Monday, 8 January 2024

Westlicht Performer part 2 - build notes

 This is part 2 of my build of the Westlicht performer eurorack sequencer.

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TL1105SPF160Q
37 of these e switches
SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW5 SW6 SW7
SW9 SW10 SW11 SW12 SW13 SW14 SW15 SW16 SW17 SW18
SW20 SW21 SW22 SW23 SW24 SW25 SW26 SW27 SW28 SW29 SW30 SW31 SW32 SW33 SW34 SW35 SW36 SW37 SW38




switch 8 & 19 are the optical switches

These switch caps are a tight fit.
Line them up carefully then solder.





rectangular caps for F1 to F5





The rear of the module



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The display:
Mfr. Part No.
NHD-3.12-25664UCY2
Mfr.:Newhaven Display
Description:OLED Displays & Accessories OLED 256 x 64 Yellow 89.2 x 44.0 x 6.0
6mm spacers


Audio JacksThese are for the MIDI connectors


Next, proceed with populating all the LEDs. Note that the shortest leg goes into the rectangular pad. 



You're almost there. Now its time for the firmware.
The microcontroller that you need to flash is a ARM STM32f405
Download the latest firmware from the Github Releases page and use the flasher of your choice. 
Both bootloader.hex and sequencer.hex need to be downloaded and flashed to run the sequencer. There is also tester.hex, a hardware test application that can be used to fully test all hardware components.

Use the serial or the JTAG ports.

Firmware

The first method is to use a FTDI Serial adapter
 This has 6 pins
 You need something like this:

The FTDI-Adapter is a USB-Serial bridge. 
It allows you to upload programs to your microcontroller through your PC's USB port. 
The pinout is standard [ GND - CTS - VCC - TX - RX - RTS ] and will work with any Arduino clone that has this as a programming interface.

FT232RL FTDI USB 3.3V 5.5V to TTL Serial Adapter Module for Arduino FT232
or
5V / 3.3V FTDI FT232RL USB to TTL Serial Converter Adapter
 
The IC is a FT232 (Future technology) 
RXD/TXD transceiver communication indicator
Pin definition: DTR,RXD,TX,VCC,CTS,GND
 
or 

If you decide to use the JTAG connector you will need a 



ST-LINK V2 
















and an Olimex Arm to JTAG Adapter. 















ARM-JTAG-20-10
 
 
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The Japanese Corner store - Cheap quick & tasty

Lawson, FamilyMart, and Seven-Eleven are three of the largest convenience store chains in Japan, collectively known as the "Big Three." Each of these chains operates thousands of stores across the country and plays a significant role in Japanese daily life. Here's an overview of each chain:


Lawson:

Lawson, Inc. is a Japanese convenience store franchise headquartered in Tokyo.
Founded in 1975, Lawson operates over 14,000 stores in Japan as of early 2022, making it one of the largest convenience store chains in the country.
Lawson is known for its wide range of food offerings, including freshly prepared bento boxes, onigiri, sandwiches, and snacks. 
You will often find these shops in train and bus stations. They are the quickest way to find a snack or coffee before you get on your train.

They also have a variety of drinks, groceries, and other daily necessities.
The company is also involved in various business segments, including financial services, such as ATMs and banking services, and media distribution through its partnership with companies like e-book provider BookLive.

FamilyMart:
FamilyMart Co., Ltd. is another major Japanese convenience store chain headquartered in Tokyo.
Established in 1973, FamilyMart has over 16,000 stores in Japan as of early 2022, making it the largest convenience store chain in terms of store count.
FamilyMart offers a similar range of products and services as Lawson, including ready-to-eat meals, snacks, beverages, groceries, and more.
In addition to its domestic presence, FamilyMart has expanded internationally and operates stores in other Asian countries, including Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.























Seven-Eleven:


Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd. is the largest convenience store chain in Japan and a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.
Seven-Eleven was first introduced to Japan in 1974 through a licensing agreement with the U.S.-based Seven-Eleven chain.
As of early 2022, Seven-Eleven Japan operates over 21,000 stores across Japan, making it the largest convenience store chain in terms of revenue and market share.
Seven-Eleven stores offer a diverse range of products, including food, beverages, groceries, household items, and services like bill payment, ticket sales, and postal services.
Seven-Eleven is also known for its innovative product offerings and collaborations with popular brands, as well as its emphasis on customer convenience, such as its extensive network of ATMs and self-service kiosks.















These three convenience store chains, along with others in Japan, form an essential part of the country's retail landscape, providing convenient access to a wide range of products and services for consumers across Japan.

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Gaggiuino PCBV3.1 - Build Log Notes

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I purchased a new Gaggia Classic Pro (Cherry Red) coffee machine the other day with the intention of converting it into a Gaggiuino. 

I have been hunting for a used Classic on Facebook marketplace for ages, and almost bought one, but the deal didn't happen. So in frustration, I decided to buy a new one. 
Hopefully, the extra dollars I spend on a new machine will be offset as there should be no mechanical defects. It's probably a good idea to use the new machine for a few months to make sure everything is OK. It's got a 12 month warranty.

In this time, I can order parts, do some research, etc, etc
The model I bought is a 2024 Gaggia Classic Evo Pro.
Model number: (SIN035UR) RI9481/12.

https://gaggiuino.github.io/#/?id=home

This should be a fun project.
I can either do what's called a Lego build, or buy a pre built PCB.
The developer, Zer0-bit is doing all this work for free.
I think its so cool.
It's a community based (not for profit) model with I think lots of people giving their time and effort for free in the pursuit of that prefect glass of black gold.
The community uses discord:

The main additions that are added to the Gaggia are a MAX6675 thermocouple module paired with a K-Type thermocouple sensor for closed loop control over the temperature. Options for adding an AC dimmer module that attaches to the pump motor and a 0 Mpa to 1.2 Mpa ranged XDB401 pressure sensor, installed in line between the pump and the boiler, provide further closed loop control over the pressure and flow profiling.

I recommend you buy from one of the official suppliers.
I ordered a Peak Coffee Kit. 
They are based in Hong Kong.
This uses a prebuilt PCB with all the parts installed.
I think this is the easiest way to go.  (for the record, the parts are below).
I understand that you need to be patient with the orders... could take a few months to arrive.


My machine uses a Gaggiuino PCB v3.1:
MCU : STM32F411CEU6 (PCBv3.1, BlackPill)


BOM - Parts needed for 
(STM32 Blackpill and gaggia classic pro):
+ PCBv3.1
+ STM32 blackpill (included on the Pcb)
+ ST-Link-STM32.... allows you to flash the board.
+ MAX6675 Thermocouple Module
                   ... it reads the temperature from the boiler.
                       Controls when to turn on/off the boiler so 
                      the temp remains constant
+ Ungrounded Thermocouple Sensor | K-type, M4, 0.5 m long
   Sensor Finglai ? M4 thread - screws into the boiler
+ Dimmer switch (used in light switches) . 
Controls the cycles/sec of the vibratory pump. (changes the pressure of the water delivered from the pump to the boiler?).
+ Pressure transducer (pressure sensor - 0-1.2Mpa ) .... measures the pressure 
+ ADS 1115 Module ADC with ProGain Microcontroller 16 Bit Amplifier Board.
    This amplifies the signal from the Pressure transducer.
+  40DA SSR Relay
    5V Low-level trigger 1 channel relay module..... opens & closes the solenoid to control waterflow 
    into the portafilter.
+ Power supply boards ...x 2
   12V/1A PSU .... takes AC & turns it into 12VDC... connected into the wall Power Supply
   12V to 5V stepdown
+ RC Surge Absorption/ Snubber circuit Protection Module.
    Its connected in parallel into the relay to prevent voltage spikes turning on & off the solenoid.
+ Display - 2.4" Nextion LCD + MicroSD card (Class10 HC 8GB to 32GB)
+ Flat gasket/o-ring | 1|4 inch pipe (11 x 6 mm), 3 mm thick

Links
+ Nomans Substack - building a c0ffee machine from scratch

OPV - over pressure valve

3 way solenoid valve - allows water to run from the boiler to the brewhead
 or back from the brewhead when there is excess pressure & water... this removes a soggy coffee biscuit...... discharges the pressure into the drip tray.

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3PLN 
3 3-Way Valve 3-Way Solenoid Valve that controls flow between the group head, boiler, 
        and vent tube
P Pump Vibratory pump that pumps the water
L Line AC Line voltage
N Neutral AC Neutral voltage
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Aluminium boiler
Don't buy the 2015 version

Things to buy:
Buy a blind filter to back flush the machine.

springs - 9Bar, 6.5Bar, 5Bar
for Gaggiuino the OPV should be 10-12 bar?
My 2024 Evo model doesn't appear to need the OPV mod ... it already has an appropriate pressure?

The standard basket will fit 20g coffee fairly well.
Swap the two hole steam tip with a one hole tip.

Load cells can be attached to the drip tray to allow for feedback about the pour weight 

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To print:
1. component housing
or

2. Touchscreen Housing and Funnel Plate Mount

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Coffee index. Click here :


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Saturday, 6 January 2024

How to Sync Abelton with Arturia's Keystep 32

Some brief notes on my setup for syncing Arturia's Keystep 32 to Abelton.
I thought this is a quite useful & practical post as the Keystep is a really cheap and reliable
way to integrate old pre MIDI/USB vintage gear into a modern DAW.
The Keystep is very flexible ... has DIN MIDI, USB MIDI, Analog clocks, sync, CV/Gate
etc etc.
The Beatstep, Keystep Pro and Keystep 37 will probably all work the same.

My aim was to combine a Roland Jupiter 4 & Promars and record into a DAW.
The J4 only has a ARP and I have no intention to add MIDI.


The old Keystep clocks the J4 really nicely.
You need at least a 5V gate.
It also sequences & adds a basic Arpeggiator to the Promars.
The Promars has CV/gate. No MIDI or ARP.
The CV is 1V/Oct. Gate is 10V
(the Arp on the Jupiter 4 is fabulous, and Ive always wanted one on the Promars).

The keystep is plugged into my PC using USB


I've set the keystep to internal Sync.
Thus, it can still be used if the DAW is off.

I have a Mio XL MIDI interface with plenty of USB hubs.


1. Connect the Keystep 32 to your computer via USB.

2. Launch Ableton Live and open the MIDI preferences.
Double click the Ableton Live icon to launch the software. 
Then, in the top menu of Ableton, go to the Preferences menu by opening the ‘Live’ menu and clicking ‘Preferences’.



3. Select the Beatstep from the list of available control surface devices.
    (ableton doesnt has the keystep as an option in the settings so I choose Beatstep 
     like its written in the manual).

My MIDI interface can host up to 8 USB devices.
Ive picked HST 1

Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Keystep are checked.

4. In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked 
    for both the Input and Output of the Keystep (Sync can also be optionally checked).

5. Activate the Ext tab in the top left corner.


Note that after an external sync source  has be enabled, the EXT button in the Control Bar 
next to the TAP button appears.
You can then activate external sync either by switching on this button or by using the external sync command in the Options menu.

The upper indicator LED next to the EXT button will flash if Live receives usable sync messages from the Keystep. The keystep will also send MIDI notes, etc.



The Keystep is now ready for use with Ableton Live.

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Friday, 5 January 2024

pocket operator modular 16 - build guide

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Tuesday, 2 January 2024

Suwa Shrine - Nagasaki Japan

 The Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki, Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Suwa-no-kami, who is believed to protect people from calamities and disasters. This shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Nagasaki Prefecture and holds significant cultural and historical value.

Links

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There are lots and lots of stairs. But the view from the top is worth it.


Like many Shinto shrines, Suwa Shrine hosts various festivals and events throughout the year. These festivals often involve traditional rituals, music, dance, and food. One of the most notable festivals held at Suwa Shrine is the Suwa Shrine Autumn Festival, which takes place in October and features processions and performances.
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The Suwa Shrine is located in Nagasaki City, specifically in the Suwa-machi area of the city. It is easily accessible by public transportation and is often included as a stop on cultural tours of Nagasaki.

The shrine dates from the early 1600's.
Some internet sources claim its construction was pushed to act as a bulkward against Christianity.
Im not sure if this is accurate.

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Its true that the shrine was established in the early 17th century, during a time when Christianity faced persecution and restrictions in Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate's policies.

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During this period, the Tokugawa shogunate implemented a policy known as sakoku (closed country), which aimed to isolate Japan from foreign influence, including Christianity brought by European missionaries. This policy led to the persecution of Christians and the suppression of their activities, including the destruction of churches and the prohibition of Christian practices.


However, I understand that the primary purpose of building Shinto shrines like Suwa Shrine was typically to enshrine and honor Shinto deities, rather than as a direct response to Christianity. 
Shinto, as the indigenous religion of Japan, has a long history predating the arrival of Christianity in the country.


That said, Shinto shrines like Suwa Shrine played a role in promoting Japanese cultural and religious identity during a period of political and social change, including efforts to maintain traditional Japanese beliefs and practices in the face of foreign influence






Due to the shrine's location at the top of this mountain, the shrine survived the atomic bomb largely intact. Some say this indicated the strength of the Shinto religion over imported Gods....
the famous Urakami Cathedral and surrounding Catholic neighborhoods were obliterated.
So maybe there is a grain of truth that Suwa did play a role in the struggle against imported religion.








The architecture of Suwa Shrine reflects traditional Japanese Shinto shrine design, with a distinctive entrance gate (torii), main hall (honden), and worship hall. The buildings are typically constructed using wood and feature intricate designs and carvings.

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   - Osaka Castle
   - Yoyogi park - tokyo 2019
   - Shibuya - crossing
   - Fukuoka 2
  
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