Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

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flyboy71
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by flyboy71 »

I did the rear panel fabs with a couple chassis punches and some careful dremel work. I just did the CAD and printed out, taped it to the chassis and center punched everything and did the holes/fabs.

To do the label I actually used my schematic/PCB program Diptrace (free) and did the artwork as a silkscreen layer with a board outline as my border. That way I could use true type fonts and make it all pretty. Theres an option in there to import dxf so I just brought in my fabs as a reference and did the silkscreen around them. After I printed it out, I flipped it upside down, put a strip of 3M transfer tape on it (sticky side down) and rolled it out. Then I flipped it over and put a strip of transfer tape on the artwork side, peeled the backing off the tape, and laid down some overhead projector transparencies and rolled it to remove any bubbles. Once its cut to size its ready to stick on the chassis.

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/det ... wCYgF0BfIA

Its funny because to do the front panel in Front Panel Designer I used Diptrace PCB to make the same type of artwork. Since the dxf was the panel fabrications I printed the art to pdf in Diptrace and brought that in and positioned it. To make the graphics in FPD was too much work.

You should get one of these units. They sound pretty good I'm told.
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mediatechnology
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by mediatechnology »

Did you metal form the channel or is that a Bud enclosure with one side cut out?
My Dad's company repaired damaged aircraft.
I grew up around aluminum and metal breaks.

So the label is a laser-printed transparency transfer-taped to the rear panel.

I had forgotten about Diptrace and just downloaded it.
300 pins/2 layers for the free version would accommodate most of my layouts.
I like Diptrace's perpetual license vs. AutoDesk's rental model.
I haven't installed it yet but does it have a Gerber viewer?
I know it exports Gerbers.

I do like the way it sounds.
Once you get things rolling I'd like to buy a board set.

I've sent pics to Barry Mishkand of BDR.
flyboy71
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by flyboy71 »

mediatechnology wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:44 am Did you metal form the channel or is that a Bud enclosure with one side cut out?
Its a Bud CH-14403 enclosure. I have a nice Diacro 24" finger brake and shear and a corner notcher but this is too deep to form on those.
mediatechnology wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:44 am So the label is a laser-printed transparency transfer-taped to the rear panel.
Essentially yes.
mediatechnology wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:44 am I had forgotten about Diptrace and just downloaded it.
300 pins/2 layers for the free version would accommodate most of my layouts.
I like Diptrace's perpetual license vs. AutoDesk's rental model.
I haven't installed it yet but does it have a Gerber viewer?
I know it exports Gerbers.
I know you can import them but Ive never done so. I had to upgrade when my large board exceeded the pin count.
mediatechnology wrote: Tue Sep 07, 2021 7:44 am I do like the way it sounds.
Once you get things rolling I'd like to buy a board set.

I've sent pics to Barry Mishkand of BDR.
Ill probably proceed to place an initial PCB order, enough to supply boards for 5 whole units. Ill start moving toward a selling platform in the meantime.
My projects site: https://ornerscorner.neocities.org/

"Things are more like they are now then they ever were before" - Dwight
flyboy71
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by flyboy71 »

So while I'm waiting for boards to arrive and collecting parts and working on build guides I decided to work on another feature for this. It will now come ready for RS232 comms to configure it with a PC; all that will be needed is a USB or RS232 to serial TTL converter. I worked on the firmware to now allow the user to change the density, gate level, agc and the quiescent point using serial commands. I also set it up so these can be changed for each individual band independently. My goal is to write a program with sliders that can be adjusted and then those settings can be saved to a session file and recalled. Being able to get under the hood makes this much more versatile than the analog Prism where all of the timing and control is fixed with discrete components.
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mediatechnology
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by mediatechnology »

Use an FTDI USB/UART module? https://ftdichip.com/product-category/products/modules/

I have a couple I used for THAT preamp gain control experiments.
To the Win environment they look like a COM port.
flyboy71
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by flyboy71 »

mediatechnology wrote: Mon Sep 27, 2021 6:52 am Use an FTDI USB/UART module? https://ftdichip.com/product-category/products/modules/

I have a couple I used for THAT preamp gain control experiments.
To the Win environment they look like a COM port.
Yes that's the one. Ill start working on the exe program this week for it.
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flyboy71
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by flyboy71 »

Updated firmware in the unit and wrote some software to control individual parameters. It has the ability to save and recall setups or store settings to the unit. PC boards are supposed to be here tomorrow so this week will be getting everything ready to start supplying it all.
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mediatechnology
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by mediatechnology »

Cool!
This opens up whole new possibilities for it as a general-purpose multi-band processor.
flyboy71
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by flyboy71 »

Now its getting real. Board sets have arrived, I ordered enough for 5 units but have an order for 2 so I now have enough for 3 clones. No shopping site yet so this first batch will be sold direct until I do. Attached is the build guide preview. I'm finishing documentation on wiring and testing. If you see any blatant errors so far let me know.
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MB1 build guide.pdf
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DS1 build guide.pdf
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BP1 build guide.pdf
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CloneBoardSets.jpg
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mediatechnology
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Re: Texar Prism clone prototype Finished Version

Post by mediatechnology »

I'm looking forward to receiving my boards in a few days.
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