Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg29)

Evaluation

How well does the final design meet your specifications?

My first specification was for my sound system to have adjustable volume because my neighbours had a baby. On my PCB I made sure to include a potentiometer. So yes I would say that I have met this specification.

My second specification was for my sound system to be portable. When designing my sound system enclosure I made sure to have this specification incorporated into my design. I came up with a small compact enclosure that can still produce good sound. The reason that I wanted a portable sound system was so I could carry it around with me where ever I go, since I love Music so much.

My third specification was for it to look part of my room. I achieved this expectation by painting my enclosure black since black goes with anything and it also looks sophisticated rather than having a bright coloured enclosure. 

My last expectation was for my sound system to have a good amplifier which it does have but if the volume goes to loud it begins to distort, so I think it can be improved by using a different chip. The chip we are currently using is TDA2822M. So the sound can definitely be improved on this design. 

How can the design be improved?

I think next time I'd like to have more space inside the enclosure for all my PCB'S to go.
And I'd like to have a different shaped enclosure, instead of the boring old square I'd like to go for an odd shape, but i know it couldn't be done this time because of the little resources we had. As said above a better TDA chip might be useful in good sound, otherwise than those things I like my design and I wouldn't change anything else.

Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg 11)

Concept ideas

I think this is a really good design. It has good dimensions which is what I wanted because one of my specifications were for it to be portable and I think this design does that. I think it is balanced because the speaker is in the middle and the LED window is at the top of the enclosure. In one of my research pictures it showed that one of the enclosures had a phone cover on the top, so I incorporated that into my design.

This design is possible to make in our workshop at school, because I think it has a simple shape which would be easy to create with all the resources we have at school. It will also be easy to put together.

I think this design will work well because it is portable, which will benefit me. It will also have a phone cover on the top, so you won't have to place your phone down on a wet or sticky surface. The LED window is in the right place because on the inside I'd like to place the LED circuit on the roof of the enclosure, which will allow the light to be seen easily. The grill on the enclosure will prevent people from touching the speaker or even spilling cool drink on it. It will get less damaged if it has a grill.

What I like about this design is that the word "fun" is written across the back LED window, which shows a bit of my personality. I think this design is balanced because the two speakers are on the either side of the front and the LED window is vertically down the middle, which makes it look very professional. This design looks strong and durable, like it could last forever but one of my specifications were for it to be portable and this design doesn't look like it would be easy to carry.

I think it would be possible to make this deign at school because once again its a very simple shape, which anyone can create. I could print the word "fun" with our 3D printer at school,and make the panels from wood and cut it with a saw, but if we use wood with chemicals in we would have to get it laser cut.

Sound systems Design Portfolio (pg24)

Design Development

The above picture is my finished design of my speaker enclosure. Still in progress on programming the LEDS.

Sound systems design portfolio (pg23)

Planning for practice

Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg 22)

Planning for practice

I need the following tools and equipment to make a PCB
- Etching tank
- Photo sensitive board
- UV box
- Chemicals
- Soldering Irons
- Drill Press
- Side Cutters

I need the following tools and equipment for my enclosure
- Laser cutter (wood being used we can't saw it)
- Wood
- Plastic
- Glue

All the tools and equipment in the electronics room
- Etching tank
- UV box
- Drill Press
- Profile cutter
- Vacuum former
- Saw
- Side cutters
- Soldering Irons
- 3D printer

Would I be able to make a high quality speaker enclosure with tools and equipment at my disposal? If not what will I do.
I will send the wood to be laser cut so we don't breathe in harmful chemicals that are in the wood

Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg21)

Diptrace circuit design

Sound systems design portfolio (pg20)

Soldering mistakes

1. The wires are sticking out all over the place.
Thread the wire through the hole carefully to avoid the wires from sticking out in all directions

2. The solder isn't on the board (not attached)
Make sure to heat up the board and then solder. This will allow the solder to stick to the PCB.

3. Two solderings are touching.
This could be avoided by soldering carefully and by heating up the area around the individual wires at different times, not at the same time.

4. Wires touching.
This could be avoided by cutting the ends of the wires off until only the solder mountain is left. So as soon as you finish soldering that component onto the PCB be sure to cut the wires off.

5. Wires sticking out under the solder mountain.
To prevent this from happening twist the wires around each other so this doesn't happen.

Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg19)

Spot the mistakes.

1. there's no wires or components connected to pad 3 of the IC. it can be fixed by adding components to it and connecting it to one of the rails.

2. the wire of pad 5 doesn't connect to anything, it can be fixed by connecting it to the positive or negative rail.

3. the negative rail is to thin so the current won't be able to flow well. it can be fixed by making the rail on diptrace thicker.

4. pad 4 doesn't have wire connecting the resistor to the negative rail.

5. there is no pad connected to the end of the negative rail. on diptrace you could just add a pad to the end of the rail.

6. the writing is too big. It can be fixed by making the writing smaller on dip trace.

7. the wire isn't connected all the way to the negative rail which is a problem. before you make your PCB you should just check if everything is connected right.

8.1 the wires are crossing over each other, it can be fixed by separating them and putting pads at the end of the wires.
8.2 the wires aren't in line so the current won't flow, it can be fixed by moving the wire to the side.

9. once again the track doesn't connect to anything, it can be fixed by joining it to the negative rail.

Sound systems design portfolio (pg16)

Sound systems design portfolio (pg15)

Subsystems