Monome 40h Kits

[Tone Deft]

so how much would it cost me to get one of you dudes to make me a monome layed out as 4x16 instead of 8x8. ?

20 meeeellyon dollars and some sharks with friggin laser beams attached to their foreheads.


Once I make 1 I'll have a grip on how quick I can make another. Send the kit along with pre-paid postage to return it and a little sumthin sumthin extra... Dunno, we can talk later. No promises but you won't get left hanging certainly I'm willing to help out a forum whore or two for putting up with my shit.

[Johnisfaster]

yeah man, once you get yours built let me know if you're down and how much. though I won't purchase a kit till I know how much I might get one made for, I'm certainly not skilled enough to put one together.

[Tone Deft]

Top plate info... (without the bottom)

Another possibility for panels, I haven't tried it yet.

http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/home/index.htm

This software is damn easy to use. This is how it costed out

Amount | 5-9 pieces | 10-19 pieces | 20-29 pieces | from 30 pieces
---------+------------+--------------+--------------+---------------
Discount | 10.0% | 20.0% | 30.0% |
Price | $70.80 | $62.94 | $55.07 | on request

For 4.0 mm Aluminum anodized/Natural

Amount | 5-9 pieces | 10-19 pieces | 20-29 pieces | from 30 pieces
---------+------------+--------------+--------------+---------------
Discount | 10.0% | 20.0% | 30.0% |
Price | $72.17 | $64.15 | $56.13 | on request

For 4.0 mm Aluminum anodized/Black . Sorry mac guys, no white anodizing, just natural, gold, red, blue, green and medium bronze.
This is just the top plate, no bottom. Bottom still seems to cost ~$50.

But I'd never send out for parts until I printed out a 1:1 of the top plate and put it over the actual buttons.

There's those other sites, some might be cheaper but this is a good ballpark figure.

If a 40h user could post close up shots of the button to panel clearance I'd be grateful. Are current owners happy with the size of the holes for the buttons?? Speak now.

This is also 0.15" thick aluminum as opposed to the 0.25" the monomes used, the site I used doesn't carry anything thicker. They also offer a few other materials, but the price doesn't drop much.

[Pantytec]

T-O-N-E,

so will you be implementing the Sparkfun buttons which are bigger (I prefer these over the Menome buttons)?

What are the chances of getting the same type of aluminum face as the Menome machined and made? I don't need graphics. I think a single on/off stainless dip switch on the side would be cool. Kinda.

Will it be usb or midi? or both?

[Tone Deft]

T-O-N-E,

so will you be implementing the Sparkfun buttons which are bigger (I prefer these over the Menome buttons)?

What are the chances of getting the same type of aluminum face as the Menome machined and made? I don't need graphics. I think a single on/off stainless dip switch on the side would be cool. Kinda.

Will it be usb or midi? or both?

I won't be selling or providing devices. I'm just laying out what people can use to get their kits built. Anything I do create I plan on donating to the monomes for them to put on their site (or not), sell, tweak and share.

I bought the sparkfun parts (FTDI board and 64 buttons) before the full kit was announced. I plan on building that one after I get a 40h built and using the sparkfun parts to work on an RGB version.

I just don't have the time, the potential money isn't worth it and I want the monomes to reap the profits and hopefully be community central. I want to help people make their own and promote open source DIY projects.

Try the other sites posted for what materials they offer, I made the panel mock up in 15 minutes from installed the software, dead simple stuff.

All monome stuff is USB, read up on their site on how helper applications translate from monome speak to OSC, midi, etc.

[Mesmer]

Mesmer - I saw your post on the monome.org site about sparkfun buttons and how to make contacts for them. I also have 4 of those pads, I plan on using breadboard I have that has long strips of copper on it. The conductive button is wider than a few of the strips so I plan on shorting across those. I hope that makes sense, I'm not explaining myself very well. I won't get on that one for a while, I want to get the monome kit down, then make the sparkfun my attempt at a color version.

I did not see this yesterday. Yes, I was thinking the exact same thing. This will be my first monome build, though. I think I'll buy two logic kits, no buttons. I can get the diodes somewhere else. I was bummed a little when I couldn't order de backplate/breakoutPCB/contacts Base/whatever-you-callit to go along with my buttons.... until I was noodling at goldmine and remembered this exist:



I beleive those are what you're talking about. I'll try to make do with them ... might be a mess for alignment .... but that's okay I have four 4x4 buttons and four 2x2 buttoms because I might need to spread up the buttons for my custom installment ... we'll se (hehe he)

[kabuki]

I estimated a 256 with a nice walnut or cherry base to be about 1300.

I think I will let the Monomes handle the hardware assembly.

[itook4lefts]

tone, this was about the best i could do - i'm not too crash hot with macro stuff. anyway, yeah i'm pretty happy with the size of the button holes and the clearance. the buttons rock from side to side a bit, but it's either that, or they'd stick in the holes, i guess.



the aluminium on mine is a bit thicker that 4mm. i think the sparkfuns would stick out a lonnnnnnnng way from a 4mm base - you'd definitely want the original monome ones, or cut your own slab or aluminum (i don't know if that's even possible? or a great big piece of plastic?). no word from brian about whether the kits will have 40h original buttons or the new ones for the 256 yet, is there?

stephen

[Tone Deft]

Thank you very much 4 lefts, great shots!!

I think we've got it all sussed out except for the base and a way to cut a hole in the base for the USB port. Some nice wood might be the easiest/cheapest way out.

As for the thinner faceplates, one could put down TWO faceplates to get twice the thickness. I think it's safe to say that thicker metal would cost more to cut but that was the thickest that one shop had. I mainly ran that program to see about what it would cost. I did leave off some details, like rounded corners on the faceplate and a slot the monomes designed around the edge to fit with their bottom case.

I believe the buttons in the kits are identical to the ones in the picture you took.

Cutting your own would SUCK. Square holes. Even if you get good at cutting them, what if you totally screw up on the 62nd hole? Live with it or start over again.

Thanks again!

[Mesmer]

tone, this was about the best i c. no word from brian about whether the kits will have 40h original buttons or the new ones for the 256 yet, is there?

Yes, I just read at monome.org that the keypad kit will include original 40h buttons, which are somewhat bigger than the new buttons for the new line of 256,128,64.
The sparkfun ones are bloated slimy toads compared to both of these. They are biger-er I mean.

[itook4lefts]

Cutting your own would SUCK. Square holes. Even if you get good at cutting them, what if you totally screw up on the 62nd hole? Live with it or start over again.

yeah, that is true. bollox to that. i think 2 on top of each other + wood enclosure might be the way.

[Tone Deft]

I did not see this yesterday. Yes, I was thinking the exact same thing. This will be my first monome build, though. I think I'll buy two logic kits, no buttons. I can get the diodes somewhere else. I was bummed a little when I couldn't order de backplate/breakoutPCB/contacts Base/whatever-you-callit to go along with my buttons.... until I was noodling at goldmine and remembered this exist:



I beleive those are what you're talking about. I'll try to make do with them ... might be a mess for alignment .... but that's okay I have four 4x4 buttons and four 2x2 buttoms because I might need to spread up the buttons for my custom installment ... we'll se (hehe he)

I can't find a google pic of the breadboard I have, no matter you found some, that's what you have, this is just stuff I have at work.

What I plan on doing with the sparkfun buttons and breadboard for contacts is to get carbon paper (like the old school credit card paper you sign on for the bill), putting that on the PCB and pressing the button down so the conductive pill leaves a mark, then wiring up some breadboard holes accordingly, so that I get the best possibility of contacting the right spots.



Another thing we haven't checked out for the case is DIY fiberglass kits, I've seen it done, never tried it. Also, epoxy molds. Maybe I can just build one out of my Live 3 box.

[kabuki]

Cutting your own would SUCK. Square holes. Even if you get good at cutting them, what if you totally screw up on the 62nd hole? Live with it or start over again.

yeah, that is true. bollox to that. i think 2 on top of each other + wood enclosure might be the way.

Or a thin aluminum Top Plate, and a plastic or wool 2nd plate to raise it up a bit.

With access to a drill press and a bit of patience, you could make a wood plate that would work well...

[kabuki]

I bet a nice, clear lego case would look nice.

[Mesmer]

I remember an impossible game called labyrinth: wooden box with movable top.

I think the toy store might reveal some gimmicky/slightly-cool alternatives.

my secret monome project doesn't need a case

-h