*Build Log* DIY Controller From Scratch

**looneygeorge** · 09-09-2010, 09:39 PM

When I created an Monome 256 clone I contacted a guy who could do aluminum cuttings. You should maybe try that out if the acrylic fails. All I did was give him dimensions.

GREAT build so far!

**hoxoboxo** · 09-10-2010, 09:42 AM

For acrylic faceplates its best to take them to a company with a laser cutter. Thats how i got mine done and it was very cheap (15€). I cut half the holes at home to save costs, but i wouldnt do it again. You have to try a few holes with acrylic before you get a hang of it. If you drill to slow you brake the plate, if too fast you melt it to the drill.
I hope you take off the faceplate when drilling and place it on a table for support.

**TheBurninator** · 09-10-2010, 12:44 PM

I would use polycarb over acrylic any day of the week. Acrylic breaks like glass.

**dstep** · 09-20-2010, 03:38 AM

Sickkkk

**MiL0** · 09-21-2010, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by thelpb

Ordered two of these:

One for a center VU/levels meter and the other for displaying information such as CPU utilization, free memory, or what ever else I want it to show. I will be using LCDSmartie to run both of the displays, along with a simple plugin I wrote in VB.NET 2010 Express for the VU/levels meter.

As of right now, the controller is alive. I finished wiring all of the 10k Pots along with the arcade buttons. Played with it a bit and have already found a few things I want to change from my original plans. Also need more jumpers from Sparkfun, so i'll be placing an order with them tonite as well.

I'll post pics of the wiring work later tonite.

any chance you could post up the LCDSmartie plugin? I've ordered two of these myself... on there way over from China as we speak

**thelpb** · 09-24-2010, 09:48 PM

Well first off, sorry for the lack of updates lately, work has been hammering me.

Much progress during my days off though! I fully assembled the controller and played with it for a little bit yesterday!

LCD Screens arrived from LCDModKit

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Wiring the buttons to the U-HID

Cleaning up some of the wiring and reinstalled the 10k Pots

Status LCD is mounted

First wiring complete. Panel is bolted in place. I also added the center bolt to help hold it all together. In these photos the bolts are upside down to make my life easier with the constant assembly / disassembly. When I am finally satisfied with it, I will flip the bolts over since they look MUCH better.

All of the knobs are attached

I couldn't help myself, I stuffed a USB hub into the upper right hand corner and connected USB cables to everything. Bolted it together and powered it up!

The status LCD. I may or may not change what this LCD displays. For now i'm just happy to see it live.

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A few things i've discovered. First off, the wiring is a complete nightmare with no hope of ever being as clean or organized as I originally wanted it to be. To this end, I will be making efforts to hide it. I have some ideas to explore and will post pictures as I go.

I still have to cut the holes for the jog wheels. The part that has me thinking though is if I really want to use jog wheels now. I am half way considering adding another U-HID and going with more arcade buttons. The more I toy with them, the less I see a need. I won't be doing any scratching with this thing so why bother? I can get more functionality with more buttons. I dunno, it's just acrylic, so I can always slice n dice another panel and do whatever I want!

More to come!

**pumpkin2themax** · 09-24-2010, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by thelpb

\The more I toy with them, the less I see a need. I won't be doing any scratching with this thing so why bother? I can get more functionality with more buttons. I dunno, it's just acrylic, so I can always slice n dice another panel and do whatever I want!

I reached the same conclusion.. MORE BUTTONS!!

check out my thread:
http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18302

**eastcoastams** · 09-25-2010, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by thelpb

I still have to cut the holes for the jog wheels. The part that has me thinking though is if I really want to use jog wheels now. I am half way considering adding another U-HID and going with more arcade buttons. The more I toy with them, the less I see a need. I won't be doing any scratching with this thing so why bother? I can get more functionality with more buttons. I dunno, it's just acrylic, so I can always slice n dice another panel and do whatever I want!

More to come!

Scrap the jog wheels, more arcade buttons definitely

**Georgeo0** · 09-25-2010, 11:50 AM

AHHH this is so cool, its really cool to see all of the steps in building something like this.
Thanks for showing us! Im excited to see how it will end up