DIY PCB Boards - look at what I just etched...

[Dirk_Hendrik]

Right, I've seen this done before as well, but I was asking because if you ever want to modify and repair it, that's a huge pain in the ass.  But really I do want to know where to get these male washers.

-Colin

Theyre quite standard jacks from companies like neutrik.

As for the pain in the behind. It's not that bad if you suck away the solder and use some desoldering braid to finis the last remains of solder. Apart from that use epoxy print (ofcourse?). It's much stronger and more heat resisitive.

[mojotron]

Are these the same jacks?

http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?handler=displayproduct&lstdispproductid=459124&e_categoryid=329&e_pcodeid=55004

Thanks for the pic - nice build - I really love the fat traces on all my stuff!

[puretube]

yep - though the thread isn`t shown clearly here:
http://www.neutrik.com/images/ock/products/downloads/210_165491.pdf
but you see the long-sleeved nut...

"Re`an" (London, England) also makes them...

[Dirk_Hendrik]

That's the jacks indeed. Re'an is (in my experiece) a horrible company to find using google.

This is a picture of 2 of my recently recent projects using ths stuff before:

[puretube]

this is a Re`an (sorry - don`t find the (silvery) nut)... :

[ExpAnonColin]

Right, I've seen this done before as well, but I was asking because if you ever want to modify and repair it, that's a huge pain in the ass.  But really I do want to know where to get these male washers.

-Colin

Theyre quite standard jacks from companies like neutrik.

As for the pain in the behind. It's not that bad if you suck away the solder and use some desoldering braid to finis the last remains of solder. Apart from that use epoxy print (ofcourse?). It's much stronger and more heat resisitive.

Desoldering 4-12 big contacts every time I want to take a look at the circuit board counts as apain to me

Thanks for the links guys... now if only I could buy them for 3c apiece like the jacks I get

-Colin

[KORGULL]

Ptownkid wrote:

Can someone please explain the process of using the glossy paper for this process. My understanding was you needed that press and peel stuff to do this.

Here's a few more good explanations for you.
http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm
http://pacificsun.ca/~robert/pcb/pcb.htm
http://www.5bears.com/pcb.htm
http://www.oldtemecula.com/theremin/board-etching.htm

[O]

Link me please?

-Colin

Here ya go...

Linky

Puretube, that pic shows a different jack than the ones I use. The legs on these are not straight, they sort of "snap" into the pc board (making a stronger physical connection). I have a team of R&D testers (my 15 yo nephew and his punk band) and so far, I haven't had a failure yet. They have really abused the pedals I've given them, but I haven't had one of them come back busted.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Re'an is (in my experiece) a horrible company to find using google.

I put in "re'an" (exactly like that, with the quote marks) and , the first thing that came up was... www.rean.com/

But you are right, searching within other sites for it (as a product) is hopeless. And, nice looking projects there!

[O]

...And, nice looking projects there!

You think I'm ready to start selling 'em? :lol:

[puretube]

I totally agree with Colin`s PITA,

and with

O`s large copper-fields!

(for electrical & ecological & economical reasons).

[guavatone]

I like the big traces O it tooks more "vintage"  What software did you use for schematic to PCB or did you design traces manually?

[Hailstorm350]

Thanks for that link O, plan to use those in the future.  I've actually been looking for those jacks for a long time.  I have seen them on mxr pedals and I really like the look of the non-protuding jacks.  I will definitely use them for future projects.  Thanks again,
Ken

[ExpAnonColin]

Link me please?

-Colin

Here ya go...

Linky

Cheers...

(immediately starts the search for a better deal...)

-Colin

[O]

I like the big traces O it tooks more "vintage"  What software did you use for schematic to PCB or did you design traces manually?

I used ExpressPCB to design the board layout (manually) and then used MS Paint to fatten up the traces.

I'm glad to see more DIYers use pc board mounted jacks... they make everything so much easier to wire. I should be done with that pedal by today, I have a few more pics to show you guys.

[guavatone]

When you folks use isolated plastic jacks is the ground connected to chassis/box?  Is there a noise difference when the ground isn't connected to chassis?

[davebungo]

I think you have to be careful of mechanical stresses and strains of PCB mounting jack sockets.  I think it's fine as long as everything is nice and solid, but I have repaired two Boss pedals in the past which have suffered from broken PCB tracks/joints on the inout or output jack sockets.  Having said that, Boss don't have a very secure jack socket arrangement in the first place.

[puretube]

yes!