Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Hello

Just completed the optical compressor.

But I might have mounted the PCB and footswitch in the wrong order.

I put the PCB in first, wired it to the jacks, pots, and AC adapter. Then I installed the footswitch.

The footswitch had to be jammed in just to get it in there.

When I got it in, it was slanting up and I pushed the PCB up in order to get the footswitch lying level with the enclosure.

Everything works fine. But now the PCB and the footswtich are pressing up against each other. And my concern is that the PCB will eventually crack under this pressure. Or it might crack one of these days when I stomp on the footswitch a little too hard.
Think the PCB is slanted a little down towards the bottom from the point of view when you open up the backplate and look at the component side.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

One more pic

I think you can probably fix this by gently bending the pot legs so the whole board seats a little more "north" in the enclosure. I would grasp the north side of the enclosure with your fingers, and then use both thumbs to push the south end of the PCB with a pinching gesture. The pot legs should accommodate. The LED may be a bit less cooperative, depending on how far through the enclosure hole you pushed it before soldering. Be careful and gentle; a very small bit of movement should be enough—and a harsh movement could break something.

_________________
Scott

My band, Austin Hollow

That said, if the foot switch is mounted and tightly screwed down, stomping the button should not create any appreciable strain on the PCB, even though they're touching. So I think you could also leave it as it.

_________________
Scott

My band, Austin Hollow

Thanks so much!
I didn't even think about the LED. It's sitting pretty firmly against the enclosure.
I think I pushed it north as far as it will go. But maybe it could go a little more.
I'm going to try again very carefully as you've described with that pinching motion.

Another moderator here suggested desoldering the outside lugs, reheating the middle lug and shift the board north to relieve some of the stress that might build up over time.

But he also said it should be fine.

Thanks again!