The most tedious part of building a new amp is always for me making a new chassis / heat sink assembly. What I would like to propose is we as a group agree and publish chassis / heat sink design with power supply and amplifier interface that can be reused for each new project. Moving forward all amplifier cards and power supply cards submitted would incorporate the proposed interface. Heat sinking could be modular as well as output grows additional heat sink can be added.
any thoughts
Bill
any thoughts
Bill
I'm ow planning to make a kind of universal amp chassis that you have in your mind. I will start with a F5 and would like to make the amp board swappable. My versions are mono blocks with no option to add more heat sink. This i think would not be necessary because the first watt designs are all +/- 18V ac. And if you make the PSU universal the maximum dissipation is thereby determined. I'm in the process to draw the heatsink layout. I will post them if they are finished.
That's true we don't want to end up with all the same amps. Please lock this tread !
Butt it is nice to have a amp chassis that is able to swap your Firstwatt designs. You can also built to F5's with different components like better resistors and do a quick comparison.
Butt it is nice to have a amp chassis that is able to swap your Firstwatt designs. You can also built to F5's with different components like better resistors and do a quick comparison.
Peter Daniel has given you a starting point by using a common footprint for his F series amp and power supply boards.
A group buy for a chassis has recently finished.
I'm not sure how many bought into it, but it was not well subscribed even though the originator was subsidising the manufacture and sourcing of materials.
I'm not sure how many bought into it, but it was not well subscribed even though the originator was subsidising the manufacture and sourcing of materials.
I agree that it's a pain-in-the-nuts, but I think that you're going to have mighty problems coming up with something that accommodates so many difering requirements. Good luck with it!
Just for info, I've used the cases from HiFi2000 / Modu Shop with success. I am not connected with them, but do recommend them: http://www.hifi2000.it/default.asp?Langid=1 . If you come up with a universal design you might want to consider asking them to quote a price on your design.
Ok people seem to favor personalizing the chassis, but the interfaces could be standardized. My original thoughts were along the lines of what Mr. Pass has done with the burning amp series, and use it as a test bed and learning tool. Jaac interesting that you don't agree with the concept so your conclusion was "Please lock this tread !" kind of rash in my opinion. My desire was to be able to make a reusable bed so that I would have the opportunity to explore all the amp possibilities offered in this tread.
Bill
Bill
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I don't think it's posible to be honest there are too many variables. There is a level of standardisation with rackmount but beyond that I don't think is posible. Even with regard to the heatsink some people will be using TO3 packages and others T0220.
True,
But they could share a common backplane interface and card size could be standardized to accommodate interchangeability.
Bill
But they could share a common backplane interface and card size could be standardized to accommodate interchangeability.
Bill
A couple of years back, I offered to make some standard boxes, in the naive belief that I would help somebody 😛 Not happening!
I offered them at the cost of materials, actually making them for free.
Result:
1) Quite a few complaining about the price 🙄
2) About 95% wanted a standard box, but exactly THEIR box needed to be a little different.
Naturally for the same price as the box offered, though cost of tools/materials would be increased.
3) After wasting countless hours, trying to make people understand:
No there are no discounts to be had, as I do this to get some people going.
No, yours can't be different.
No, there will not be 5 versions.
Yes, you also have to pay for the materials for yours, even if you have offered to supply the sheet metal, in shape of the roof of your old Toyota.
So, many hours wasted, lots of unhappy people.....NEVER again!
Magura 🙂
I offered them at the cost of materials, actually making them for free.
Result:
1) Quite a few complaining about the price 🙄
2) About 95% wanted a standard box, but exactly THEIR box needed to be a little different.
Naturally for the same price as the box offered, though cost of tools/materials would be increased.3) After wasting countless hours, trying to make people understand:
No there are no discounts to be had, as I do this to get some people going.
No, yours can't be different.
No, there will not be 5 versions.
Yes, you also have to pay for the materials for yours, even if you have offered to supply the sheet metal, in shape of the roof of your old Toyota.
So, many hours wasted, lots of unhappy people.....NEVER again!
Magura 🙂
Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
One option, although not a standard, to make chasis building easier is to find a beat up amp off flea-bay and re-use it for your projects. I have an old Onkyo collecting dust for a future project.
Another option is to buy an old linear power supply - I have two really nice Acopian rack mounting supplies. You get big tranformers, caps, heatsinks for the regulators and panel meters.
Both options save on work effort if you want to go that way.
Another option is to buy an old linear power supply - I have two really nice Acopian rack mounting supplies. You get big tranformers, caps, heatsinks for the regulators and panel meters.
Both options save on work effort if you want to go that way.
If we could agree on a standard interface for the boards, possibly offer a back plane circuit board. People can source materials themselves. Could even offer a generic build with suggested materials. At this point I have a closet with 5 amps gathering dust, I could never sell them for what they cost me and they have sentimental value (stupid I know but they are my children). If I am to continue building amps I need to be more green. Building the circuit up on a board has always been the cheap simple part. I would think it would desirable to be able to AB test simply by swapping cards.
Bill
Bill
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OK, I understand that that's not possible; but if I send you a used amp chassis, could you make a replacement roof for my old Toyota?
Um, perhaps he was joking?
Regards.
Aengus
If Nelson can put all of his firstwatt designs into one chassis design, then it can be done.
I suppose it is up to us to agree on something.
Rather than argue about how it looks. Maybe we should think about what the requirements are that we need (eg heat dissipation etc), and then let someone like Peter Daniel make the decision on how it should look.
I personally don't care too much about fancy looks. I like the Engineering look - Simple but of high quality.
I suppose it is up to us to agree on something.
Rather than argue about how it looks. Maybe we should think about what the requirements are that we need (eg heat dissipation etc), and then let someone like Peter Daniel make the decision on how it should look.
I personally don't care too much about fancy looks. I like the Engineering look - Simple but of high quality.
Make everything the same and only the face plate customizable.
I'm on board btw.
I've had such a bad time talking to these chassis manufacturers. Seems like par-metal and context engineering are completely uninterested in selling me a chassis. They just don't bother to respond.
I'm on board btw.
I've had such a bad time talking to these chassis manufacturers. Seems like par-metal and context engineering are completely uninterested in selling me a chassis. They just don't bother to respond.
After the Interfaces were agreed upon and a suitable universal backplane designed libraries at front panel express could be made for backs, tops, and sides. My last amp I just attached machined flat panels to the machined Conrad heatsinks. You could personalize the libraries if you wanted a more custom look.
Bill
Bill
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