Thonk Eurorack DIY Kit User manual
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 1
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
OVERVIEW
For the most recent version of this
document please visit
https://thonk.co.uk/documents/prok/
This document has hi-res images. ZOOM
IN for a closer look
All Thonk kits are sold under our standard Terms and Conditions -
http://www.thonk.co.uk/faq/
DIY INSTRUCTIONS
This document gives detailed instructions that assume you have purchased a
complete kit from www.thonk.co.uk. It also assumes no previous knowledge
of electronics. To learn to solder try http://youtu.be/I_NU2ruzyc4 and the
Adafruit guide to excellent soldering – http://bit.ly/1l77tF4!
Watch and understand that whole YouTube video! If you’re not achieving the
results shown in the video then you need to buy new tools or seek advice.
You will not end up with a working module otherwise.
TOOLS REQUIRED
Soldering iron, snipe nose pliers or tweezers, masking tape, craft knife or
scalpel and diagonal cutters AKA snips AKA side-cutters. A Digital
Multimeter is always helpful for checking for bad solder joints and continuity.
Thonk sell a range of inexpensive tools here - http://bit.ly/1jxqF3n
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 2
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
SOLDER JOINTS
Your solder joints should look like those shown as ‘OK’ below, they should
have that neat conical shape on BOTH sides of the PCB. If they don’t look
the same on both sides then stop! Work out why from the soldering guides
linked and don’t continue until you are getting those results.
This isn’t just OCD talking, you are very likely to end up with a destroyed,
damaged or defective unit if you’re not hitting that standard.
This photo is from the Adafruit guide to excellent soldering -
http://bit.ly/1jxqF3n and is reproduced under an Attribution-Sharealike
creative commons license - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 3
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
PROK DRUMS BUILD INSTRUCTIONS
1.
There are two PCBs used in this
build - they are referred to as the
front PCB and the back PCB.
They can be identified by
locating the text on each PCB as
shown.
BACK BOARD
2.
We will start with the back PCB.
All the parts for this PCB are
located in a labelled bag within
the main kit bag. Empty this bag
into a bowl or container – all
other parts can be put to the side
for the moment except for the
Teensy.
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 4
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
3.
Start by soldering the single 5.6K
resistor into the position labelled
R4 as shown.
4.
Next solder the single 39K
resistor into position R3.
5.
Next solder the three 56K
resistor into positions R5, R6
and R7.
6.
Next solder the two 1N5819
diodes into position as shown.
NOTE: Take care with the
orientation of the grey stripes on
the diodes – these should match
the black stripes on the PCB
silkscreen.
NOTE: Do not heat the diodes
excessively or you will damage
them, you should be aiming to
solder quickly and neatly.
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 5
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
7.
Next locate the SMD voltage
regulator which is packaged as
shown.
Do not remove it from its
packaging yet - complete the
next step first.
8.
Next locate the position for the
SMD regulator on the PCB as
shown.
9.
Now heat the single pad next to
the text ‘IC1’ with your soldering
iron, and once heated add a
small blob of solder – just
enough to cover the entire pad
as shown.
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 6
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
10.
Now using tweezers or snipe
nose pliers - take the voltage
regulator and position it flat on
the surface of the PCB as
shown.
Then re-heat the pad that we
already applied solder to, and
when the solder is heated - slide
the regulator into position so that
the three pins line up with the
other pads (see next image). If
you don’t manage this first time
round you can re-flow the solder
and reposition the regulator
again.
NOTE! Make sure the
component is flush and
perpendicular to the PCB
surface as you slide it in place.
NOTE: Do not heat this part excessively
or you will damage it, you should be
aiming to solder quickly and neatly.
11.
Once you have positioned the
regulator it should look as
shown.
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 7
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
12.
Now carefully solder the three
remaining legs. If you need to
add more solder to the first pad
then you can – just be careful not
to overheat the component.
13.
Next solder in the two IC
sockets. The notch on each
socket should match the PCB
silkscreen as shown.
Make sure these sockets are
soldered flush and perpendicular
to the PCB surface
14.
Now take the 2x5 male header
and the 2x3 male header. These
should be soldered on the
bottom of the back PCB as
shown.
NOTE! These headers are
soldered on the opposite side of
all other components soldered
so far.
15.
Next locate and solder the three
100n capacitors. These are
soldered into C5, C8 and C9
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 8
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
16.
Next solder the four 10uF
electrolytic capacitors as shown.
NOTE! Orientation is vital for this
part. The grey stripe and shorter
leg signify the negative side of
the capacitor, the short lead of
the component should go into
the round hole marked minus on
the PCB.
17.
Next solder in the single 150pF
capacitor into C1.
18.
Now locate the Teensy – this
build uses a Snare Drum but the
procedure is the same for all
Prok modules.
The Teensy included comes
pre-programmed with the Prok
Drums software.
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 9
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
19.
Turn the teensy over so you’re
looking at bottom side, then
locate the two SMD pads as
marked in the picture.
If you look very closely or with a
magnifying glass, you will see
that there is a tiny trace between
the two pads.
This is the USB power trace
which we cut in the next step.
20.
Use a craft knife or scalpel to cut
the USB power trace. One pass
with the blade should be
sufficient.
After cutting the trace use a
multimeter or a magnifying glass
to check there is no longer any
connection between the pads.!
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December 14th 2018 www.thonk.co.uk 10
PROK DRUMS
Eurorack DIY Kit
Instructions
Version 1
21.
Next take the long male pin
header and break it into 3
different lengths:
1 x 14 pin length
1 x 13 pin length
1 x 2 pin length
If you are using side cutters to do
this be sure to wear safety
goggles.
22.
Now place the male pins into the
Teensy as shown, then carefully
solder the pins.
Make sure the pins are soldered
flush and perpendicular to the
PCB surface.
23.
Next take the three 20 pin female
headers and cut them to the
following lengths:
1 x 14 pin length
1 x 13 pin length
1 x 2 pin length
1 x 11 pin length
1 x 7 pin length
Be careful when cutting these
down – it’s better to cut too large
and then trim down, rather than
cut too small and be left with a
useless length.
Be sure to wear safety goggles when
cutting these headers.
14 PIN
13 PIN
2 PIN
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