PCB mounted controls

photon

photon

New member
I’m in the planning stage of making a clone of the EHX Clockworks. I’m using PCB mounted controls: slide potentiometers, 9mm pots and 1/8 inch jacks. I think the taller caps will interfere with the front panel if I mount the pots on the front of the board, so I’m considering two options:

  • Rear mounted panel controls. To mount these on the rear of the PCB, is it just a matter of editing the footprints in KiCAD so they are flipped, making sure the pin numbers are correct?
  • Separate board for all panel mount controls. For this I’m guessing I need two schematics, one for each board. Would I just have the panel control connections go to headers (on the schematic) for the interconnection between boards?
Hopefully these questions make sense. Thanks.
 
I would definitely just go with rear-mounted panel controls.

It's typical in a guitar effect pedal to mount the controls on the opposite side of the board from the components. In my experience you don't need to edit any footprints in KiCad, you just need to select the item and in the pop-up menu (on Mac) select "Change/Flip Side" and KiCad will adjust the footprint layers so that they are appropriately oriented for the back side of the PCB.
 
Hey I'm wondering how it's going. This is some insight from PCB mounted pots and jacks work I've done to date.

Watch out for PCB mounted jacks/pots on a board connecting to both the top and a side or back. It's potentially an issue mechanically: the 2 degree angle of Hammond type enclosures makes simultaneous mounting a little challenging. Still possible but you should account for it in case it's an issue. Also top mounted rotary pots that are too close to rear mounted jacks won't fit unless they are far enough apart from each other, or you solder them after mounting everything. It depends on many factors. Just something to fully think through before you get too far.

I'm experimenting with how to best do separate boards in Kicad. My current approach is placing connectors in the overall schematic separating it into distinct boards. I create all the PCB's in that single project, editing and updating as needed until the design is stable. I then archive it to separate projects separating it into discrete boards, deleting the redundancy from each. This results in a project that has the entire design, and individual projects for each board. I tend to make a lot of changes along the way and some affect the connector pin count or pin assignment. So keeping things in one project until the end works for me.

I'm also trying the ribbon cables from lovemyswitches.com for PCB interconnects. They are 2 inches x 26 AWG in 4, 6, or 8 conductor). I gifgure I can cut up the 8 conductor ones as needed. Currently waiting for the order to arrive.
 
Also you can flop caps on their side if needed, and you have the space. Consider posting a pic or drawing of the packaging approach. It might get you some useful feedback.
 
Hey thanks for the tips. I haven’t gotten too far. I’ve bought all the parts and will probably breadboard to make sure the schematic that I have checks out. In the meantime I’m working on some simpler KiCad projects to get used to the software. I’ve never gone through the whole process to have my own boards fabbed. I’ve always just etched one sided boards or built on perf board. I also wondering how the tariffs are going to effect the prices when it’s time to order.
 
photon said:
I also wondering how the tariffs are going to effect the prices when it’s time to order.
Click to expand...

Check out this thread:
Locrian99

Thread 'Jlcpcb and tariffs'

Saw over on a reddit thread some people
Talking about the delivery comoanjes requiring is customers to pay some fee? Any truth to this? And if yes does anyone know does it also hit the slow boat (what i ussually use anyways)
 
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