Front Panel Fabrication

[jimfowler]

Happy to announce the first official JIMTRONIX product: Buchla-format panels!

Short of mining and processing the ore everything is done by me in-house here in New York: milling, engraving, drilling, brushing, anodizing and painting. As of right now (and for a few reasons) I can only offer engraved panels. This might change down the road but for now it's exclusively engraved and paint filled.

I welcome your feedback be it positive or otherwise. I also welcome your order requests. Everything is made to order (for now) and new panels require complete re-design (again, by me) in the CAD/CAM software...so turnaround time might be a week or two (or three) depending on any number of factors. I'll do my best to be completely up front about anticipated wait (it's a somewhat time-consuming process from end to end). Tentative pricing is $60 for 1U panels (blanks are $20), $90 for 2U (blanks are 30) which includes domestic (US) shipping. I'm also willing to do all the milling if you want to draw/paint/etc. your own graphics and text. I'm down to help with your prototypes or one-offs. Working on a website but for now all inquiries should be sent to me via PM/DM here or send email to info at jimtronix dot net.

- Jim

[tobb]

Interesting!

[djs]

Nice! I have a few ideas I might be hitting you up with in the next few months.

[levelhead3]

This is most excellent news! Do you have specific file format(s) you need for the graphics and drill files, or will you be able to work from scale drawings in PDF?

[jimfowler]

Kinda depends. PDF is fine for certain aspects...DXF and SVG can go right into Fusion. It's not a big deal to re-create things if necessary. Best bet is to email me what you got and we can go from there: info@jimtronix.net

- Jim

[delayed]

What machine are you running for these?

[Rob_C]

(typo?) IMPEDENCE GAIN --> IMPEDANCE GAIN

[jimfowler]

Historically accurate misspelling.

[Rob_C]

Historically accurate misspelling.

I thought as much before posting, but a quick Google search turned up nothing. Rather cool to keep the misspelling as a tribute.

[sanders]

It’d be fantastic to have another panel source, especially one in the US. But only offering engraved is a deal breaker for me. It’s a beautiful look, but I’d just assume keep to one consistent (not to mention historic) printed look.

[jimfowler]

Recently finished up a 266 and 275. Slight tweak to the 275 design to have the knob pointer line up with the hash marks. I drives me crazy when a pot at full CW or CCW is past the mark on the panel.

Failed to get pics before finishing the modules but here we go nonetheless. Pardon the difference in lighting. I'm no photographer.

[jimfowler]

204 and 245.

[memorygardens]

are you just doing buchla format? Any chance you could do serge?

[jimfowler]

Hmm...maybe. I'll PM you to discuss.

[revtor]

Yes, Serge in a half-panel width would be awesome.

[KSS]

I drives me crazy when a pot at full CW or CCW is past the mark on the panel.

That's sometimes done on purpose due to the difference between electrical and mechanical travel. The mark is where the actual pot effectiveness begins and ends. Putting marks at the physical ends of travel means they're inaccurate.

This is the kind of thing Don paid attention to.

[ersatzplanet]

I drives me crazy when a pot at full CW or CCW is past the mark on the panel.

That's sometimes done on purpose due to the difference between electrical and mechanical travel. The mark is where the actual pot effectiveness begins and ends. Putting marks at the physical ends of travel means they're inaccurate.

This is the kind of thing Don paid attention to.

Most often this happens with Knurled pots and Knurled Knobs not being bought for the correct board orientation. Pots that are mounted to horizontal PCBs have the knurls off 10 degrees from pots mounted in vertical PCBs. You have to spec the knobs to either have a "peak" or a "valley" at the top at the end of the full rotation. Some knobs are designed for one orientation and not the other. If the maker uses both orientations of PCBs, and doesn't buy separate knobs (because it is cheaper to use one SKU), one set of modules will be off. Doepfer was guilty of this on all of his older modules. He started off making modules with vertical PCBs, and then made some quad modules with horizontal PCBs, and the same knobs were used. They were all off.

[KSS]

James, that's a different cause and will mean the marks are offset the 'same' direction at ends of travel.

The issue I described -and the original disliked feature- is not knob related.

I love that you share this often misunderstood fact about T18 knobs, but it's not at play here. Setscrews and round shafts.

[jimfowler]

"Putting marks at the physical ends of travel means they're inaccurate."

Just tested your assertion on the model in question (275r) with a spectrum analyzer and sure enough those outermost 15 degrees of rotation on either side do, in fact, elicit an electrical (audible and visible) response.

Are we sure it doesn't have to do with 270-degree pots which would space those markings at the locations depicted on the original?

[KSS]

Yes, it absolutely can have to do with electrical rotation differences. We've been seeing reducing electrical rotation as pot makers try to conserve money and keep prices low. Used to be 300 was standard. Now some pots are only 240!

Depends on the parts. Glad you were able to check and confirm what it is for your specific case.

[co87lab]

are you just doing buchla format? Any chance you could do serge?

Are you interested in the following:

TPS, NCS1, NCS2 Panels (Dimitri limited run panels)
-Possess only the sealed Panels + VCO, pot mounting rail and PCB mounting rail PCB's