PCB-mounted pots - tricks to keep them straight?

[thelonious]

Just built a madbean Cherrybomb (Colorsound Overdriver) with switchable input caps. It was my first time powdercoating, and I might never go back to painting. Fast, easy, durable, beautiful... what more could I ask for? I used powerbuythepound's Black Starlight, and the pics just don't do it justice. My only frustration is that I couldn't get the PCB mounted pots to sit straight - after I messed with them enough, I got close, but they still ended up looking a bit cattywampus. Anyone have sneaky tricks for getting them perfectly straight?

[Keppy]

I mount the pots on the board unsoldered, then maneuver the whole thing into the enclosure. I put the nuts on just enough to hold the pots in place and then solder the pins to the board. That way the pots always match the enclosure, no matter what irregularities I may have introduced in the drilling process.

[deadastronaut]

ive never used mounted pots..

but if i did, i think i would have to knock up a template of the box+pcb in inkscape, print off, tape to the box, centre punch,  ,and get it bang on..

or use digital calipers....

[thelonious]

Thanks, guys!

Keppy, what do you prefer to use to cover the back of the pots? The covers I had on hand didn't fit quite right and prevented the pots from sitting as flush against the board as I wanted.

[Keppy]

Keppy, what do you prefer to use to cover the back of the pots? The covers I had on hand didn't fit quite right and prevented the pots from sitting as flush against the board as I wanted.

Nothing. I use the long pin pots, so the back of them is nowhere near the PCB.

[thelonious]

Ah, I am totally buying those next time. Thanks man!

[CodeMonk]

ive never used mounted pots..

but if i did, i think i would have to knock up a template of the box+pcb in inkscape, print off, tape to the box, centre punch,  ,and get it bang on..

or use digital calipers....

Both of the above.
Works well for me.

I will generally use a piece of cardboard as my first template.
I measure things multiple times before I drill the enclosure.
Still, I have ruined a few enclosures.

[davent]

Thanks, guys!

Keppy, what do you prefer to use to cover the back of the pots? The covers I had on hand didn't fit quite right and prevented the pots from sitting as flush against the board as I wanted.

I've used recycled plastic packaging, slightly heavier then transparency film, to insulate between the pot backs and PCB.

I've used recycled plastic packaging to insulate between the pot's backs and PCB's, it's slightly heavier then transparency film.



edit; blah, blah, blah, mumble, mumble...

[CodeMonk]

Thanks, guys!

Keppy, what do you prefer to use to cover the back of the pots? The covers I had on hand didn't fit quite right and prevented the pots from sitting as flush against the board as I wanted.

I've used recycled plastic packaging, slightly heavier then transparency film, to insulate between the pot backs and PCB.

I love you
I've been trying to think of something for insulation.
Thats a great idea.

[Keppy]

I just want to say I'm honored to have thelonious and CodeMonk in the same thread.

[deadastronaut]

@dave, cool, ive been using CD/DVD cases,