Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

For fans of synths, pianos or keyboard instruments of any sort.

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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by Folderol »

Ouch. Get yourself a reel of multicore solder and throw what you've got away.

The situation is recoverable - just.
Iit looks like you used solid core wire - get rid of that too. You want very fine mulitcore flex. I cut up an old Centronics printer cable for this sort of thing - it's perfect :)
You won't be able to solder to the resistor element itself but there is enough of the tab left to make friction contacts. For this I would make a tiny clamp out of a couple bits of insulating board (paxolin) with something like M2 holes just beyond the width of the tape, then carefully scrape way the insulation from one side of the tape, lay this on one clamp piece insulated side down with a tiny dab of glue. Lay the bared wires on the strip and the other clamp piece on top, and bolt it together. Very fiddly, but I've done similar before.
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by BJG145 »

...right, thanks for that. I wasn't optimistic about being able to solder wires directly to the traces, so clamping sounds like a better idea. :thumbup:
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by BJG145 »

These people at the local Hackspace are going to be handy to know. They use a Slack workspace. I just posted up some thoughts wondering how to assemble that Persephone-esque shape out of laser cut parts, and less than half an hour later someone had modelled it as a laser design using OnShape, and posted up a link to the files. :thumbup:

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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by Martin Walker »

Wow - your local Hackspace is being extremely helpful Ben! :thumbup:
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by Folderol »

Martin Walker wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 2:14 pm Wow - your local Hackspace is being extremely helpful Ben! :thumbup:

They are indeed!
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by BJG145 »

After pondering this knackered sensor for a couple of days, I've decided to abandon it and get another one. I've been reading about soldering these things, and in fairness they do seem like delicate creatures - especially the FSRs; good job I read about that before it turned up.

I hadn't realised that the pins on the sensor are designed to be plugged directly into a breadboard. I just want to get on with the Arduino testing stage without extra complications, so, I've ordered a replacement...and a breadboard.
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by Folderol »

Psst!
Want some 60/40 solder :shh:
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by BJG145 »

I'm done with soldering for now. I've got a pack of crocodile clips. :D

I'll probably use these 'Amphenol CFI clincher connectors' for the final version, based on the clamp principle.

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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by adrian_k »

Folderol wrote: Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:42 pm Psst!
Want some 60/40 solder :shh:

I might have misunderstood, I frequently do, but I’m just about to buy some and would be happy to buy yours, if that’s what is going on here!
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by Folderol »

Well it was intended as a joke, but I do have some if you fancy a bit of lead poisoning (although I've not come across anyone who eats it). How much do you need and where are you? I wouldn't charge for it unless you want a lot.
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by BJG145 »

Folderol wrote: Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:42 pm Psst!
Want some 60/40 solder :shh:

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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers

Post by Folderol »

:bouncy:
The only thing I'd challenge is the cigarette - I don't smoke!
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