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TeensyMaestro

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Comments

  • Stefan AF6SA
    Stefan AF6SA Member ✭✭

    Hi Len,

    Interested to build one and thinking to design a PCB, that will be as a backplane holding all parts.

    Encoders, buttons, Teensy, display, TSC2007I touch controller, Ethernet soldered directly to the PCB.

    PCB to be manufactured and SMT parts (R,C, 74HC4067, TSC2007I) to be soldered by JLCPCB.

    Builder needs to acquire and solder trough hole part's - Encoders, buttons, Teensy, Ethernet connector. No messy wires. I can make a Digikey BOM.

    Front panel can be a black PCB with white silkscreen, drilled and machined.

    Will start working and ordering parts as time permits.

    Any suggestions are welcome…

    Stefan / AF6SA.com

  • Lasse SM5GLC
    Lasse SM5GLC Member ✭✭✭

    Stefan,

    that was my initial plan too, but scrapped as mounting the encoders and buttons along with the display turned out to be too much work. I did a small board holding 4 encoders, but realized there was no real advantage (for me). I was not sure how I would like to have the front panel layout, thus a PCB with all parts would have to be a final revision.

    BTW if I recall there was a design similar to what you intend, made by Ben, VR2VIY. Have a look at page 6 in this thread.

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Stefan, thanks for your interest in the project. Simon, NV0E is just embarking on that exact project as we speak. He wants to convert to a cheaper, but same-sized touch-enabled display (ST7796S) and plans on using through hole MCP23017 mux chips instead of the SparkFun MUX boards.

    The display change will require re-working the code to accommodate it, and it is unknown if the same fonts are available (or can be made to work) for the ST7796. The ST7796 has a built-in touch controller that would replace the TSC 2007.

    The other big issue is getting component heights so that everything lines up height-wise when fitted to the front panel.

  • Stefan AF6SA
    Stefan AF6SA Member ✭✭

    "The other big issue is getting component heights so that everything lines up height-wise when fitted to the front panel."

    I have ideas about how to do this and help designing the PCB.
    Will prefer to design it mostly with SMT parts, available on JLCPCB for easy manufacturing.

    SMT PCB assembly is cheap - trough hole gets expensive and it's almost impossible to acquire all parts from this supplier.
    Ethernet kit is not available - we can use the connector mounted directly.

    Will QRX for news about the new display.

  • NZ0P
    NZ0P Member ✭✭
    PXL_20250528_120639632.jpg PXL_20250528_120647028.jpg PXL_20250528_120954838.jpg PXL_20250528_120950849.jpg

    Slow progress. Not much time for hobbies with a 1 yr old.

    Got my little breakout header pcbs in and printed off a mounting bracket for the boards and some rear panel mount connectors.

    The cheapo sd card extenders need a longer ffc cable

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Wow, nicely done! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed mine.

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Simon was unable to post this, so I am posting on his behalf:

    Hi All, Len (KD0RC) and I have been working on a project to design PCBs for his Teensy Maestro. Our goal is to simplify the build process, make it easier to produce a polished final product, and lower the cost of some components.
    PCBs
    I've designed two PCBs, and once tested, will make the Kicad and Gerber files available for download. We don’t intend to sell the PCB ourselves, but instead make it easy to order them from a PCB fabricator like jlcpcb.com

    • Front Panel PCB: This will replace the standard enclosure front panel and will have openings for the encoders, switches, and the display. It can be ordered in black, made from either FR4 or aluminum. A black aluminum PCB front panel is cost-effective, easy to order, and gives the project a commercial look.
    • Main PCB: This will hold the encoders, pushbuttons, and display on the front side. The Teensy 4.1 board, capacitors, ICs, and header connectors will mount on the rear. All components will be thru-hole for ease of assembly.
    • The main PCB will be mounted directly behind the front panel.

     Hardware Changes

    • Multiplexers (CD74HC5067M) → I2C I/O Expanders (MCP23008)
      This change frees up some GPIOs on the Teensy for other uses.
    • Adafruit LCD (HX8357D) & Touch Controller (TSC2007) → ST7796S LCD
      The new LCD has an integrated touch controller, reducing cost from ~$45 to ~$19. It’s slightly larger (4.0” vs. 3.5”) but retains the same 480x320 resolution.
    • Panel-Mounted Switches → PCB-Mounted Switches
      The four switches (RIT-A, XIT-A, RIT-B, XIT-B) are now directly mounted on the PCB.

     Firmware ChangesThe hardware changes will require firmware updates.

    • Version 2.0 will be released to support the new hardware.
    • Version 1.0 will continue to be supported.

    As long as the hardware supports it, new features will be added to both firmware versions.
    Timeline

    • The first prototype PCBs have been ordered and should arrive next week.
    • Firmware updates for the ST7796S LCD have been completed and tested—everything is working perfectly.
    • Remaining tasks:
      • Firmware changes for the I2C I/O Expanders
      • Testing the main PCB
      • Checking the fit of the front panel and main PCB within the enclosure


    Approximate PCB Costs (jlcpcb.com)We don’t plan to sell the PCBs, but ordering them yourself is straightforward and relatively inexpensive. Here are some estimated costs (excluding shipping, taxes, and tariffs).
    The minimum order quantity is 5.
    5 x Main PCB                           $15 
    5 x Front Panel PCB (FR4, black)       $15 
    5 x Front Panel PCB (Aluminum, black)  $30  
    Front Panel

    3

     Main PCB (front)

    1

     Main PCB (rear)

    2

     Testing the ST7796S 4in Display

    0

     73,Simon, NV0E

  • David Okay Patton
    David Okay Patton Member ✭✭

    Wow, this looks like a great project. I'll want to build one for sure!

    Len and Simon, Thanks for putting this together!

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hey Dave! Well, Simon did all the design work to get the boards built and ordered. He also did the conversion from the HX 8357 display to the ST 7796S display. Fortunately, most of the code worked as is, so I am hoping to maintain one set of source code by using conditional compilation to care for the two different builds.

    Simon is currently adapting the code to use the new I2C MUX boards. Given his recent progress with this thing, I don't expect that will take long.

  • NV0E
    NV0E Member
    Thanks Dave! Hopefully the prototype boards will work correctly and we won't have to do any revisions.
  • m5kvk
    m5kvk Member ✭✭

    Hi all

    I'm back home from my holidays. Seeing the input from Simon, NV0E, I'm thinking it would be as well to hold off ordering until the PCBs have been through testing. If this is not the case, I'll get on ordering now just in case tariffs get in the way (unlikely over here, but you never can tell these days)

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Gareth, that sounds like a good idea. Simon is expecting the boards any day now, so we will get a chance to test them very soon. We will also publish a complete Bill Of Materials (with links) so that you can easily order the correct parts.

    I did notice that the Teensy 4.1 boards are on backorder. SparkFun is now manufacturing and distributing them, so watch their website for more info there. So far, they have not given an anticipated availability date.

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Good news, I just looked at the SparkFun site and the Teensy4.1 ($31.50 USD) and Ethernet kit ($3.95 USD) are both back in stock.

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    A quick update on Simon and my progress. We have the code working for the new display, touch controller and MUX boards that will be used with the PC board. The original hardware still works as it did (yay!). We are meeting tomorrow to merge our code and do some more testing on hardware versions 1 and 2. Once we get that all done, we will be in wait mode until the boards arrive (hopefully very soon now). Once they come in, we will build and do final testing before releasing it to GitHub.

    I have gotten questions about using other displays, and generally, the answer is no, they won't work without re-working the code. If anyone wants to do that, I do provide the source code (Arduino-flavored C++).

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    The code merge was successful and easier than we thought, so this is looking really good! We successfully tested the original hardware as well as the new. Once the boards are built, I anticipate some changes to accommodate encoder rotation (half are likely to be backwards), but everything else seems to be working properly.

    The PC boards have cleared customs in NY, so they should arrive soon (this coming week, hopefully).

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