The first board made for the PiAno was messy since resistors were installed only after it was obvious they were needed. Four boards would be needed so creating one neatly would be important since it would be copied. The first board works well but it may be replaced if the copies are easy to produce.
While creating a neat board a few mistakes were made including some scorched vias where the soldering iron was too hot, misplaced wires, missing resistors, an off-center header socket, and inadvertently filled vias. This board was abandoned. Ultimately, it was another case of starting the procedure without a good plan and getting distracted during the process.
Another board was started with a clear plan; install the double-row header sockets, install all resistors, install a ground trace on each side of the board and install the wires last. This will leave less room for the thumbwheel switch but that doesn’t need to be installed close since it was also provided with pull-down resistors.
Wiring was completed for the board by taking the wires from the error-ridden board and transposing them to the neat board. The most effective method for linking the header pin to the wire lead to the resistor was to solder them independently then lay a short piece of scrap wire between all three leads and heat it until the solder flowed between all three pads.
Troubleshooting was messy and unpredictable. Some of the problems that occurred in the first version, when there were no pull-down resistors, came back. Some of the notes would trigger randomly, the octave selecting thumbwheel was ineffective, and applying a voltage to a wire wouldn’t play a note. This was frustrating because the addition of the resistor was supposed to negate all these problems. A quick check with a mult-meter revealed that the resistors weren’t properly grounded. Once the grounding traces were added the problems disappeared and every connection tested well.
Downloads
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1.
Completed projects from year 2.
Completed projects from year 3.
This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.
While creating a neat board a few mistakes were made including some scorched vias where the soldering iron was too hot, misplaced wires, missing resistors, an off-center header socket, and inadvertently filled vias. This board was abandoned. Ultimately, it was another case of starting the procedure without a good plan and getting distracted during the process.
Board with incorrectly placed wires and resistors
Another board was started with a clear plan; install the double-row header sockets, install all resistors, install a ground trace on each side of the board and install the wires last. This will leave less room for the thumbwheel switch but that doesn’t need to be installed close since it was also provided with pull-down resistors.
Neat board with resistors and header
Wiring was completed for the board by taking the wires from the error-ridden board and transposing them to the neat board. The most effective method for linking the header pin to the wire lead to the resistor was to solder them independently then lay a short piece of scrap wire between all three leads and heat it until the solder flowed between all three pads.
Top of neat board
Troubleshooting was messy and unpredictable. Some of the problems that occurred in the first version, when there were no pull-down resistors, came back. Some of the notes would trigger randomly, the octave selecting thumbwheel was ineffective, and applying a voltage to a wire wouldn’t play a note. This was frustrating because the addition of the resistor was supposed to negate all these problems. A quick check with a mult-meter revealed that the resistors weren’t properly grounded. Once the grounding traces were added the problems disappeared and every connection tested well.
Underside of neat board
Downloads
The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.
First time here?
Completed projects from year 1.
Completed projects from year 2.
Completed projects from year 3.
Disclaimer for http://24hourengineer.blogspot.com/
This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.
All information in this blog, or linked by this blog, are not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.
All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.
Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim property or assets based on a post.
2017-01-09 (M)
Comments
Post a Comment