Josh
Super impressive!
Hey PickDropper - any chance you could give us a copy of the artwork or maybe even the Eagle files? Do you think that Press-N-Peel could handle the traces? I'd really like a good SMD project to get my feet wet - I really want a SMD Cave Dweller but I'm not quite (yet) up to drawing stuff for SMD.
Thanks for the AWESOME and inspiring work brother!
:o That's amazing! Incredibly professional looking job!
Quote from: disconnector on September 01, 2012, 05:50:02 AM
Hey PickDropper - any chance you could give us a copy of the artwork or maybe even the Eagle files? Do you think that Press-N-Peel could handle the traces? I'd really like a good SMD project to get my feet wet - I really want a SMD Cave Dweller but I'm not quite (yet) up to drawing stuff for SMD.
Thanks for the AWESOME and inspiring work brother!
Hey Disconnector,
I don't think you can actually etch this one because it has components on both side of the board and, because it's SMT, it needs vias to get there. I know some have etched both sides, but the tolerances to this likely make it very difficult.
If there is interest, I could do another small run of these so that folks could try their hand at SMT. I still have a few boards from this run, but they require 3 cuts and 3 jumpers because the regulator pinout is incorrect (that's what I get for changing regulator package at the last minute).
Depending on priced definitely be up for at least 2. A stereo Sea Urchin anyone?
I'd actually love a mini sized SMD Cave Dweller as well. Get two cascading delays into a 1590? Woot!!
Very cool! Such neat work on the chips, those are a PITA I'd say.
I'd be interested in one of these boards. Where do you source these from? That would probably be the harder part for me.
Awesome work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I can't even fathom how you did that by hand. Fantastic work! I just had to re-solder a resistor on that style board (from a toyota tacoma) and I felt like such a brute with my big iron ans clumsy hands. Major props for doing the whole thing. Also, I love the graphics!
First of all, that's just bad-ass. It's so well done that I'm angry (in a good way). You da man.
Second, I'm double mad you beat me to using a SMD 2399. I have a couple and was just about to break one out in my next layout. Nice scoop! ;D
All I can really do here is just a dramatic slow cap. :D
Serious question now: Are the electros on the bottom, or did you just get by with high-value ceramics? I've got some 10uf non-polarized ceramics that are just boss.
Quote from: pickdropper on August 31, 2012, 01:29:04 PM
For this build, I used 0603 resistors and 0805 caps.
I'm a wimp. I like 1206. They are quite manageable. But also not as space-saving as 0805, and not nearly as common. Tayda sells 0805 resistors and caps, which is handy. I may have to scale down if I ever run out of the 5k 1206 caps/resistors I have.
Quote from: culturejam on September 02, 2012, 03:52:56 AM
First of all, that's just bad-ass. It's so well done that I'm angry (in a good way). You da man.
Second, I'm double mad you beat me to using a SMD 2399. I have a couple and was just about to break one out in my next layout. Nice scoop! ;D
All I can really do here is just a dramatic slow cap. :D
Serious question now: Are the electros on the bottom, or did you just get by with high-value ceramics? I've got some 10uf non-polarized ceramics that are just boss.
Quote from: pickdropper on August 31, 2012, 01:29:04 PM
For this build, I used 0603 resistors and 0805 caps.
I'm a wimp. I like 1206. They are quite manageable. But also not as space-saving as 0805, and not nearly as common. Tayda sells 0805 resistors and caps, which is handy. I may have to scale down if I ever run out of the 5k 1206 caps/resistors I have.
There are three, larger value tantalums (100uF and 47uF) on the back, along with a diode and the regulator (and a few 0603 resistors as well). I did use a 47uF 1206 ceramic cap on the front side. Going down smaller than 1
1206 are indeed very manageable, but they do come with space compromises. 0805 shrinks things down considerably, 0603 a bit more so, but obviously not as drastic.
It's too bad Tayda doesn't carry 0603 resistors, their pricing is great on the 0805s.
Can't really add anything to whats already been said...
uber job man 8)
:o holy crap :o
8)
Quote from: pickdropper on September 02, 2012, 04:13:30 AM
It's too bad Tayda doesn't carry 0603 resistors, their pricing is great on the 0805s.
You can always try sending them an email. I got them to stock a bunch of stuff awhile ago and they are always interested in growing bigger towards the pedal industry (my impression at least).
Quote from: bigmufffuzzwizz on September 02, 2012, 10:42:40 AM
Quote from: pickdropper on September 02, 2012, 04:13:30 AM
It's too bad Tayda doesn't carry 0603 resistors, their pricing is great on the 0805s.
You can always try sending them an email. I got them to stock a bunch of stuff awhile ago and they are always interested in growing bigger towards the pedal industry (my impression at least).
Yeah, I've heard that works. I actually sent them an email suggesting that they stock the surface mount PT2399s as their pricing is MUCH better than anywhere else on those chips. They said they will look into it; we'll have to see what happens.
thats amazing job im so jelous. :o
Great job, pickdropper! Looks like a production pedal.. ;D
I just started with SMD. For now, I make hybrid layouts (SMD resistors and ICs. through-hole capacitors, etc.) on Eagle for single-sided transfers as I like to etch my own PCBs. I'm now working on a Woody acoustic simulator and a Flatline compressor. I take most of the stuff from tayda. It's been pretty good until now!
Hector
Quote from: Ettore_M on September 04, 2012, 08:50:13 AM
Great job, pickdropper! Looks like a production pedal.. ;D
I just started with SMD. For now, I make hybrid layouts (SMD resistors and ICs. through-hole capacitors, etc.) on Eagle for single-sided transfers as I like to etch my own PCBs. I'm now working on a Woody acoustic simulator and a Flatline compressor. I take most of the stuff from tayda. It's been pretty good until now!
Hector
Sounds cool, Hector. Please do build on those when you are done. It would be cool to see your hybrid layouts.
wow