G7UFO

TeensyMaestro Kit - Links and building instructions

The blue TeensyMaestro PCB held in a PCB vice on a soldering mat, with the Teensy board fitted and a soldering iron alongside

Introduction

Thanks very much for your purchase of the kit. I expect you’re keen to get started so I’ll try and keep this brief!

All the components (including a blank SD Card) are stored within the six component packs. Each pack has a BOM attached to it. Feel free to empty all of the packets into a container for easy retrieval, checking the contents as you go.

PCB build

Simon, NV0E has written some great instructions on the construction of the main PCB as well as the modification of the LCD.

Differences

With the case being different in this kit these standoffs are not used.

Update 28th September - Thanks to Jonathan, G4IVV who suggested it is useful to use these standoffs. I’ve started to include them with the kit.

The encoders in this kit have different coloured wires. The mapping is as follows.

PurposeEncoder WireJST-XH Header Connector WirePin Number
Phase BWhiteBlue1
GNDShieldGreen2
GNDBlackYellow3
+5VRedBlack4
Phase AGreenRed5

Assembling the case

The case comes in two parts, the main body and the back panel.

Back panel

The only components attached to the back panel are the power button and any 3.5mm sockets you have purchased. All others are mounted on the main body with access holes in place in the back panel.

I would recommended you fit the components in the panel early prior to (carefully) soldering the cables. This saves any issues fitting them afterwards.

The inside of the black printed back panel with the power button and a 3.5mm socket fitted, each wired to a JST connector

Main case

Front panel

Ensure there are no print artefacts left in the inset for the front panel. These should come off easily with a non-sharp object.

The printed front panel should fit in place snuggly and the four M4x8mm bolts should be placed in the four outer holes.

The KD0RC TeensyMaestro front panel sitting in the inset on top of the case, with an M4 bolt in each corner

The four M4 nuts should be fitted to the back to securely fix it into place.

Inside a corner of the case, an M4 nut fitted to the back of a front panel bolt

Once you’ve done this place this face down on a soft surface to save from any scratches.

For the purposes of clarity, I removed the front panel for the remaining pictures.

Program button

This (Momentary Tactile Push Switch - 6mm) is one of the more fiddly mounts.

The cable should be soldered like this (please note the orientation of the switch and its ’legs’).

A 6mm tactile push switch with a red and a black wire soldered to two of its legs

It should then be mounted in the case like so, the unsoldered legs should fit down the side of the case and the switch should sit below the cut in the case.

The program button mounted in a slot on the inside wall of the case, with its red and black wires hanging down

Ethernet port, USB port and speaker

I would suggest fitting these next.

Inside the case, the program button next to the USB port mounted in its printed holder, with a ribbon cable running from it

The Ethernet port pressed into its printed mount in the corner of the case, next to the speaker grille

The Ethernet port seen from outside the case, with its ribbon cable running into the case

PCB

Lower the assembled PCB into the case (removing the nuts and washers if necessary).

The assembled blue TeensyMaestro PCB lowered into the black case, with the Ethernet port in the bottom-left corner

The nuts and bolts of the nine Bourns Rotary Encoders should be secured onto the front panel, holding it in place.

Update 6th October - via Len on the FlexRadio forums:

Placing an additional M7x0.75mm nut under the front panel on each encoder (except for the slice tuning ones). This is to help prevent any the panel warping and compression when we tighten the panel nuts on the top.

  1. Place the panel nuts on each control and screw them down far enough that with the panel in place, the nuts don’t touch it.
  2. Now place the panel on the controls so that it rests on the spacers and put washers and nuts on the controls. Only tighten them enough to hold the panel with no slack (just touching).
  3. Next, use a small screwdriver to turn the bottom nuts until they just touch the panel.
  4. Finally, tighten the top nuts hand-tight and you are done.

The rotary encoder shafts poking through the front panel, each secured with a washer and nut

Front buttons

Fit the front buttons, securing with the nut.

The two front buttons fitted through the case below the Teensy board, with their red and black wires crossing

VFO encoders

Drop the large encoders into place, through the holes on the front panel.

Looking down into the case, the two large VFO encoders dropped into place on either side of the PCB

Secure them with the six M3x12mm nuts.

The Slice B side of the front panel from above, with the VFO encoder secured by its nuts

Connections

Connect all the leads, including the ones on the back panel.

The case open with the back panel lifted up, its power button and socket wired to the PCB, and all the leads connected

Closing up the case

Fit the rear panel on the back, ensuring that the program button is sticking through the case.

Use the four M4x12mm nuts to secure the panel in place.

The closed case from the back, showing the g7ufo.radio logo, the Ethernet port, a 3.5mm socket and the power button

Front panel knobs

Fit the knobs.

The finished KD0RC TeensyMaestro from the front, with all the knobs fitted

Firmware

This can be found in the releases section of Len’s GitHub page.

Please remember to update and add the MMConfig.ini file to the SD Card otherwise it will not boot.

QSO time

Time to give it a spin!