Screw!!!

After hours of reflection, head scratching and many test, I found the problem.....Ther was short circuit between solenoïds of the wires group 1. Look at the screw, look at the wires group....and guess what could happens! It was for the 1st blow out and the second yesterday. I did'nt understand why a note could make playind a few pipes! So, I know. 6 or 7 solenoïds on the same port, it is too much. Perhaps the card can be repaired, perhaps it's a dream....I'm going to send it to J. Wale for checking, but I have not too much hope. I rather have to consider than I loose 130 euros with this litle stupidity. The fact is I'm sure the diodes are not in cause, but I'll put some on my next wind chest. After Rolcutter Rendez-Vous, an other adventure will begin! 

It was working

I did'nt understand why the basses were all playing together. There was a problem, and when I tried to play every basse..........smoke..........you can see the result. One ULN 2803 is almost exploded! Chips are unplugged but the small green led does'nt light. I think this time the card is completely destroyed. The best now is to go to bed, we'll see tomorrow! If you'll be on Rollcutter meeting, I'am not sure you'll hear The Automatic Organ! 

And it works!

Good news! We heard today a few notes of music. It's not really perfect. Many things are to be changed. I have to add an other bellow, I have to change the reservoir and the wind chest. All the solenoïds must be re-installed (and so I'll be able to add diodes...). But the pipes (the few which are working properly) seem have got a beautiful sound so I can keep this...The electronic card is now fixed and the Midi files Reader does its job very well. I have to test with the battery fully charged, some notes do not want to play under the pressure. It will be better with vitamins. And if somebody can tell me how I can put a MP 3 somewhere for donwloading, don't hesitate! I'll record a few tunes. Right now, I must wait for the battery ......and I have many tunes to arrange to continue! 

Waiting for chips

No great news today. You can see I sticked on small paper sheet to prevent wrong wiring. I'm waiting for the chips to test the organ with a little tune. I can just check pipes one after one by connecting each solenoïd wire to the 24 V battery. Not easy to do a melody!
3 belows is definitively a wrong solution. I can clairly hear a sort of "tremolo" in sound. I'll make a blog especialy for this problem, with diagrams showing than belows must be by pairs.
Accordion bellow is neither a good solution.
Also, the flat angle brackets supporting solenoïds are not very good and it is better to put springs for good response of notes.
Perhaps the best is to consider this organ as a prototype concentring all the solutions you must not use!
If this blog can help somebody to do no mistake, I'll be happy! 

ULN 2803A

These are the responsibles of troubles! . I ordered 8 ULN 2803A chips today, it's not very expansive, 0.70 euros each. I think receive the news soon!
Many thanks to friends for having help me! Hope is coming back!
To prevent other troubles, I'm advised to add diodes between solenoïds wires, but as you can see on the picture, they are all soldered and insulated, how can I do?
3rd picture: By the small window in the bellow, it is possible to repair the bad valves easely.
 

Card is off

Nothing very interesting today! I think the electronic card is burnst! When I plugged it this morning, just saw parks and smoke! Do you think it's natural for such a card? I must investigate to know what's happen last night.
Today I just made a new crank and repaired the bad bellow.
Also, I'm not sure it's a great idea to have made 3 bellows.
And perhaps gravity is not suffisant for solenoïds working, a small spring would be better, there are leaks...
Well, I must think! 

Installing pipes

Front pipes are now installed and connected. Next time make me remember to make the pipes backs more thicker. It will be easier to screw the bourdons on the front board....
I shut the wind chest, but don't check another time after soldering the solenoïds. There are many leaks, and now another bellow does't work very well! So, that's a "litle" job for tomorrow before hearing music.

On the picture, pipes are fixed all together on a board before mounting on the organ front and connecting to the windchest with PVC pipes. 

First checking

Automatic Organ has been connected to my keyboard this morning. All is fine! But not at the first time. Nothing was working. Before send an offensive email to J. Wale, I took a look at instructions..... and re-wired correctly the card. Fortunately it's not burnst with incorrect connections! There is now just one solenoïd to fix, all the other are working well. The response seems to be very good. Now I look forward to testing with the pipes in place. I'm going to install them to day.
You can see on the picture the right connection for card..
The marks on keyboard show the current scale of the organ 

Wiring completed

Ca avance, ça avance!!!

All the solenoïds are now connected to the electronic card. Just have to connect the 24 v battery and Midifiles reader. To late for today, checking and testing tomorrow. Perhaps it will be able to make a sound for meeting at St Nicholas at Wade? 3 weeks, hope, hope, hope....







I had to connect the right colour wire to the right connector! That's the reason of the litle excel sheet.
Do you know you can click on the picture to enlarge?

If you are coming here for the first time, don't forget to visit the beginning of this adventure by clicking on the previous messages. 

Solenoïds on place

I cannot work on my organ more than 2 or 3 hours per day, and not every day, because of my job, so building does not go on very quickly...Solenoids are installed now and I began soldering wires. Hope all will be fine! I think I'll check all the connections before shutting the windchest! You can see on the picture the last solenoïd just before installing.
 

Wiring beginning

I began to screw the supports of solenoïds and wiring. I have not get 38 different coulours of wire, but only 10. So I made 4 groups for easy checking. I hope to make some tests with electronic card and pipes this week-end, if all is right.....There is now less than 3 weeks until Rollcutter meeting! 

Solenoïds

I prepared the valves with red thin felt and leather. There is also a rubber washer to prevent noises when solenoïd is on action. The axle is glued to the brass
I need some leather to finish all the valves. Do you know where can I find a sheep?
I began to install solenoïds and wiring. Not so easy. You can see the electronic midi card. I can connect 64 solenoïds, I have just 38 for the moment.. 

Brass valves

To day was not too much busy. I just repaired one bellow which did'nt work properly. I turn the valves for solenoïds with brass. There is no spring on solenoïds, the weight of valves and pressure should be suffisant....I hope!

J'ai pas été trop productif aujourd'hui. J'ai simplement réparé le soufflet qui fuyait. Ensuite j'ai tourné les soupapes en laiton pour les bobines.Il n'y a pas de ressort aux bobines, la pression et le poids des soupapes devrait être suffisants...j'espère! 

Front pipes

The 27 highest pipes are completed and waiting for installation on the front of the organ.

Les 27 plus hautes flutes sont prêtes et attendent d'être installées sur le devant de l'orgue 

A few pipes ready

A few pipes are fonished, waiting for installation onto the organ.
There are still 4 weeks until the Rollcutter meeting, and just a litle work.... 

Voicing pipes

No time this week-end for workshop. Just begin to voice the pipes, make some missing stoppers and verify a couple of things..
After gluing, pipes are cut at the right length with a japonese saw, as you can see..

repairing bellow Mai 5 th

Trying to repair the bellow by gluing craft paper on it

Tentative de réparation du soufflet en collant du papier craft dessus 

Bellow to repair

There are some leaks in the bellows...it's not a new...

il ya quelques fuites dans le soufflet, il n'est plus tout jeune... 

Orgautomatix 2006 Mai 1st

Orgautomatix, the midi automatic organ
We are on 2006 Mai 1st.....
Will it be ready for the Rollcutter Meeting on June? All the solenoïds are still to be installed with the wiring to the electronic card, the pipes must be attached, harmonized and tuned. I have to make also a few pipes more, basses ones. I think it'll not be completed but perhaps it could be able to make a few sounds? Who knows? Don't forget to pass here sometimes and have a look at the progress

crankshaft 5

Building the crank, wedding