Resources For DIYers

Discussion in 'DIY' started by rhythmdevils, Dec 12, 2020.

  1. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Post resources, useful websites, useful vendors, useful tradesman, advice, etc for DIY here

    Do you all have any recommendations for chassis builders who will make chassis to any size and drill holes, can anodize, etc and not too expensive? Hopefully people in the USA for me but for the sake of thread usefulness anywhere is fine to recommend.

    I found a guy on eBay in Texas who does great work but takes forever to respond (ex/ it’s been over a week since I heard from him now) and I’m getting impatient...

    and I thought this would be a useful thread for everyone.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2022
  2. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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  3. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Lol he’s the other guy I know. He does drill holes and seems to do great work at reasonable prices but he couldn’t make an enclosure quite as small as the one I’m making for an RCA switcher. (6x4x2”)

    looking to build a few NoiseNukes with another member as well and they need a small enclosure as well.

    I’ll post the eBay builder I know when he finishes my enclosures :) last thing i need is him getting more orders.
     
  4. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    You might get away with off the shelf hammond chassis. The noise nuke needs very simple round holes which are easily drilled.

    When it comes to making chassis, the big jobs relate to transformers and tubes. Square iec hole is a pain and drilling the larger xlr holes without the correct bits / metal punches are a challenge. The noise nuke should be very simple for any diy person.

    That said. There are a few places that make chassis that will also cut custom shapes per order. Not always cheap. For complex chassis design, nothing like front panel Express. The professional finish is worth the extra dollars from a product perspective.

    Here is a panel I had made for the stacker.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    I couldn't find this earlier.

    A few folk on DIYA use protocase


    And for some of the most affordable chassis for any use with free shipping from modushop in Italy

    The DIYA store : small chassis
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2020
  6. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    The classic route of a Hammond or similar case plus custom panels from Frontpanel Express was my first suggestion. If you are near a fab lab or other makerspace, you might convince someone to help you out (assuming they are open).
     
  7. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Do you like the Bottlehead/Decware style chassis where everything is on one aluminum plate? Due to the custom keyboard community there's a range of metal laser cutting services that are rather affordable and can make precise cut plates. Although i think the ones I know are mainly euro based.

    https://www.laserboost.com/
    https://www.john-steel.com/en/
    https://www.ponoko.com/
    https://lasergist.com/ (Only steel)

    and some others I can't remember right now. Some of them have options like copper or brass. But most of the time you'll want aluminum
     
  8. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Enclosure Hub has nice chassis’s (or is it Chassi?) for pretty cheap.

    There’s still the drilling of holes though. I wish I could get up and about, my father has a nice drill press in his shop. It would be easy peasy on that thing.
     
  9. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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  11. Watchara

    Watchara Acquaintance

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  12. miter53

    miter53 Friend

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    When I was building a Whammy, I got a quote from Protocase for the chassis, and I thought it was very expensive. I wound up using DIYA and having modushop do the CNC cutouts. It came out great, and it cost significantly less than protocase.
     
  13. Royaume

    Royaume Acquaintance

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    As far as I know, earpad memory foam isn't sold to individuals.
    Does anyone know how/where to get earpad memory foam for DIY earpads?
    [​IMG]
     
  14. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    No idea, especially where you are, but you can always try Aliexpress roulette, or maybe foamfactory.com. Good luck!
     
  15. Wobbletits

    Wobbletits Facebook Friend

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    Pretty sure theres a ton of replacement earpads available though no idea which are good... mattress pads are usually memory foam of some kind? IDK how that differs from earpad foam to be honest and thats probably way more than you need but I think they make them for baby cribs too... also maybe foam for cushions might work?
     
  16. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    So i have a bit of a bug to build an AVC/TVC now. I wanted to get a list of sources here:

    intact audio - Dave Slagle
    Bent Audio - Relay based modules with Slagle AVC for remote control
    Silk Audio - Thailand based manufacturer
    Glasshouse Transformer - UK based
    Sowter Transformers - Well known UK transformer manufacturer
    J&K Audio - Don't know too much but they keep popping up on searches

    This rando polish listing https://archiwum.allegro.pl/oferta/tvc-transformer-volume-control-i7492409438.html

    That's what I could find for now. Any others I missed? I'll update the list.

    Kinda bummed that Lundahl or Cinemag doesn't make any. But it's also extremely niche
     
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  17. Ksorota

    Ksorota Friend

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    Just built an AVC with the Intact Audio autoformers and used a case from DIYaudiostore.com
    Also use their control knobs. If I do a second one that is more simplified I will go for the 1u version of the linked below and a thinner front plate.

    https://diyaudiostore.com/collections/galaxy/products/2u-w-aluminum-covers?variant=12174803588

    Now that I know what i need drilled, and where...plans are to send the drawings to the DIY audio people for them to create a new front and back plate with the holes pre-drilled. In the process of laying out and drilling, I scratched up the back plate pretty good, and all the holes are not symmetrical. They charge a nominal fee for the service, but if you know ahead of time what you are adding it can save time and money.

    Case is a little larger than necessary, but allowed me to add in multiple inputs and outputs and is going to also house a transformer based XLR to SE conversion...but still waiting on the cinemags.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2022
  18. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Another AVC option is the Iron Pumpkin. You can find it on DIYA.
     
  19. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Do you have a link? I have no clue where to buy the AVC. Does Zen Mod make them himself?
     
  20. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Yup he does. There's a GB somewhere that he sells them via. Let me find it...
     

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