Despite offers from Kwackers and John Stevenson to assist me in making a RT electronic indexer, and having discussions with both, I decided that the best unit for myself would be a commercially available unit called a Division Master. This wasn't because of the others offered to me being an inferior product, but my personal limitations and workshop requirements.
I decided to go with the full kit of parts.
http://medw.co.uk/wiki/index.php?page=DivisionMasterIt was despatched and delivered in what seemed like record time.
The kit came very well packaged, with most of the loose bits stored inside the very strong and rigid steel outer case that has all the holes pre shaped, drilled or tapped, plus inside, there are all the required studs pre mounted into the case.
One thing I did like was the 'membrane' keyboard sheet. If you use the unit a lot, and wear it away or damage it, on the site you can download the overlay, print it out on a sheet of photo paper, and then laminate it, you have a brand new membrane. I actually used a few extra double sided strips on the back of it, but I am sure what it comes like is completely acceptable.
This is what was stored inside the case, after a load of bubble wrap was removed to expose it all.
Electronic bits came stuck down to an A4 printed sheet, with circuit board location and description against each component. So it was just a matter of taking a bit off the sheet, bending it up and sticking it into the right location holes on the board.
The same sort of sheet but with misc components and fixings.
You can buy ready printed and bound instructions, but I just downloaded the PDF files and did them myself.
There was a slight problem, which I will explain later.
So I got together some of my old tools that I used to use in my heyday with electronics.
But before doing anything, I had to prepare the stepper motor and power supply because as you build up the boards, you are required to check for voltages and correct operation. I bought my stepper from Arc Euro, about the cheapest place I have found. In fact I bought almost every extra that I needed from the same place.
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Stepper-MotorsThe little plastic box had a D shaped cutout put into it, to fit around the rubber grommet on the stepper. The back of the box was covered with strips of VERY hi-grip double sided tape (used to fit outside trim onto cars), and the box was 'stuck' onto the side of the motor.
After trimming all cables to length and getting everything tidied up and into the box, and a small wipe over with petroleum jelly onto the box joints (in an attempt to make it splash proof) the lid was fitted and the kit supplied plug was fitted to the other end of the cable. The stepper was now ready for use.
The power supply was off an auction site for 8 squid, brand new. It needed a new extended output cable and relevent plug fitted.
Now to start the build.
I followed the instruction book to the letter, first by fitting all the switches and LED onto the board, then by using spacers (washers & nuts) under the board, the correct height for the keys was found (the instructions had it spot on), and everything was tightened up. There is a little dodgy bit of soldering to be done, fitting the socket onto the BACK side of the board. The way I did it, to give me a bit more room to work underneath the socket was to push the pins thru the plastic socket until the were level with the bottom on the inside. After soldering up, you can just push the outer plastic down to the correct height above the board.
This is what it looked like from the other side.
A couple of hours steady work and the board was built. During the build, you check the power supply is working correctly, and when it is to this stage, you attach the stepper and take it thru a set of checks. All worked fine, for a while.
This is the other end of the board.
Everything was going great. The box sockets were fitted and the main board fitted into the box.
It was at this stage my physical limitations came into play. As most will know, I have very little gripping power on my right hand (hence the need for this box). I had just put the ribbon cable from the keyboard to the main board, and then my hand decided to let go of the keyboard side of the box. It ripped the socket from the keyboard card and also took off most of the solder pads. Unfixable to someone of my limited physical capabilites. What was I to do?
I sent Lester (the chap who sells the kits) an email stating my plight. The reply was basically, send the boards and ribbon cable to me, and I will see what I can do. Posted to him on Wednesday, got them back today, Friday, all repaired and functioning perfectly, He also told me that I had damaged a pad on the main board and hadn't soldered a pin on the main pic socket, which he duly put right.
So it looks like I am losing a few more faculties as well, my eyesight.
I just cannot believe the help he gave me, and I am sure, if I need anything else from his range of items, I will have no qualms about doing so.
This is the now fully functioning unit.
So now a bit about the build instructions.
I had noticed that some parts that were supplied were not mentioned, namely different coloured wires and circuit board spades and Lucar clips, rather than soldering direct to the board. On contacting Lester about this, he informed me that some data had been lost from his website a while ago, and he had reloaded the OLD set of build instructions by mistake. But he has assured me that the corrections are being done as quickly as possible. But with regards to the build sequence, if you use your noggin, you can easily get a working module.
What do I think of this kit?
Not just because I bought it, I think it is a very simple build, which someone with soldering and working with electronics experience will have no troubles building. My problems with it were caused purely because of my physical limitations.
The second part of this post will be about doing the mods to my RT so that this box can control it.
A bit of machine work at last.
Bogs
