Hortin FexDrive layout 3

[djmiyta]

3rd time on my first layout but ... this one when signal tracing was able to get signal on the output but when I plug my guitar in I get nothing.
I use a tone generator off my computer out my headphones jack to the pedal under test. My pedal test rig has a built in audio probe that I use.
ANYBODY ever run into a similar situation when probing for audio?

2nd - anybody feel like taking a look at my layout and criticize and or correct it? I would really appreciate it. I used the NutDriver scheme from here .

Thanks in advance

 

[Feral Feline]

The "Hortin FexDrive" circuit drew me in here... "what the Fex is that?" ahh, I see — Fortin Hexdrive. Nice, fits with my lysdexia.



I didn't even realise there's a "Stripboard Layouts" sub-forum, even though I now see I commented in one of its threads and have seen a couple other threads.



LOOKY-LOO on whatcha do done did...

Technically nitpickin', that's a perf layout, not a stripboard layout. I prefer perf.


Are you working around a custom graphic?

If not, consider placing the pots in a more standard configuration — I like to use Robert's drill-templates so even though perf won't match his PCBs perfectly (he can lay out pots and switches in a way that's not locked into a perf-grid paradigm), I can get close enough that wiggling&bending the perf-mounted pots won't short anything out.

If you use regular pots mounted directly to your perf, it'll look a little something like this (pink rings for pots):




You could move the DRIVE to the right so it's even with TONE and then rotate the whole thang so you've got
________LEVEL
DRIVE _________TONE

Shifting the TONE a bit or what's around it would enable you to get rid of the jumper above TONE-3.


Your use of colour for the traces is inconsistent, which for me would lead to problems.
You've got black for ground, so it looks like your DRIVE is all connected to GND, and your OUT as well, looks like GND. [EDIT: I mistook the GND-pad to the right of the BLUE OUT but, yeah, I got confused]
LVL looks like it has some power connected from lug 3 to the 1µF...

The more consistent and clear my layout is, the less likely I'll make mistakes on the build; I'd revise the colour-scheme on this one.
I'd use dark red for 9V+, for instance and then a bright red or pink or purple for half-voltage/doubled voltage etc to see what's going into the charge pump and what's coming out, and where it's all getting routed to.

Dave (Storyboardist) at Effects Layouts has provided much inspiration (not to mention some of the files/templates/components/etc for my perf layouts);
for instance, his 47µF electrolytics are larger than the 10µF electrolytic-caps to match real-world sizing. BTW, your 47µF has its legs spread wide, needlessly, as you're not running any trace between its legs, I'd adjust the layout to reflect the leg-spacing, though the physical circumference will be fine — but why not adjust it to visually match real-world dimensions? In future layouts you won't accidentally put components too close together that make if physically challenging to translate from the 2D to 3D.

See how ELS handles the power for the Fortin Boost:

Personally, for the 33 layout above, I'd spread out the LEVEL lugs at the bottom and board-mount the pot, then the perf isn't floating in the enclosure.

Oh, and I sort of try to put the 9v+ into the circuit where I think the DC jack is going to be (at the top, top-jacks etc), so yeah, give a mind to how things are going to go in the box, leave room for jacks/switches/future mods etc.

Hopefully my pedantic-puttering hasn't been too pestilent.

Happy Perfing!
Cheers,
FF

 

[jimilee]

The hex drive is an underwhelming tube screamer. I was sorely disappointed. I was ready for Fortin to being the rock.

 

[djmiyta]

The "Hortin FexDrive" circuit drew me in here... "what the Fex is that?" ahh, I see — Fortin Hexdrive. Nice, fits with my lysdexia.



I didn't even realise there's a "Stripboard Layouts" sub-forum, even though I now see I commented in one of its threads and have seen a couple other threads.



LOOKY-LOO on whatcha do done did...

Technically nitpickin', that's a perf layout, not a stripboard layout. I prefer perf.


Are you working around a custom graphic?

If not, consider placing the pots in a more standard configuration — I like to use Robert's drill-templates so even though perf won't match his PCBs perfectly (he can lay out pots and switches in a way that's not locked into a perf-grid paradigm), I can get close enough that wiggling&bending the perf-mounted pots won't short anything out.

If you use regular pots mounted directly to your perf, it'll look a little something like this (pink rings for pots):

View attachment 111304


You could move the DRIVE to the right so it's even with TONE and then rotate the whole thang so you've got
________LEVEL
DRIVE _________TONE

Shifting the TONE a bit or what's around it would enable you to get rid of the jumper above TONE-3.


Your use of colour for the traces is inconsistent, which for me would lead to problems.
You've got black for ground, so it looks like your DRIVE is all connected to GND, and your OUT as well, looks like GND. [EDIT: I mistook the GND-pad to the right of the BLUE OUT but, yeah, I got confused]
LVL looks like it has some power connected from lug 3 to the 1µF...

The more consistent and clear my layout is, the less likely I'll make mistakes on the build; I'd revise the colour-scheme on this one.
I'd use dark red for 9V+, for instance and then a bright red or pink or purple for half-voltage/doubled voltage etc to see what's going into the charge pump and what's coming out, and where it's all getting routed to.

Dave (Storyboardist) at Effects Layouts has provided much inspiration (not to mention some of the files/templates/components/etc for my perf layouts);
for instance, his 47µF electrolytics are larger than the 10µF electrolytic-caps to match real-world sizing. BTW, your 47µF has its legs spread wide, needlessly, as you're not running any trace between its legs, I'd adjust the layout to reflect the leg-spacing, though the physical circumference will be fine — but why not adjust it to visually match real-world dimensions? In future layouts you won't accidentally put components too close together that make if physically challenging to translate from the 2D to 3D.

See how ELS handles the power for the Fortin Boost:

Personally, for the 33 layout above, I'd spread out the LEVEL lugs at the bottom and board-mount the pot, then the perf isn't floating in the enclosure.

Oh, and I sort of try to put the 9v+ into the circuit where I think the DC jack is going to be (at the top, top-jacks etc), so yeah, give a mind to how things are going to go in the box, leave room for jacks/switches/future mods etc.

Hopefully my pedantic-puttering hasn't been too pestilent.

Happy Perfing!
Cheers,
FF

So glad some fellow builders chimed in. When I uploaded the layout I only had one thing on my mind, does the layout work. Wasn't thinking about the fact I didn't finish color coding traces and pot layouts. To be honest although its more work I don't mind wiring in the pots. and though it shows a perf layout I etch my own and so I use the perf for counting holes to take the layout and use a sharpie circling all the pads on a real piece of perf which I then lay over my piece of copper clad board drill a couple of holes , use some resistor trimmings to hold the perf in place on top of the copper drill all my holes marked out on the perf then trace out all the traces with a couple of different sized sharpies been doing this for a good 20 years not top of the line but my first working pedal is still working after 20 years but I digress
I did etch and populate my layout and it did work after a bit of troubleshooting my wiring ( I did say I don't mind it but in these times) I did get it to work. Though it did not sound like the videos.
As I continue to do more layouts I will pay more attention to actual pot, switches, jacks , etc placement and make it as complete as can be.
Thanks again for the input hope to hear more from you or anybody
and being pedantic isn't always a negative thing. You pointed out some things I didn't even consider but the pestilent part could be a red flag and is a bit concerning........anyways thanks again and have a great day.
(kidding about the pestilent thing ya know I mean who am I to judge you be you, I be I ,and we be we.
Without pedantic people where would OCD people be ? I'll tell you ,all being labeled pedantic when they're clearly OCD that's where. Being pedantic should be looked at more as having a special skill set. Being able to see what others overlook and such but I don't need to tell you this you know.
(just having some fun with your word choices that I had to look the meaning up) This forum goes way beyond just learning about pedals and building and I know pedal building just makes you a better person So I keep building I do it for my kids my wife who always wants me to be a better person.

 

[djmiyta]

The hex drive is an underwhelming tube screamer. I was sorely disappointed. I was ready for Fortin to being the rock.

This is some sad news to hear I was gung ho from the vids to have one. Maybe my build IS what it's supposed to sound like. The vids do get crunchy mine not so much. Well there are plenty of other to build so I'll put this one away

Any suggestions ? I'm always up for high gain crunch pedals and a really good delay and pretty much anything else.
I mean I've got a massive collection of pedal layouts I'd like to build but always open to something going to the top of the list .
Thanks for input (and I still haven't got my sagan delay to work even with the voltages you gave me so back in the drawer it went)

 

[Feral Feline]

I'm well impressed you etch your own boards.

I didn't think I was ready to etch my own so I commissioned a couple of boards; soldering up the first board was a nightmare for me — couldn't regulate the temperature correctly, too much solder causing bridges which I had to fix which 'caused lifted traces and then ... it was fugly, fried the charge-pump so didn't work and I don't ever want to etch my own boards now.


My first pedal was a paperweight. Still is. I've been building paperweights for a long time now, but not as long as you've been building pedals. I'm awestruck when one of my paperweights actually makes noise from sending a signal through it rather than dropping it on the floor.


Word choices... well, "pestilent" just let me get another *pop* in the sentence; Please pardon my penchant for plosives, onomatopoeia and other word-play...

 

[jimilee]

This is some sad news to hear I was gung ho from the vids to have one. Maybe my build IS what it's supposed to sound like. The vids do get crunchy mine not so much. Well there are plenty of other to build so I'll put this one away

Any suggestions ? I'm always up for high gain crunch pedals and a really good delay and pretty much anything else.
I mean I've got a massive collection of pedal layouts I'd like to build but always open to something going to the top of the list .
Thanks for input (and I still haven't got my sagan delay to work even with the voltages you gave me so back in the drawer it went)

Mean green metal machine.