Workshop Osc Machine (W.O.M.) - Kits + Build thread

BugBrand · Post by **BugBrand** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:23 pm

PING!Update for Oct2010
New PRO version released with nice pots like on the Weevils!

*****************************
Edit Nov09:

The WOM design has been upgraded a bit over the last months - most noticeably for the last series of workshop events. Updated files are linked below or visit the main WOM page

The main instruction documetation (PDF c.1Mb)

Further details - schematic, bill-of-materials, etc (PDF c.250Kb)

Hi-resolution schematic (jpeg 150Kb)

***

Hiya,

This is a thread for anyone building (or just interested in) the Workshop Osc Machine (WOM). Feel free to post questions or comments.

The full documentation can be downloaded in PDF format here (updated Apr09)
-- this contains full building details + electronics info + soldering instructions -- 24 pages in all.

Kits are now available from the BugSite

The kit contains EVERYTHING to build it apart from the tools:
Soldering Iron (+ stand + cleaner)
Solder
Wire Cutters

ALL parts are supplied inc. battery.
Double-sided, through-hole, PCB with silk-screen for easy parts placement.

Its really not hard to build - even if you know zero electronics and have never soldered before! Virtually everyone who has attempted it has completed in around 4 hours and most people get things working absolutely first time they switch on. The only really necessary advice is to read the documentation and work slowly.

The little machine contains: 3 oscs (with pitch/rate/sync), mixer, comparator, overdrive, 1/4" jack and onboard miniamp
+ circuit-bending features of power-starve and many body contacts

Some sound samples are on the Bug-SoundDevices page

Enjoy!

fluxmonkey · Post by **fluxmonkey** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 1:19 pm

BugBrand wrote:Hi,
Just making a thread so I can include reference to it in the PDF document.
I'll edit this thread shortly with the full downloadable document and details about the kit.
Cheers for now!
Tom

EDIT 1:::
Here's the PDF (1.5meg size)
More-more details shortly...

exemplary documentation, nice job. does this mean that the kits/pcbs will soon be available (hope hope)?

b

futuresoundsystems · Post by **futuresoundsystems** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 1:57 pm

Cool! Nice little machine Tom! BTW I think I've found a typo in the soldering section:
"reheat the joint until it flows properly or use a desolder it and reapply fresh solder"

BugBrand · Post by **BugBrand** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:06 pm

Thanks Fluxmonkey -- I've just put the first kits (5) up on my shop page -- I'm finishing off another 10-20 kits in the next couple of days. I'll edit the initial post with further details shortly....

& Thanks Finlay - that's just the sort of eyes I need!
Will update the pdf shortly..

A Dingleberry Monstrosity · Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:52 pm

that is awesome! good job!

chinard · Post by **chinard** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:43 pm

damn, thats a really well written document.

good thing i am on a big DIY bender lately

BugBrand · Post by **BugBrand** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:49 pm

I've added a few more to the shop if anyone missed the first little batch.
I'll be sending these out from Monday.
Cheers!

BugBrand · Post by **BugBrand** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:20 pm

Hiya - just to let people know that these are now available again - and now with RED circuitboards with gold plate pads & touch-plates::

Hey and here's a great set of Flickr pics from the workshop I did in Bilbao on Sunday - these events are always great fun for me and the builders!

KNYST · Post by **KNYST** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:14 pm

Cool!
I've just put mine together (initial green board) last weekend, and it's such a sweet machine. Sound is awesome - this is the shit!

...just might get me another of those :-)

eyehue · Post by **eyehue** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:24 pm

awesome! will analog haven have these or direct from you only?

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:55 pm

is it wrong to be tempted by the sexy redness of it all

must resist...

Uncopyrightable · Post by **Uncopyrightable** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:49 pm

Resistance Was Futile!

Ordered

DGTom · Post by **DGTom** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:24 am

vurt wrote:is it wrong to be tempted by the sexy redness of it all :oops

If its wrong... I don't wanna be right!

My finances suck at the moment but the 40106 rulezzzz!!! & I wanna get my fingers wet on one of these!

BugBrand · Post by **BugBrand** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 3:27 am

Thanks guys!
I haven't chatted to AH about stocking any and doubt I'll have enough to spare for their shop.
I do have several more boards beyond what I've put in the shop at the moment, so there will be some more over the next few weeks once I manage to complete the rest of the parts kits.

Cheers!

Soy Sos · Post by **Soy Sos** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:47 pm

OK dammit, I just ordered one.

I've been wanting to pick up
a Bugbrand piece for a while. I love your designs! Any idea if it
may be possible to apply a few leads for external CV from my modular?
But pleeeease, I don't want to fuck anything up, I'm happy to leave it
as it is.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:23 pm

sungja wrote:Yeah this machine is the shit..!!

The starve function is really great on this one, makes it very controllable and theres alot of dripping white noise terror on some settings.

It can also shut up and just play when u use the contactpoints.

Definite my favourite Bug at the moment.

Playing it almost everyday.

I ordered two more kits from the man and one of them I will put in some special case.

When its done I will post pictures.

Everyone should have this..!!

Thanks Tom..!

damn you!

KNYST · Post by **KNYST** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:00 pm

vurt wrote:is it wrong to be tempted by the sexy redness of it all
must resist...

vurt - sure it's wrong, that's why it's so tempting :-)
Me, I couldn't resist the porn board. All blinged up with gold n' all...
Must touch...

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:07 pm

KNYST wrote:
vurt wrote:is it wrong to be tempted by the sexy redness of it all
must resist...

vurt - sure it's wrong, that's why it's so tempting :-)
Me, I couldn't resist the porn board. All blinged up with gold n' all...
Must touch...

see above, im weak

BugBrand · Post by **BugBrand** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:08 am

Continued CHEERS guys!

Right, a slight update / change..
Someone asked about knobs (having seen the pics of ones I'd had some special pots & knobs for). The mini-dials that come with the kit are NOT really suitable at all for adding standard knobs, but I realised that a little bit of heat-shrink tubing can be employed to make something alright.

So, I will be including a few pieces of coloured heat-shrink tubing with each kit now. Follow the instructions below (and ask questions if you like too!).

Cut three pieces of tubing per dial:
- one about 1cm long, plus two shorter bits
- put one short bit over the dial, hold it carefully and use a lighter to heat it up & shrink it. You don't need much heat - too much may melt the dial!
- now put on the 2nd short bit and heat again.
- finally put on the longer bit over the top and heat this too.
- attach the dial to the pot
- you can also then use a thin permanent marker to draw a little line so you can tell the position of the dial.

KNYST · Post by **KNYST** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:26 am

Thanks Tom! Looks comfy :-)

Later on, I might add an audio input to mine, but I'm not sure how to...
Anyone knows? Anyone tried this?

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:15 pm

KNYST wrote:Thanks Tom! Looks comfy :-)

Later on, I might add an audio input to mine, but I'm not sure how to...
Anyone knows? Anyone tried this?

ill be keeping an eye on this i think...

fluxmonkey · Post by **fluxmonkey** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:34 pm

builders should really consider replacing the supplied pots with regular panel-mount controls:

the downside is all the flying wires, but it was worth it in terms of durability and playability (for me, at least).

fantastic creature, tom... i see there's still one in Cosey's rig for the Throbbing Gristle tour...

b

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:47 pm

and cover up the sexy red pcb?

BugBrand · Post by **BugBrand** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:32 am

KNYST wrote:Later on, I might add an audio input to mine, but I'm not sure how to...
Anyone knows? Anyone tried this?

Soy Sos wrote:Any idea if it
may be possible to apply a few leads for external CV from my modular?
But pleeeease, I don't want to fuck anything up, I'm happy to leave it
as it is.

Mods are a bit difficult to achieve - partly due to the circuitry and partly due to the integrated/compact board layout. But! As I mention in the documentation, checking the schematic you can take the different parts as building blocks for further works (ie DIY not with the PCB)

CV would be difficult! Two options - Vactrols over the dials (pitch ones and starve in particular). Or have a check of similar stuff (though quite a bit more advanced) on the electro-music Lunettas forum: link (em ain't working for me right now...)

Audio input - I was chatting about this in one of the workshop events. It is not really possible with the current setup but you could rearrange the schematic quite effectively perhaps. The particular question I was asked was 'how can I tune it to (for example) C?' - I initially said ??pitching in this crazy thing?!!?? but then thought more and figured a vague possible approach using Sync...

If the trace between IC1 pin2 and C4 was cut (not easy - when built it is underneath the IC holder) you could input an external signal here to generate the Sync pulses. However, this would only work really with a squarewave input.. So, you'd probably be best to build another comparator to go in front of this - ie. Square-up the input signal, then pass it to the sync pulse converter.

panda30y · Post by **panda30y** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 3:22 am

sungja wrote:Yeah the red pcb is sexy..!

I`ll be making some kind of transparent case for it.

You mean a condom.... right?

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

Workshop Osc Machine (W.O.M.) - Kits + Build thread

Workshop Osc Machine (W.O.M.) - Kits + Build thread

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