Eurorack panel components: Difference between revisions

Oval holes were originally for mixed Analogue Systems (AS) and Doepfer systems. The AS holes are 0.2" from the panel edge and the Doepfer holes are 0.3" (7.62 mm) from the edge. The oval holes were originally used to allow these modules to be placed in the same threaded rows without having the 1/2 HP gap that would otherwise result. These days the oval holes are mostly just centered on the Doepfer spacing.<ref name="oval" />

For front panels up to 10 HP (2 inches) two mounting holes are sufficient, wider than this and four mounting holes are usual. To attach the modules to the mounting rails M3x6 DIN 7985 cross recessed pan head machine screws are used. The mounting hole diameter is 3.2mm (0.13"), centered 3mm3&nbsp;mm from top and bottom edges and 7.45mm from the left edge. The right hand mounting holes are an increment of 5.08mm, (1 hp) from those on the left. It is normal for left and right holes to be at different distances from the panel edges.<ref name="hinton" /><ref name="a100m" /><ref name="confused" /><ref name="stds" />

''See [[Eurorack_DIY_parts#Blank_panels|Eurorack DIY parts#Blank panels]]''

These days Eurorack modules tend to mount the PCB parralel to the front panel, held in place by the pots, jacks and switches.<ref name="six">[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=123605 Six jacks in euro, what is the preferred configuration?], Muff Wiggler forum</ref> Modules with wired front panel components cost more to manufacture than PCB mounted, however these electro-mechanical components have limited lifetimes and while PCB mounted parts can be repaired it's not as easily as wired components. Also PCB mounted components mean the board is designed around specific parts. If any of these parts goes out of production the modules have to be redesigned, with the additional cost of updating the PCBs.<ref name="planb" />

To fit between the mounting rails the maximum vertical PCB size can be from 108mm108&nbsp;mm (4.25") to 110mm110&nbsp;mm. The width of the PCB needs to be a touch less than that of the front panel, whilst allowing for clearance and taking tolerances into consideration.<ref name="hinton" /><ref name="six" /><ref name="erthenvar" />

Stacked PCBs can be connected with standard 0.1" single and double row male/female pin headers. These combine to a height of 7/16 inch or 11mm11&nbsp;mm and boards can be mounted to each other with spacers of this length.<ref name="hw">[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=126900 Hardware for stacked PCBs], Muff Wiggler forum</ref>

Suitable parts can be purchased for example:<ref name="hw" />

Choose between having jacks easier to read placed near their associated controls, <ref name="measures">Electro-music.com forum:[http://www.electro-music.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18281 Standard measurements in front panels] </ref> or below where patch cables are then easier to keep out of the way.

Doepfer and Analogue Solutions both use 20mm20&nbsp;mm (0.8") vertical spacing between pots. <ref>[https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5107 eurorack widths of panels?], Muff Wiggler forum, May 2009</ref>

Behind the panel leave 10 &nbsp;mm clear from top and bottom edges for panel mounted components to clear the rails.<ref name="stds" />

3.5mm jack sockets are '''not''' 1/8 inch.<ref name="techqs">[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33821&start=all&postdays=0&postorder=asc Some Eurorack technical questions], Muff Wiggler forum, April 2011</ref> Popular brands of vertical mount 3.5mm mono jacks for Eurorack are Cliff (used by [[Doepfer]]), Erthenvar aka Flight of Harmony, Kobiconn (used by [[Cwejman]], [[Make Noise]], [[Malekko]] and [[Metasonix]]) and Switchcraft. These are available switched (for [[normalisation]]) and unswitched.<ref name="planb">[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1750&start=all&postorder=asc Plan B/Cliff Jacks], Muff Wiggler forum, September 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=96727&start=all&postdays=0&postorder=asc Have I bought the wrong jacks for eurorack?], Muff Wiggler forum, November 2013</ref> Erthenvar 3.5mm vertical mount jacks with a thread diameter about 5.9mm (0.232"), will fit well with panel drill holes of 6.0 to 6.5mm diameter.<ref name="erthenvar" /><ref name="msx">[http://www.modularsquare.com/Metasonix-R54-s868.htm Metasonix R54]</ref><ref>[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=73406&start=all&postdays=0&postorder=asc Erthenvar 3.5mm Vertical Mount Jacks], Muff Wiggler forum, December 2012</ref>

** [http://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Kobiconn/161-0352-EX/ KobiConn 161-0352-EX stereo]

** [http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Amphenol-Audio/ACJM-MV35-2S/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMv0W4pxf2HiVya3Fhxs2Wttz1W%252bATdtXDk%3d Amphenol mono switched]

4 mm banana sockets and jacks aren't normally used on unmodified Eurorack,<ref group="note">[[Befaco]] synth modules have dual footprint for either 3.5 mm jack or banana.<!-- http://www.befaco.org/en/sinte-modular/--></ref> banana jack socket are unshielded but CVs don't need shielding and because audio levels are usually high, this won't be a problem. When patching into external synths or other devices use a shielded cable with both ends of the shield connected to ground. Banana sockets are cheaper because they are mechanically simpler. They are also much more durable since there is less to go wrong. They are widely available and come in a range of colours. Banana plugs are stackable i.e. one can plug into the end of another. Most banana synths are designed with stackable plugs in mind, whereas most 1/4" and 3.5mm jack systems include [[multiple]]s.<ref>[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=44407 Banana plugs vs. other plugs], Muff Wiggler forum, Oct 2011</ref><ref>[https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42438

Modifying Euro Modules for Banana Jacks], Muff Wiggler forum, Sep 2011</ref>Regular jacks provide an extra switched connection enabling [[Modular_synthesizerModular synthesizer#Normalised_synthesizerNormalised synthesizer|normalization]] (connections when there is no cable plugged in).<ref name="bconv">[https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13985 Doepfer -– banana conversion], Muff Wiggler forum, March 2010</ref>

* Bushing used where the PCB is parallel to the panel and there isn't enough room behind for the length of the shaft of the banana jack. Obviously this arrangement will protrude further out from the front of panel. Approximate measurements: .32" id, .4" od, .3" high.<ref>[https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=133720#133720 Banana system pictures], Muff Wiggler forum, 22 Nov 2009</ref><!-- better dimensions given at at <ref name="bconv" />? -->

* Thonk:[http://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/alpha-9mm-pots/ Alpha 9mm9&nbsp;mm Pots]

** PDB12-M, PCB mount, 9mm9&nbsp;mm high, no thread, 12mm12&nbsp;mm package

** Farnell:[http://uk.farnell.com/bourns/3310-001-503l/potentiometer-50k/dp/9354000 3310Y series], 5mm5&nbsp;mm deep with 6mm6&nbsp;mm of thread so may be too low to be used easily

** P12 series 11mm11&nbsp;mm to panel

** [http://www.vishay.com/docs/51047/p9.pdf P9] vertical mount 7mm7&nbsp;mm high with 7mm7&nbsp;mm bushing, only up to 10V

** 633-FB15ANEP2<ref name="build">[https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47067&postdays=0&postorder=desc&start=475&sid=225da015fa78dc8d1229c945333e8443 BUILD -– CGS Euro Modules], Muff Wiggler forum, November 2011</ref>

=== Rotary switches <!-- <ref name="rot">[https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1537043 Small rotary switches?], Muff Wiggler forum, Apr 2014</ref> --> ===

* Mouser 3mm3&nbsp;mm LED 593-2000C (C stands for clear)<ref name="build" />

{{split_fromsplit from|[[Eurorack DIY parts]]|22 April 2016}}

* [[Eurorack DIY parts]]

* [[Knobs]]