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Preparation

Thoughts

A MIDIBox is a serious project. Thanks to the efforts of TK and a few assistants, it is easily accessible to anyone who wishes for one, but don't be fooled into thinking it's going to be a walk in the park

A MIDIBox is not a cheap way out. If you're thinking “Heck, why buy one when I can build one of my own for half price?” then you are barking up the wrong tree. Your first project will involve not only the purchase of a large range of expensive tools, but a collosal investment of your time and efforts.

Take your time. If you're in a rush, go buy a commercial offering. Do not be fooled, a MIDIBox will take at least a couple of months to build, with the exception of some of the very simple devices like the clockbox. Talk to your wife and kids about this thing, or they might wonder if you're having an affair or something ;)

Read. READ. READ!!! Read until your eyes can't take it any more. If you think you've read enough to get started, go and read it again. Seriously, information is imperative.

Use the right tool for the job. Get all the tools you need. Don't F*&% around with tools, you can do anything from stripping a screw to killing yourself. Don't be a cheapskate, get what you need. This doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune, but you will get what you pay for.

Tools

Software

Software Development

MPLab IDE
CodeBlocks C IDE
GPUtils
SDCC
ActiveState ActivePerl
UltraEdit32 - Not a freebie, but worth the money IMO, and I don't say that often.

Still looking for a simple freeware/open source vector graphics app for drawing front panels and such… Please make a suggestion!

Hardware

Safety

Workbench - Protect your house, have a proper work area
Safety Glasses - Protect your sense of sight
Ear plugs/Ear Muffs - Protect your sense of hearing
Face mask - Protect your lungs
Fire Extinguisher - Don't let your soldering iron start a fire you can't put out
Fire Blanket - As above
Storage Unit - Put your tools and components somewhere safe
Small Plastic Cup - Somewhere to put things temporarily. Don't leave your kit lying around.
Soldering Smoke Absorber/Ventilator - MMmmm, Lead smoke. Mmmmm, Cancer. Mmmm, insanity. Mmm….I think not.

Soldering

Soldering Iron - Temperature controlled
Soldering Iron Stand - Put it where it belongs
Soldering Iron Tip Cleaner - Take care of your tools
Solder - Good quality solder for good quality joints, 63/37 Eutectic
Tinning Block - for taking care of soldering iron tips
PCB Holders - Make soldering easier and cleaner
Desoldering Braid - For removing chips from inferior boards, to insert in you MBHP ;)
Desoldering Pump - As above
Breadboard - Prototyping

Electronics

Multimeter - For testing circuitry. RS232 connected Autoranging DMM
Oscilloscope - For testing signals. Dual trace
Power Supply - Regulated lab power supply
Digital Camera - For taking snaps to share with other MIDIBoxers
Mini Torch - Let there be light. A AA Cell MagLight in your mouth means you get perfect light

Drilling

Rotary Tool
Drill Press - For accurate drilling of PCB's and faceplates
Drill bit set
Router bit set
Nibbling tool - for making odd shaped holes (Careful! These can be savage)
Reamer - for making odd shaped holes
Center punch - For marking the location of holes to be drilled and scribing lines on metal

Abrasive/Cutting

File Set - Flat, round, half round, rasp and needle
Hacksaw - For cutting solid objects
Spare Hacksaw Blades - For use by hand
Coping Saw - For cutting holes in cases
Razor Knife - Stanley/X-Acto, etc. NOT for use on plastic cases unless you have a death wish

Measurement

Flexible Steel Ruler with Cork backing - From Arts stores. An excellent idea that I stole ;)
Calipers - For measuring drill bits, shaft diameters, and hole diameters
Clamps/Vices - Various sizes and shapes, for holding things still while you drill/saw/bust them up

Trimming and Fastening

Wire Strippers - For stripping insulation from cabling
Pliers Set - Various Sizes and types
Side Cutters - For trimming componenet leads
Screwdriver Set - Various sizes
Spanner Set - Various sizes, including shifter spanners
Socket Set - Various sizes
IC Puller - Little tool for pulling IC's from sockets
IC Placer - Little tool for putting IC's in sockets, spreads even pressure over all the pins.
Claw - One of those little pens with a three-fingered claw for grabbing loose bits from where fingers can't reach

Accessories

Mirror - Little mirror on a telescopic shaft for peeking where your eyes can't reach
Compressed Air Can - For cleaning stuff by blasting off dust
PC/Mac - For surfing ucapps.de, the forum, this wiki, etc, for printing stuff, for talking to the DMM
Printer - For everything from doco to PCB screens…

Please note that I haven't mentioned any PCB creation tools… I don't make my own PCB's yet, so Internet Explorer (pointed at Smash's Shop) is the only tool I need for this. I don't think that will last due to some other projects I'm doing (I haven't given upon the SRAM yet!), so I will put PCB tools up here one day, but until then, please feel free to add them yourself!

Thanks to these websites for saving me having to think about this:

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/01/10_most_needed_tools_for_the_e.html

http://www.diylive.net/index.php/2006/01/11/ten-most-needed-tools-for-the-electronics-diyer/

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2005/12/makes_mostly_under_100_gift_gu.html

http://www.headwize.com/ubb/showpage5.php?fnum=3&tid=532

http://tangentsoft.net/audio/new-diyer.html

http://www.devrs.com/e/

http://www.streettech.com/archives_DIY/stToolkit.html

http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/191/94/

http://tangentsoft.net/audio/

There are more, but that about covers it :)