CubuSynth Exhaust Expander Module for Engine User Guide

: October 30, 2023
: CubuSynth

Table of Contents

CubuSynth Exhaust Expander Module for Engine
Introduction
Tools Required
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

CubuSynth Exhaust Expander Module for Engine

Introduction

This Build Guide is written for builders who have experience in soldering and assembling PCBs. The guide is focused on the steps that require special care or techniques due to the complexity of the build. Therefore, not every component value is described and listed as a single step. To help keep track of the already placed components, print the BOM and cross out the parts you have already soldered.

Tools Required

Soldering iron (+wire)
Side-cutter
Nut wrench / driver M6, M8

Helpful, but not necessary

Digital Multimeter
Helping (third) hand / PCB holder

Build Guide
STEP 1 (Main PCB) Diodes
Identify the 1N4148 diodes and put them in place. Orientation is Important! Make sure the line on the diodes lines up with the stripe on the PCB silkscreen.

STEP 2 (Main PCB) Resistors
Select the resistors of the same value, place them, turn the board around, and solder them in place. Trim the solder legs and move on to the next value. Another method is to place all resistors and solder them from the top, without turning around the board.

STEP 3 (Main PCB) Ceramic Capacitors
Put the capacitors in place, and bend the solder legs outwards so that they don’t fall when turning around the board. Solder all ceramic capacitors in place.

STEP 4 (Main PCB) Power Header
Turn around the board and place the Pin Header like shown below. Put some tape, to hold them in place while soldering from the other side.

STEP 5 (Main PCB) Transistor
Take the 2N3904 transistor, put it in place, and make sure the orientation is correct. The outline of the transistor has to match with the silkscreen on the PCB. You can bend the 2 outer legs of each transistor, so it doesn’t fall out when turning around the board. The footprint is quite small, so stay focused and don’t use too much solder to avoid shorts. Check your solder joints with a magnifier and/or multimeter when in doubt.

STEP 6 (Main PCB) IC Sockets
The orientation is important to know how to place the ICs later! The notch should face upwards, matching the print on the PCB. You can use tape to hold them in place, put the other PCB on top, or bend 2 pins of each socket inwards so they don’t fall when turning the board around. Then solder everything.

Introduction
This Build Guide is written for builders with experience in soldering and assembling PCBs. Due to the complexity of the build, the guide is focused on the steps that require special care or techniques. Therefore, not every component value is described and listed as a single step. To help keeping track of the already placed components, print the BOM and cross out the parts you already soldered.

Tools Required

Soldering iron (+wire)
side-cutter
Nut wrench / driver M6, M8
Helpful, but not necessary
Digital Multimeter
Helping (third) hand / PCB holder

BUILD GUIDE

STEP 1 (Main PCB)
Diodes

2	1N4148	D8,D9

Identify the 1N4148 diodes and put them in place. Orientation is Important! Make sure the line on the diodes lines up with on the PCB the stripe silkscreen.
STEP 2 (Main PCB)
Resistors

1	1k	R135,R176,R221,R232
1	4k7	R138,R235
6	10k	R137,R141,R143,R144,R153,R229,R230
2	20k	R167,R231
7	100k	R147,R154,R155,R177,R217,R218,R219,R220,

R222,R223,R224,R225,R226,R233
1| 470k| R136

There is different ways to go, you might already have developed your own method to place the components and solder. You can always select the resistors of the same value, place them, turn the board around and solder in place. Trim the solder legs and move on to the next value. Another method is to place all resistors and solder them from the top, without turning around the board.
On the next page, you can find a picture of all resistors in place.
STEP 3 (Main PCB)
ceramic capacitors

3	1n	C28,C29,C30
6	100n	C12,C14,C16,C19,C25,C31

1nf is marked as “102”
100nf is marked as “104” Orientation doesn’t matter. Put them in place and bend the solder legs outwards, so they don’t fall when turning around the board. Solder all ceramic capacitors in place. On the next page you can see how your PCB should look by now.

STEP 4 (Main PCB)
Power header

1	HDR-M-2.54_2X5	H4

Turn around the board and place the Pin Header like shown below. Put some tape, to hold them in place while soldering from the other side. STEP 5 (Main PCB)
Transistor
Take the 2N3904, put it in place and make sure the orientation is correct. The outline of the transistor has to match with the silkscreen on the PCB. You can bend the 2 outer legs of each transistor, so it doesn’t fall out when turning around the board. The footprint is quite small, so stay focused and don’t use too much solder to avoid shorts. Check your solder joints with a magnifier and/or multimeter when in doubt. STEP 6 (Main PCB)
IC sockets

3| IC Socket 14Pin|
---|---|---

Oriantation is important to know how to place the ICs later! The notch should face upwards, matching the print on the PCB. You can use tape to hold them in place, put the other PCB on top, or bend 2 pins of each socket inwards, so they don’t fall when turning the board around. Then solder everything. STEP 7 (Main PCB)
Toggle Switch
Pin headers
Place the toggle switch in the correct spot. Take the 8-Pin Headers (Male) and Sockets (Female) and stick them together. Place them on the Main PCB, with the female header down, but don’t solder yet! Below you can see the correct placement of the switch and the pin headers. CubuSynth-Exhaust-Expander-
Module-for-Engine-07 STEP 8
Control PCB
Now take the other PCB and fit it on top, so the shaft of the switch goes in the big hole and all pins of the male headers are showing through their solder pads. Fit the nuts to the switch and carefully turn the board around. Solder the Switch first, it will hold together the 2 PCBs while soldering the pin headers on both sides (both PCBs).

STEP 9 (control PCB)
Resistors

3	1k	R135,R176,R221,R232
1	4k7	R138,R235
2	47k	R227,R228
7	100k	R147,R154,R155,R177,R217,R218,R219,R220,

R222,R223,R224,R225,R226,R233

After removing the nut from the switch and carefully taking apart the two PCBs, place and solder the resistors on the control PCB as shown below. STEP 10 (Control PCB)
LED

1	LED-TH-3mm_W	LED13

For the LED the orientation is important! The longer leg goes in the upper hole, while the flat side of the LED points down. Solder it flush to the PCB. STEP 17 (control PCB)
Controls

7	B100K	AM,EXT,REF,SEL1,SEL2,SUB/2,SUB/4
5	PJ-301M	J36,J37,J38,J39,J42

Now take the Potentiometers and jacks and put them in place as marked on the PCB but don’t solder yet. On the next page you can see the placement

When everything is in place, put the front panel on top, so all controls go into each corresponding hole of the panel. Make sure everything fits well. Fit all nuts to the Potentiometers and Jacks. Be careful when turning the boards around, so that the components stay in place. Then solder everything.

STEP 18
Installing ICs and final check
Now take the Main PCB and install the Ics. Make sure to install the chips in their specific spot. Bend the Legs of the Ics inwards a bit so they form a 90° degree angle to the body of the chip. Make sure the orientation is correct, the notch has to match the silkscreen / the sockets placed before.

Check your soldering. If you see shorts or bad solder joints, fix it up. Then check the power pins for shorts with your multimeter. When everything looks fine, you can fit the control PCB, so the switch goes through its hole and the Pin headers are connected properly. Then tighten the Nut for the switch on top. Then You can fit the Front panel on top again. Fit all the nuts on the Potentiometers and Jacks. Then place the knobs on the Potentiometers. For best results, turn all Potentiometers counter- clockwise and push on the knobs, so the marking points towards the left end of the surrounding circle. To connect the module, plug in the 10pin Ribbon cable correctly to your CubuSynth Engine and the Exhaust while your rack is powered OFF! Make sure orientation is correct. (Red stripe down). Then turn on your case, and Please understand that we can’t guarantee for your DIY module to work. Nevertheless we will do our best to guide you through the build or to solve problems when needed. In case there should be parts missing in your Full DIY kits contact us to ask for replacement / If you have trouble with your build, you can contact us at the websites contact form or Mail: cubusynth@gmail.com To be able to identify mistakes in your build, please include quality pictures of your soldered PCBs, front+back.

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