[sdiy] Uber-DIY

[Tim Parkhurst]

Making your own caps from sheets of copper and wax paper...

Tim Parkhurst
Design Engineer

Silicon Bandwidth
(510) 360-4826


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Malleis [mailto:tb303head at earthlink.net]
> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 11:25 AM
> To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Subject: RE: [sdiy] Uber-DIY
> Importance: High
> 
> You winding your own transformers, or what?  I guess that WOULD be Uber-
> DIY,
> though...
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Paul Schreiber
> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 9:58 AM
> To: epeasant at telusplanet.net; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Subject: [sdiy] Uber-DIY
> 
> 
> > Why do some people feel the need to be so critical of
> > others? This elitist attitude really bugs me, whether it's
> > over precision, quality, or methodology. I will spend my
> > money however I like, and if I think a DAC is too expensive
> > at $20, I will look for a cheaper solution.
> 
> I am thinking there needs to be a separate "Uber-DIY" category for folks.
> Here are some rules,
> feel free to add others.
> 
> a) All wire used must be retrieved from dumpsters or the side of the road.
> b) All ICs must have date code beginning with the number '8'. Bonus points
> if they begin with
> '7'.
> c) No single part can exceed $5 in cost.
> d) The only allowed test equipment is a tube-base scope (without probe)
> and
> a DVM bought at a
> flea market for $10.
> e) Soldering irons cannot be temperature regulated, must plug directly
> into
> the wall (no
> "workstation" types) and be at least 5yrs old. Extra bonus for pet teeth
> marks on cord (+1),
> partial burn/melt on 1 conductor (+2) or melting to expose wires, then
> wrapped in black
> electrical tape (+3).
> f) All resistors must be tossed into 1 old box. Bonus points if ALL parts
> are tossed into the
> same box. Penalty of -1 per drawer used. +2 bonus if no box used at all
> (all
> parts in piles on
> the workbench).
> g) Workspace points as follows:
> 
> +2 if the primary surface is cardboard
> +1 if the primary surface was never intended to be a workbench
> -1 if the chair is the correct height
> -2 if the primary surface exceeds 1sq meter
> -3 if it REALLY IS a workbench
> 
> I'm not being elitist. I'm being realistic. My 1975 DigiKey catalog was 6
> stapled pages, the one
> I just got has 1040 pages! Min. wage in the US in 1975 (when I started)
> was
> $1.85 hour. 2 hours
> of work was 1 LM308AN. If I worked at Taco Bell now at min wage, I can buy
> a
> TL072ACP (the core
> op amp in MOTM) working 4 MINUTES.
> 
> Folks: you've NEVER had it so GOOD. THINK! Take advantage of the
> situation.
> 
> I understand (having worked at Tandy 9 years) there is SOME personal
> satisfaction in designing a
> 4-pole filter for 67 cents. If that is you goal, more power to you. But if
> you goal is a nice,
> USEFUL analog synth, save you money, know what parts ARE important, and
> target accordingly.
> 
> Remember, every beer is 10 4558 op amps :)
> 
> Paul S.
> 
> 
> 




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