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Eurorack parts: Difference between revisions
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== Front panels ==
=== Specifications ===
The Eurorack format was developed in parallel by [[Analogue Systems]] and [[Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH|Doepfer]], with different approaches to module power connectors and front panel mounting holes. These days the Doepfer standard predominates.<ref>
==== Panels ====
Doepfer specifies the Eurorack front panel material as 2 mm anodized aluminium.<ref name="a100m">Doepfer
Front panel dimensions in the the Eurorack format are specified in U and HP not in inches or millimeters. One U (unit) or in German HE (höhen einheit) is 1.75 inches equivalent to 44.45 mm. The panels height is [[3U]] (3x1.75"=5.25" or 133.35 mm) less any allowance for mounting rail flange. Width is measured in HP (horizontal pitch) or in German TE (teilungs einheiten); 1 HP is 5.08 mm, 1/5", 0.2" or 200mil. The actual width of a front panel is a few tenth of a mm less than whatever multiple of 5.08 mm it is, to give some tolerance for final assembly. A [[19-inch rack]] has a usable width of 84 HP.<ref name="hinton" /><ref name="a100m" /><ref name="confused">
The vertical space available between mounting rails is:
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* Gie-Tec, Proma (now defunct) and TipTop Z-Rails, 112.5mm (4.429 inches)
* Vector, 115.1mm (4.531 inches)
These don't include a tolerances for the screw hole in the panel nor for the nut in the rail moving up and down. It's better to give a little more clearance than suggested by these figures.<ref name="six">
==== Panel mounting holes ====
If the Doepfer specification is followed, or rails with sliding nuts are used, elongated holes are not required. These are useful for non-standard panel widths like the Piston Honda's and to compensate for for manufacturing tolerances of the panel width or hole position. They help to fit the modules flush against one another.<ref>
Oval holes were originally for mixed Analogue Systems and Doepfer systems. The AS holes are 0.2" from the panel edge and the Doepfer holes are 0.3" 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>
For front panels up to 10 HP 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 3mm from top and bottom edges and 7.45mm from the left edge. The horizontal distance between the mounting holes has to be a multiple of 5.08mm.<ref name="hinton" /><ref name="a100m" /><ref name="confused" />
==== Mounting rails ====
Unless attaching the panels directly into the wood of an enclosure; Doepfer aluminium mounting rails from Schroff or Gie-Tech usually have a 1.2mm lip and are fitted with a number of square nuts or a threaded strip with M3 tapped holes, spaced with 5.08mm between centres.<ref>TipTop [http://www.tiptopaudio.com/manuals/z-rails.pdf Z-Rails dimensions]</ref> Be careful not to get Schroff rails that take M2.5 screws.<ref>[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=249254&sid=159dd8651e429dd3d944d75988436079 Schroff Rails for a Eurorack Rast?]</ref> Vector T-Strut rails do not have a lip and take a M2.5 threaded strip or 4-40 square nuts.<ref>[http://www.vectorelect.com/Catpdf/New%20Page%2049.pdf VectorPak T-Struts]</ref> Nuts are more fiddly than threaded strip, but the modules can then be butted flush against each other, for example when Analogue Sytem and Doepfer-style modules share the same rack rails.<ref>
Brands using M2.5 square nuts and M2.5x6mm machine screws: [[4ms]], [[Enclave]], [[Goike]]<ref name="enc">
Brands using M3 nuts/tapped strip and M3x6 machine screws: [[Tiptop]], [[Gorillabox]], [[Doepfer]]<ref name="enc" />
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==== Fitting mounting rails into an enclosure ====
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=== Blank panels ===
For small panels it's cheapest to buy Doepfer pre-made blank panels. For wider panels it might be worth getting them done by Frontpanel Express, without labeling and with whatever holes are required. Getting aluminum cut by general online metal suppliers is going to deliver metal that is approximate in size and the edges will need filing down to get it to the correct size.<ref name="guage"<ref>
* [http://store.synthrotek.com/blank_eurorack_panels Synthrotek], USA
* [http://www.reichelt.de/Baugruppentraeger/BGT-TFP-312/3/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=446;ARTICLE=34002;GROUPID=3363;artnr=BGT+TFP+312;SID=26PTQzxKwQARoAAHOZA-w413b4ed837993f58e14dcd8d28089d58 Reichelt Elektronik], Germany
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Avoid cheap parts, especially if mechanical. Invest in quality, you always get what you pay for. Otherwise your entire system might later develop intermittent faults.<ref>[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=861269 On cheap parts...], Muff Wiggler forum, July 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=108045&start=all&postdays=0&postorder=asc The Pitfalls of Choosing Quality Brands of Components?], Muff Wiggler forum, March 2014</ref> Vertical mount front panel components will need to of a similar height to neatly fit the gap between the PCB and front panel.
In order to construct low profile Eurorack modules '''vertical mount components''' are required. These allow the [[PCB]] to be mounted parallel to the front panel, keeping module depth to a minimum.<ref>
=== 3.5mm jack sockets ===
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==== Vertical PCB mount ====
[[File:PistonHondaInternals.jpg|thumb|200px|Vertical mounted potentiometer and two hacked to fit Kobiconn 16PJ138 panel mounting jack sockets in the [[Harvestman Piston Honda]].]]
Vertical mount 3.5 mm jack sockets are hard to find. Options include:
* [http://www.cliffuk.co.uk/products/jacksockets/js2535.htm Cliff], used by [[Doepfer]]
* Erthenvar
* [http://www.jalco.co.jp/eng/products/jack/miniature_jack.html Jalco YK21-5157] and variations. 10.5mm high versions and in mono, unthreaded bush
* Mouser:[http://uk.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=16PJ138 Kobiconn 16PJ138]
* Farnell:[http://uk.farnell.com/lumberg/1502-03/socket-3-5mm-jack-chassis/dp/1270966 Lumberg 1502 03] looks like a wired chassis socket with solder tags, it also has a PCB template
* QingPu, available from [http://www.thonk.co.uk/product-category/diy-accessories/jacks/ Thonk]:
** [http://www.qingpu-electronics.com/en/products/WQP-PJ3410-54.html WQP-PJ3410], plastic bush
** [http://www.qingpu-electronics.com/en/products/WQP-PJ3010BM-34.html WQP-PJ3010BM], metal bush model with two ground lugs. PCB to panel gaps of 9.0 to 12.0 mm look feasible, with the lower values achieved by bending the four feet diagonally or at 90 degrees.
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* Mouser:[http://uk.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=rk12l Alpha RK12L] types
* Mouser:[http://nl.mouser.com/ProductDetail/BI-Technologies/P0915N-EC15BR100K/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMuarXojuOTscyIaXMp8bhnndlJQJbDaOdU%3d BI Technologies 10.5mm high linear pots]
* [http://www.bourns.com/ProductFamily.aspx?name=potentiometers Bourns]:
** PDB12-M, PCB mount, 9mm high, no thread, 12mm package
** PTV09A-4
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==== Caution ====
'''Never trust the ribbon cable or the coloured wire.''' Before connection examine the module, the power distribution bus and the ribbon cable to ensure that matching connections will be made at either end. Even with [[shrouded header]]s don't plug the cable in because it fits, always first ensure the correct connections will be made.<ref name="def">
==== Doepfer ====
Doepfer modules, (the de facto standard)<ref name="hinton" /> use two row of 8 [[pin header|male pin headers]] for connecting power and [[normalising]] [[CV/Gate]]. The pins are 0.1" (2.54mm) apart and at a 0.1" pitch. The interconnection is done via ribbon cable with 1.27mm (0.05") pitch, and using female sockets, 16-pin to the supply bus and either 16 or 10-pin to the module. The colored wire on the ribbon cable indicates -12V.<ref>Doepfer
==== Cwejman ====
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* [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ModularSynthPanels/ Modular Synth Panels], Yahoo group
* The Eurorack Database – [http://www.eurorackdb.com/node/h_diy_sources Eurorack DIY Resources]
*
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsTenEcY5k Analogue Systems power supply & Eurorack modular synth case]
* [http://www.eurorackdb.com/node/h_power_supply_list Power Supplies], The Eurorack Database
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