"The Visible Synthesizer"
2004-04-25 by Cynthia Webster
Cool Idea! There are a lot of different light sources, and UV materials to work with, including "invisible" clear inks that can be painted onto knobs without effecting their white light visible colors. Here is a great Ultaviolet Resource for lights and materials http://www.wildfirefx.com/ You could sprinkle Ultraviolet LEDs throughout the circuit boards in random places *inside* the case so it has a lot of twinklies visible throughout the instrument. I did this with a little home built synth box that I made years ago that had only a clear plastic lid. There are LEDs amongst rest of the circuit that are wired in to show what is happening throughout and lots of people seem to like to stare inside! Above the front panels your could route a slot to hold some very thin fluorescent UV tubing, (like short sections of tiny neon tubing) in order to wash the front panels with a hidden source of UV light. Machining front panels out of plex is tough because the stuff shatters and cracks so (damn!) easily. One thought might be instead of drilling holes with the special plexiglass drill bits, to try melting the holes clear through with an old soldering iron, (do this outdoors for fresh air, Gak!) The coolest would be to do clear front panels with laser or chemically engraved lettering, so the whole panel could be edge-lit, and you could put a dimmer on the panel graphics so the writing could disappear! LOL! You could call it the "Optica" or something and use home made open-air "Vactrols" where you can actually watch them all working. Add a UV Playable theremin device on each side. This sort of concept machine might be a lot of fun! Put lots of Tubes inside too! (ventilation holes) Plexiglass might be suitable for a case if it was very thick (heavy!) but I would urge you to spend the extra money on a more shatter-proof clear material such as Lexan, or others. With the cheap stuff, one seemingly insignificant bump in the right (wrong) place could cause sudden heartbreak... I would do your homework here by actually talking with a plastic fabricator at a plastics house first. Happy Fluorescing! Cynthia
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> Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 19:42:58 -0000 > From: "grantrichter2001" <grichter@asapnet.net> > Subject: Re: new to group / questions > > Royal Air Force fighter planes used UV visable instrument > markings for night flying during WWII. If you shine a UV light on a > Synthi or Putney, the knob pointer glow from the UV ink because > they are military surplus knobs. The strange things your find out > on tour. > > The UV visable thing is a great idea. There was a DJ mixer for > sale with UV visable ink. Can't remember the brand, Roland > maybe. > --- In SynthModules@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Randalls" > <eclipsedave@d...> wrote: >> Hi folks, >> Dave here in WV...I'm new to the group and just wanted to > introduce >> myself... >> I am currently waiting on a shipment of MOTM modules in kit > form >> and will be building a custom case using thick UV glow > plexiglass. >> I'll also attempt to cover each knob with a laser-cut UV glow >> plexidisc in 4 different colors according to module function. 1/4" >> cables will be sleeved with UV tubing with heatshrink on the > ends to >> prevent fraying...I'll keep you posted on this nuclear reactor... >> >> Any other UV >> glow ideas? Hit me up! >> >> Can anyone please tell me: >> >> *If* an oscilloscope is needed to test my assembled MOTM > modules, >> what is the least expensive, but decent model to buy? >> >> Are the 4-pin power connectors for this brand of modules >> called "Molex" connectors? If so, can I connect those crazy > custom >> PC accessories to them at the same time? If I may, will they > create >> any noise in the final signal? >> >> Is there any *serious* risk in using plexiglass for the module >> cabinet concerning static electricity? >> >> Is that your final answer? >> >> Thanks in advance... >> -Dave