"Project update
1. The Phase noise analyzer arrived last week (after 8 an months delay due to the semiconductor shortage). I've not had the time to power it up - I want to first complete the mechanical design and issue tootling drawings etc. before I get drawn into the inevitable "Rabbits hole" optimizing the DAC's clock performance etc.
2. Material for the front panel has arrived (the Front panel is CNCed machined from a 430x70x30 lump of aluminium – excited to see the first milled front panels once the drawings are completed.
3. Working from initial drawings, the display vendor confirms they can machine front panel display profile – so once they have the final drawings they will make samples of the Front panel display.
4. Most “samples” have arrived from China – so I have been working with the mechanical designer who is translating my 2D drawings into 3D, last week she spent drawing the “Component Parts” into 3D models (Connectors, screws, bearings, displays etc.) I hope this week we can actually start on the design itself – she has other work so hard to say when the drawings will be completed.
I've been working on the mechanical arrangement of the internal PCB's + connector locations – this requires partial PCB design to confirm critical component location so the mechanical designer can input these “fixed” positions into the 3D model.
Timeline – I plan to attend the Munich HiFI show 2023, and plan to have with me the DAC Mainframe completed (This is the DAC chassis, PSU, Clock sections, front panel etc.) - this is the most complex parts of the project completed, the variations of Digital input / DAC boards are then relativity quick...
So, Munich is the major project milestone – it will be tight, but I believe achievable. The toolings are an unknown – and much depends on how close the first spins are.
The project is progressing well here – and gathering steam as more parts arrive, I've even started to think about the remote control..."
By now, I'm fairly sure everyone will have their own views on whether this post is good news, bad news, or no news at all.