Post
by EMwhite » Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:51 pm
Three problems (and power isn't one of them)
1. board mounted jacks (the top row generally) will need to be desoldered, and in it's place, wire leading to new jacks which would typically be mounted beneath the controls, MOTM style. This is not trivial work and in some cases requires some delicate desoldering meaning that there are plenty of SMT components very tightly packed on modern foggers.
2. board width is just a tad wider than that which will fit neatly within the 2-space MU cavity. Note that I'm saying "MU" and not 5U. 5U, generically speaking is the family of formats which includes MOTM, Moog Unit format, etc. MOTM two space is more narrow that MU (dotcom style) and what I'm saying is that even with a 2 space panel, you'll find that most of the boards need to be mounted above the folds and care must be taken when squeezing this into your cabinet depending on what is next to this module.
3. panel layout needs to be precise and can be expensive. Folder end aluminum panels which are typically 1.5mm or so in thickness DEPEND on the folded ends and Front Panel Express will not do this. What they will do is a nice 3mm anodized panel which is very close to MOTM (Oakley, Syntech, etc.) format. Not what most synthesizer.com owners want.
Silkscreen vs laser etched vs machine etched w/or without infill are all design decisions. FPE charges by stroke, per tool change, for infill, for object, each hole drilled, etc. Somebody good at layout and machining can develop a design which is cost efficient. Somebody who is liberal (not smart in the engineering sense of the word) will expend $150 at FPE.
In my opinion, Ben @ RE:Synthesis has a excellent offering; I've purchased from him and he is reliable and has an excellent quality product. He laser etches folded edge MU panels (which he purchases from Roger @ synth.com), works with standard art packages (Corel, HPGL type), and has affordable fees. For those of us in America, it will cost a bit for int'l shipping, but I propose getting a list together, contributing to a design and getting a run done.
I'm not sure if he works with slider pots (MuRF) or rectangular switch holes so that may be a show stopper. I'll reach out to him to check.
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re: Power - a Wiggler I know put together a schematic and mechanical (heat sink) design for converting the +/- 15 to +/- 12 for use with dotcom or MOTM power supporting Euro rack modules. I built one up, added a tip-top flying ribbon cable and now have plenty of Euro power in my modular. The regulators used come in 9V variety and if only positive voltage is required, easier still. They are rated at 1a but larger are available. Shedding this much voltage might require a slightly large sink but it's doable and inexpensive. But I'm sure most of us will be happy enough to have the module mounted and usable and wouldn't mind having the original Fooger power supply connected through the back.
'76 Minimoog, Taurus 3, Oberheim FVS + Son of 2-voice; Sequential ProOne; Juno 106; Moog Model 15; Kurzweil 250; Hammond M3; and a handful of Fender Basses
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