Modular Synth Panels

On Tue, 26 Aug 2003, djbrow54 wrote:

> But, when I tried to install it in my rack with the MOTM-rails
> it won't fit.  The board is about 3/32" too tall and hits the rail
> on the top before any of the mounting screws line up.
>
> I was wondering if others have had issues and what they did
> about it.

>Larry Hendry wrote:
> I check my Oakley PCBs and often mount the pots off board using a Stooge
> bracket.

There is an alternative that I have used successfully with Omeg pots.
I have mounted a fiberboard washer between the panel and the front of
the Omeg pot mechanism box (i.e., put the washer over the pot knob stem
and push it all of the way to the 'bottom' of the pot mounting threads),
so that the washer will be between the panel and the 'box' of the pot that
would be against the back of the panel.  The thickness of the washer needs
to be only enough so that the pcb clears the motm rack rail.  That is, a
small part of the rack rail will be between the front panel and the pcb.

Mounting the assembled front panel requires one to initially angle the
module to fit the rack rail between the back of the panel and the pcb, but
then can be gently manuevered into place.

Why a fiberboard washer (that I think it is used in automobile mountings
of fenders (?))?  It has some give  to it and sometimes I have had to cut
about 1/3 of the washer so that it  does not interfere with the rack rail.
Washers should be put on all pots,  and the washers cannot be too thick or
the front mounting pot washer will  not adequately secure the pot to the
front panel.

I have had to do this on 2 of my Oakley modules (multiladder & phaser)
with success.  But as  Larry astutely pointed out, this probably will not
work with his flat  rails, so I will also have to figure out an
alternative approach for these  2 modules when I transfer my modules from
19"rack rails to Larry's flat
rails.

Jeff