Faderbox

MIDIbox HUIs
1

Im going to use this thread to document my midibox journey, to get help, and to possibly help others that are new to this.

My project will be called “Faderbox” (a take on Faderfox (which i love) ) :wink:

I have no prior electronics experience and no programming skills.  However i am an industrial designer at a rapid prototyping company and have access

to a number of manufacturing processes that will make construction of the control surface a bit nicer.

So far i have spent a lot of time reading and i am beginning to gather what i will need.

I started getting some practice soldering by desoldering a power supply… EDIT: This was not the best way to learn. Just go get a few pcbs and about 100 resisters and go to town.

After reading about the hazards of solder fumes, i decided i needed a ventilation system…

my first core kit from smash …   here is what you get when it arrives…

I think im all set to begin soldering. ;D

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2

I am refining my setup.

Cutting the length of the vent hose in half greatly increases flow. Looking for a quieter solution but this works for now.

I can cut the dryer off with a switch by my foot to reduce noise.

I have been practicing soldering and gathering more tools.

I think i can solder my core now without ruining it.

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3

Lookin good dude. The fume vacuum is a good idea. If the noise really gets to you, there are commercial models available…

4

After reading about the hazards of solder fumes, i decided i needed a ventilation system…

How bad are they?

5

How bad are they?

Well, you won’t die tomorrow from solder fumes today…

but spend several hours sucking them in and you may well have a headache to deal with :(  Build a fume vent if you can.

6

Well, you won’t die tomorrow from solder fumes today…

but spend several hours sucking them in and you may well have a headache to deal with :(  Build a fume vent if you can.

you might as well vent your bedroom while you’re at it… supposedly the amount of CO2 you expel while you sleep can be hazardous as well. ::slight_smile:

7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning#Symptoms_and_effects

8

This “fume vacuum” is working really well for me so far - i did move my work area to shorten the length of the tubing which made it pull much harder.

I will not go without something like this from now on.

9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning#Symptoms_and_effects

It’s illegal for any solder sold in the EU to contain lead. Which is unfortunate as lead-free solder sucks ass.

10

Organic rosin fumes ain’t so great either…

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Organic rosin fumes ain’t so great either…

+1

That is the stuff that gives me headaches

12

Organic rosin fumes ain’t so great either…

Yeah, smells like old bicycle innertubes to me!

[me=Doug Wellington]shudders…[/me]

Actually this is one reason I’m glad it’s summer in Arizona - the window is open and the swamp cooler is blowing all the fumes right out!   ;D