Download Print this page

CubuSynth Engine Build Manual

Dual complex vco with wave shaping and modulation features

Advertisement

Quick Links

CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide
PCB V1.1 May 2022
Dual Complex VCO with wave shaping and modulation features
Build Guide
PCB V1.1 May 2022
Written and Illustrated by Ruben Sponar
Page 1

Advertisement

loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Engine and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Summary of Contents for CubuSynth Engine

  • Page 1 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 Dual Complex VCO with wave shaping and modulation features Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 Written and Illustrated by Ruben Sponar Page 1...
  • Page 2 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 Introduction This Build Guide is written for buiders with experience in soldering and assembling PCBs. Due to the complexity of the build, the guide is focused on the steps that require special care or techniques.
  • Page 3 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 MODS (optional but recommended) Before you start, consider integrating these mods into your module. They will improve some of its outputs significantly. As the printing on the PCB still shows original resistor values, you should place these ones first to minimize confusion.
  • Page 4 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 BUILD GUIDE STEP 1 (Switch PCB) Take the small Switch adapter PCB and the 4 position slide switch. Place the switch on the side that says SW3. It is recommended to use a helping hand to secure them together while soldering.
  • Page 5 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 10R/Bead L2,L1,L3 220R R113 470R R55,R44,R26,R18 820R R56,R27,R101,R68,R37,R35 R214,R127,R126,R89,R88,R78,R67,R62,R50,R36,R16,R4,R95,R94,R83,R82, R130,R129,R186 R46,R20 R196,R181 R54,R25 R195,R182,R61,R60 R199,R194,R193,R192,R187,R184,R183,R178,R158,R112,R110,R64,R58,R121, R120,R119,R118,R117,R116,R115 R197,R180 R205,R204,R203,R202,R201,R200,R175,R174,R173,R172,R171,R170,R66,R51, R65,R57,R123,R109,R108,R107,R106,R105,R104,R103,R102,R190,R189,R188 R49,R24 R63,R59 R198,R179,R166,R53,R30,R5,R142,R52,R237,R236 R212,R145,R140 R213,R146,R139,R92,R85,R77,R74,R73,R72,R71,R70,R69,R6,R111,R34,R29, 100k R7,R3,R2,R1,R122,R100,R75,R191 200k R28,R8,R91,R90,R87,R86,R132,R96,R81 330k R47,R22,R185 470k...
  • Page 6 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 3 (Main PCB) Diodes Before continuing with the build, check the time! You won't believe how much time has passed while "only" soldering the resistors. Go to sleep if it's late or make a break. It is quite unlikely that you will build the full module in just one day.
  • Page 7 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 Page 7...
  • Page 8 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 5 (Main PCB) Transistors Keep the 2N5457 for later, since it stands off further from the PCB. It is recommeded to start with the 2N3904, then the 2N3906 due to the tight placement. Put them in place and make sure the orientation is correct.
  • Page 9 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 6 (Main PCB) IC sockets Look for the dip-8, dip-14 and dip-16 sockets. Orientation is important to know how to place the ICs later! The place for the notch is marked on the PCB as "D shape"...
  • Page 10 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 7 (Main PCB) Polystyrene Capacitor Place the Polystyrene (or other high quality) capacitors. If it has a polarization, the marking on the capacitor should point towards the white line on the PCB.
  • Page 11 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 9 (Main PCB) Pin headers Turn around the board and place the Pin Headers for Power and the Expander like shown below. Orientation of the 16 Pin Power Header is very important to be able to insert the power cable the correct way.
  • Page 12 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 11 (Main PCB) Trimmers Place the 6 Trimmers according to the marking on the PCB, like shown in the picture below. V/O trim TRIM2_10K,TRIM4_10K Hftrim TRIM1_20K,TRIM3_20K SineSymmetry TRIM5_100K,TRIM6_100K STEP 12 (Main PCB)
  • Page 13 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 13 Control PCB Now take the other PCB and fit it on top, so the shafts of the switches go in their holes and all pins of the male headers are showing through. Fit the nuts to the switches and carefully turn the board around.
  • Page 14 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 14 (control PCB) Resistors After removing the nuts on the switches and carefully taking apart the two PCBs, place and solder the resistors on the control PCB. Here is the list of parts and a picture with all resistors in place.
  • Page 15 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 15 (control PCB) 1 nf capacitors place the 1n capacitors, marked as "102" and solder in place. As shown below, the footprint also allows the placement of 0805 SMD capacitors. The DIY kits come with normal thru-hole components.
  • Page 16 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 17 (control PCB) Controls Now take the Potentiometers, jacks, switches and the LEDs and put them in place as marked on the PCB but don't solder yet. The Potentiometers are for "Tune", "PW" and "Ch-Att" (Chaos attenuverter).
  • Page 17 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 When everything is in place, take the front panel and put it on top, so all controls go into each corresponding hole of the panel. Since it is over 40 parts that need to fit, "wiggle" the front panel into place and make sure everything fits well.
  • Page 18 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 STEP 18 Installing ICs and final check Take the Main PCB and install the ICs. Make sure to install the chips in their specific spot. Bend the Legs of the ICs inwards a bit so they form a 90°-degree angle to the body of the chip. Make sure the orientation is correct, the notch has to match the silkscreen / the sockets placed before.
  • Page 19 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 Step 19 - Trimming Before your module is finished, you need to calibrate the trimmers on the back. To do so, plug in the 16pin Eurorack Power cable correctly to your Bus board and the Module while your rack is powered OFF! Make sure orientation is correct.
  • Page 20 CubuSynth Engine - Build Guide PCB V1.1 May 2022 Congratulations, you can now install the module in your rack and have fun patching! Please understand that we can't guarantee for your DIY module to work. Nevertheless we will do our best to guide you through the build or to solve problems when needed.