3/9/2014 Art's Theremin Page: The 145 Theremin

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The 145 Theremin
A New Version of the Model 144 Theremin
Published November 19, 2000
Updated March 31, 2011
Contents
Legal Notice
Safety Notices
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Assembly
Schematics
Drawings
Parts Table
Test and Calibration Procedure
Photos
Legal Notice
(back to contents)
The information contained in this document is 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009 by Arthur Harrison. Any reproduction of the information contained in this
document, electronic or mechanical, shall only be used with Arthur Harrison's permission, and shall acknowledge him as the copyright holder and author.
Use of the information contained in this document for personal or commercial financial gain, such as the manufacture and sale of electronic musical instruments or
parts thereof, is prohibited. Unless specifically stated in a written contract, Arthur Harrison grants no licence for the commercial exploitation of the concepts and
designs embodied in this document. Refer licensing inquiries to: diy@harrisoninstruments.com.
The information contained in this document may only be reproduced in small quantities when the purpose for its use is the dissemination of information to students
or hobbyists, and may not be distributed in any form, electronic or mechanical, for the purposes of any party engaged, directly or indirectly, in commercial
enterprises.
Arthur Harrison assumes no liability for any damages, direct, or consequential, which may arise from the dissemination, application, or misapplication of the content
contained in this site. The User of the information provided in this site assumes all responsibility for any damages, direct or consequential, which may arise from its
use. Arthur Harrison retains the right to alter the content within this site at any time without notice.
Safety Notices
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DANGER: Do not play this instrument at a high volume, especially when using headphones. Use headphones that have a built-in volume control, and
adjust the volume control for a comfortable level. Hearing experts advise against the continuous, extended use of headphones.
DANGER: Some of the components used in this construction are "polarized," which means that they will only function properly when inserted into the
circuit in the right direction. Always observe component polarities carefully, and double-check the orientation of transistors, diodes, integrated circuits and
polarized capacitors before applying power to any circuit. Do not reuse a part which has been subjected to improper insertion.
DANGER: Wear safety glasses and use all appropriate safety equipment when working with tools and materials. Always follow safe shop practices and
obey safety rules.
Acknowledgements
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The author thanks Konley Aschenbach, whose assistance in the layout design and construction of the 145 theremin prototype is greatly appreciated.
Introduction
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Since the publication of the type 144 theremin project article in September, 1998, many of them have been successfully constructed. As in the 144, and its
forerunner, the Southwest Technical Products model 142, the 145 theremin retains a heterodyne topology similar to that used by Mr. Theremin in his original
instruments.
The 145 theremin is similar to the 144 in most respects, excepting the types of oscillators used. The 145 theremin oscillators are differential-pair types, in
comparison to the Colpitts types in the 144. The approximate operating frequencies for the 145 theremin are 270kHz for the volume circuit and 360kHz for the pitch
circuit. Compared to the 144, the 145 has improved pitch-arc linearity, with A440 occurring at about 10 inches of hand distance, compared to about 5 inches for the
144. The practical pitch range for the 145 is about 4 1/2 octaves.
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Inexpensive silicon rectifiers are used as varactors to provide a volume oscillator tuning range of about 1200Hz and a pitch reference oscillator tuning range of about
700Hz. These frequencies will typically vary within 10 per-cent among instruments, due to tolerances.
In the new design, oscillator outputs are taken from the resonant L-C pairs, and are low-distortion sine waves. Weak coupling is provided between the two pitch
oscillators via C8 and R10 to induce a "lock" condition for zero-beat when the pitch hand is absent. The pitch oscillator levels at the mixer input are unequal, and the
mixer output amplitude is significantly reduced in comparison to the 144. This reduction provides a more consistent timbre for varying volume levels, since the
amplitude-modulating FET, Q13, is operated in a more linear region. As a result, the 145's timbre has less harmonic content than the 144's. An added filter pole at
the mixer's output, R17-C13, provides improved reduction of RF products at the audio output. The audio amplifier has an added AC gain network, R47-C39, in the
emitter of the Q14 preamplifier transistor.
As in the 144 theremin, the 145 features the convenience of low current consumption (less than 20 milliamperes) from a single 9-volt battery, enhancing portability
as well as safety in construction and use.
The following graph illustrates the approximate relationship of pitch and hand distance for a 145 theremin, when constructed and calibrated as specified in this
article:
The volume range for the instrument is approximately 0 to 700mV peak-to-peak for a volume hand distance variation of 12 inches. The noise amplitude is constant
at approximately 2.5mV peak-to-peak, giving a overall signal-to-noise performance of about 49dB.
I do not recommend this theremin project for the novice, since it exhibits many sensitivities that are greatly affected by the physical placement of components, as
well as requirements for test equipment not normally obtainable by the casual experimenter. For those confident in their abilities, assembly drawings have been
furnished as a guide for construction. Adherence to the perscribed lay-out is strongly advised.
Assembly
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A comprehensive set of mechanical drawings is provided for the 145 theremin. These drawings represent a straightforward implementation of the instrument,
constructed on a 17" by 11" plywood base, without an enclosure. This construction method is especially suited for educational demonstrations, since the circuitry is
exposed for viewing. Alternatively, the user may enclose the circuit board in a suitable cabinet. If you enclose the theremin, minimize capacitance between the
cabinet, antennas, and antenna connections. Refer to the assembly drawing to view an overall lay-out of the instrument. Refer to the mounting base drawing for
specific locations of the antennas, brackets, circuit board, and battery holder.
As shown in DETAIL B of the assembly drawing, the circuit board is supported on eight threaded metal standoffs. A metal ground plate is mounted under the circuit
board. The plate has eight holes that align with the circuit board's mounting holes. To ensure proper alignment of the plate with the circuit board, it is recommended
that the circuit board be used as a template to locate the holes in the plate. This is best done with the circuit board blank, prior to its assembly, so that it can lie flat
against the plate. It is also recommended that the blank circuit board be used as a template for hole locations in the wood base. Note that the holes in the plate are a
little larger than required for the number 4-40 machine screws used. This provides allowance for tolerances.
A clear plastic cover is installed above the circuit board. This is recommended to prevent damage to the circuit during transport and demonstration. Again, it is
convenient to use the blank circuit board as a template to locate the holes in the cover. The cover is attached to the circuit board with eight male/female-threaded
standoffs, screws, and nylon washers, as illustrated in the assembly drawing. Two holes in the cover permit access to the trimming capacitors for calibration.
As noted in the assembly drawing, the upper eight male/female threaded standoffs that support the plastic cover screw into the eight lower standoffs that support the
circuit board. Apply a thin coating of light oil (any cooking oil will work fine) on the male threads of the upper standoffs before screwing them into the lower
standoffs. This will prevent the threads from jamming, which may otherwise occur when aluminum parts are threaded together.
A 5/8"-27 internal-thread fixture may be attached to the underside of the base so that the instrument can be mounted on a microphone stand. The Atlas Sound type
AD-11B is suitable for this purpose. (Atlas Sound, 1859 Intertech Drive, Fenton, Missouri 63026 USA, 1-800-876-7337.)
The potentiometers, power switch, and headphone jack are mounted on the control mounting bracket at the front of the base. The line output jack is mounted on the
jack mounting bracket at the rear of the base. The battery is secured to the base with a Keystone type 71 spring-metal clip. The clip may be mounted directly to the
base with two #2 self-tapping screws, however, the screw heads will prevent the battery from seating completely. An alternative, preferred solution is to solder the
clip to a saddle plate with mounting holes outside the battery's footprint, as illustrated in the battery holder drawing. The soldered connections to the potentiometers
and the power switch are covered with 1/2"-lengths of heat-shrinkable tubing that provide stress relief for the connections, as well as preventing the potentiometer's
flexible terminals from touching each other.
The volume and pitch antennas extend from the left and right edges of the base, respectively. As indicated in DETAIL A of the assembly drawing, the antennas are
electrically insulated form the base with 1/2" threaded nylon standoffs. The nylon standoffs are used to separate the antennas from the base, thus reducing stray
capacitance. The antennas are connected to their respective circuit board terminals with 16 gauge solid bus wire. Wire attachment is made with a number 6 solder
lug, secured by one of the mounting screws at each antenna.
Frequently, users inquire if the plate antennas used for these theremins may be substituted with the traditional form of theremin antennas; the monopole for pitch and
loop for volume. Although this may be done, the results will be marginal, since these antenna topologies present less capacitive coupling to the hands, and thus are
less efficient. As a result, the theremin's response will occur within smaller arcs of hand movement, closer to the antennas.
Circuit Board
Refer to the circuit board assembly drawing, circuit board component locations drawing, and the circuit board symbol key for component placement and wiring.
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The circuit board components are mounted on a sheet of material commonly called "perfboard." The perfboard in the parts list, Vector type 169P84WE, is made of a
sturdy glass-epoxy material which resists cracking. Phenolic and paper-epoxy type boards are not recommended, because they are more fragile. The perfboard is
furnished with a matrix of 0.042" diameter holes on 0.1" centers. The item listed has 169 columns by 84 rows of holes, and is cut to a size that has 57 by 75 holes,
which is 5.8 inches by 7.6 inches.
The board can be cut by deeply scoring along a row of holes with an awl, and then breaking it along the score. If you use this technique, clamp the board and a
straight-edge guide securely to a sturdy work surface. Once the board is cut to the proper size, use the circuit board assembly drawing to locate and drill the eight
0.140"-diameter mounting holes.
The Vector T68A terminals are pushed into the top side of the perfboard, inserted with long-nosed pliers. They can be quite hard to push in. If so, use a slight
alternating clockwise-counterclockwise twisting motion while you push. Make certain that each terminal is securely and squarely seated. The top of the T68A
terminal is a two-tined fork, and accepts one or more component leads, or wires that extend from the periphery of the board. The connections to the fork end of the
terminal are soldered. The other end is a square cross-section pin, designed to accept a "Wire-Wrap" connection. The application of the T68A terminal is illustrated
below. FIGURE A shows the side view of two terminals with a typical axial-leaded component, such as a resistor, soldered in place. FIGURE B is the front view of
a terminal with two levels of wrapped wire. Either one or two levels of wire can be accommodated on each terminal.
Wire-Wrap is a technique for making rapid, solderless connections. Here are simplified instructions for using a Wire-Wrap tool. If you do not have Wire-Wrap
tools, the bottom-side connections may be soldered, instead. Before you solder to the pin ends of the terminals, first cut them to a length of 1/4". This will provide
space for pliers and the soldering iron tip. The solid conductor, tinned, 26 gauge Kynar insulated wire specified in the parts list may be either wrapped or soldered.
Tefzel or Teflon insulated wire may also be used. These insulations are less likely to melt from normal soldering temperatures, but they are harder to strip than
Kynar. A wire with a tinned conductor is desirable, because it solders much more easily than bare copper, which tends to oxidize quickly.
The Vector T68A terminals are quite costly. They are only sold in packages of 1000 for $91.86. Unless the builder routinely requires these terminals for several
projects, this will probably be considered an unreasonable expense. To reduce cost, the Vector type T68 terminal, which has a longer tail than the "A" version, may
be used. The T68 is less expensive at $49.17 per thousand, and they are also available in packages of 100 for $8.35. If you use the longer, T68 terminal, then the
length of the eight threaded metal standoffs used to mount the circuit board should be increased from 5/8" to 3/4" so that the terminals do not touch the ground plane.
Note that 250 terminals are required for this project.
A wide braid material, normally used for desoldering, is used for the circuit board's top-side ground "bus." This thick conductor minimizes voltage differences from
one ground point to the other. Note that the braid is placed against the edge of the terminals without wrapping or crimping. Make sure that the braid is pushed
directly up against the terminal, and inspect each connection carefully to ensure that it is securely bonded after soldering.
22 gauge, stranded, insulated wire is used to interconnect the circuit board, controls, jacks, and battery. All the connections are made to the periphery of the board at
the terminals designated "1" through "16" in the circuit board assembly drawing. To avoid stray capacitance, route these wires in a direct fashion, keeping them away
from the antennas, antenna wires, and the area beneath the circuit board.
DANGER: It is imperative to observe the correct orientation of the following types of components:
Transistors:
The circuit board assembly drawing distinguishes transistor orientation (flat up or down) with different symbols. Refer to the transistor lead identification drawing
for further clarification.
Electrolytic capacitors:
Observe the polarity marking on the electrolytic capacitors and be sure they comply with the circuit board assembly drawing. Polarity indication varies among
manufacturers, and even among one manufacturer's lots. Examine each polarized capacitor carefully to determine the correct orientation. DANGER: An
incorrectly-inserted electrolytic capacitor can become extremely hot and explode, causing injury, even though the circuit power is limited to the output of a
small 9-volt battery!
Diode and rectifiers:
The rectifiers and diode have one end marked with a band, corresponding to the banded ends in the circuit board assembly drawing. The band denotes the "cathode"
lead, and corresponds to the bar part of the schematic symbol. The end without a band designates the "anode," which corresponds to the triangular part of the
schematic symbol, as shown in the drawing below.
The version of the 1N4001 rectifier specified has an opaque, black plastic case. Versions of the 1N4001 that have a clear glass case should not be used in
substitution, because such rectifiers exhibit changes in capacitance with variations in light.
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Integrated Circuit:
Determine the location of pin 1 on IC U1's package, and insert it in the socket accordingly.
Schematics for 145 Theremin
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The 145 theremin schematic is presented below in six sections. A single-image schematic can be viewed via the following link: One-page Schematic
The calibration procedure for capacitor selection, referenced in the Variable Oscillator and Volume Processor drawings, can be viewed via the following link: Test
and Calibration Procedure
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Drawings for 145 Theremin
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One-page Schematic
Assembly
Circuit Board Assembly
Circuit Board Component Locations
Circuit Board Symbol Key
Transistor Lead Identification
Mounting Base
Antennas
Ground Plate
Control Mounting Bracket
Jack Mounting Bracket
Battery Holder
Plastic Cover
Parts Table
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Note: The four inductors required for this circuit, J.W. Miller type 4652, are now available from Harrison Instruments. Please contact Harrison Instruments for
ordering information.
DISTRIBUTOR LINKS
Mouser Electronics http://www.mouser.com/
Harrison Instruments http://harrisoninstruments.com/Parts/parts.html
McMaster-Carr http://www.mcmaster.com/
ITEM DESCRIPTION VALUE MANUFACTURER
MANUFACTURER
PART
NUMBER
SUPPLIER
SUPPLIER
STOCK
NUMBER
QTY
A1,A2
(NOTE 1)
ANTENNA . . . . . 2
B1 BATTERY
9 VOLT,
NEDA 1604
EVEREADY 522 MOUSER 525-522 1
C1,C2,
C18,C30,
C31
TANTALUM
CAPACITOR
1 uF
+/-10%,
35 V,
RADIAL
KEMET T350A105K035AT MOUSER
80-
T350A105K035AT
5
C3,C29
CERAMIC
CAPACITOR
100 pF
+/-10%, X7R,
200 V, RADIAL
MALLORY CK05BX101K MOUSER 539-CK05101K 2
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C8,C9,
C11,C12,
C13
CERAMIC
CAPACITOR
0.01 uF
+/-10%, X7R,
100 V, RADIAL
MALLORY CK05BX103K MOUSER 539-CK05103K 5
C4,C5,
C15,C17,
C19,C20,
C26,C28
CERAMIC
CAPACITOR
10 pF
+/-10%, X7R,
200 V, RADIAL
AVX CK05BX100K MOUSER 581-CK05BX100K 8
C6,C16
MICA
CAPACITOR
150 pF
+/-5%,
RADIAL
CORNELL
DUBILIER
CD10FD151JO3F MOUSER
598-
CD10FD151JO3F
2
C16
(ALTERNATE
PER CALIBRATION
PROCEDURE)
MICA
CAPACITOR
130 pF
+/-5%,
RADIAL
CORNELL
DUBILIER
CD15FD131JO3 MOUSER 5982-15-500V130 1
C7,C25
POLYPROPYLENE
VARIABLE CAPACITOR
3.5 TO 40 pF
SPRAGUE/
GOODMAN
GYC40000 MOUSER 659-GYC40000 2
C10,C33,
C37,C38,
C40
TANTALUM
CAPACITOR
10 uF
+/-10%,
20 V,
RADIAL
VISHAY/
SPRAGUE
199D106X9020C1V1E3 MOUSER 74-199D20V10-E3 5
C14
MICA
CAPACITOR
SELECTED PER
CALIBRATION
PROCEDURE
. . . . 1
C21,C27
MICA
CAPACITOR
330 pF
+/-5%,
RADIAL
CORNELL
DUBILIER
CD15FD331J03 MOUSER 5982-15-500V330 2
C21
(ALTERNATE
PER CALIBRATION
PROCEDURE)
MICA
CAPACITOR
300 pF
+/-5%,
RADIAL
CORNELL
DUBILIER
CD15FD301JO3F MOUSER
5982-15-500V300-
F
1
C24
MICA
CAPACITOR
SELECTED PER
CALIBRATION
PROCEDURE
. . . . 1
C22,C23,
C34,C35
CERAMIC
CAPACITOR
0.1 uF
+/-10%, X7R,
50 V, RADIAL
MALLORY CK05BX104K MOUSER 539-CK05104K 4
C32,C39
ALUMINUM
ELECTROLYTIC
CAPACITOR
220 uF
+/-20%,
10 V,
RADIAL
XICON 140-XRL10V220-RC MOUSER
140-XRL10V220-
RC
2
C36
TANTALUM
CAPACITOR
0.47 uF
+/-10%,
35 V
VISHAY/
SPRAGUE
199D474X9035A1V1E3 MOUSER
74-199D35V0.47-
E3
1
CR1,CR2,
CR4,CR5,
CR6
RECTIFIER (USE PART NUMBER) RECTRON 1N4001-B MOUSER 583-1N4001-B 5
CR3 DIODE (USE PART NUMBER)
CENTRAL
SEMICON-
DUCTOR
1N914 MOUSER 610-1N914 1
J1 JACK MONO, 1/4" SWITCHCRAFT 111X MOUSER 502-111X 1
J2 JACK STEREO, 1/4" SWITCHCRAFT 112BX MOUSER 502-112BX 1
L1,L2,
L3,L4
INDUCTOR,
THREE-SECTION,
UNIVERSAL
"PIE" WOUND
1 mH +/-5%,
19 OHM,
Q=59 @ 0.25 MHz,
SRF=3.7 MHz MINIMUM
J.W. MILLER 4652
HARRISON
INSTRUMENTS
96804-4652 4
Q1,Q2,
Q6,Q7,
Q11,Q12,
Q16
TRANSISTOR
PNP,
TO-92 CASE
FAIRCHILD
SEMICON-
DUCTOR
2N3906BU MOUSER 512-2N3906BU 7
Q3,Q5,
Q8,Q10,
Q13
JUNCTION FIELD EFFECT
TRANSISTOR
N-CHANNEL, TO-92 CASE
FAIRCHILD
SEMICON-
DUCTOR
2N5484 MOUSER 512-2N5484 5
Q4,Q9
Q14,Q15
TRANSISTOR
NPN,
TO-92 CASE
FAIRCHILD
SEMICON-
DUCTOR
2N3904BU MOUSER 512-2N3904BU 4
R1,R24,
R36
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
3300 OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-3.3K-RC MOUSER 291-3.3K-RC 3
R2,R22,
R35,R49,
R52
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
22K OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-22K-RC MOUSER 291-22K-RC 5
R3,R11,
R17,R25,
R37
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
10K OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-10K-RC MOUSER 291-10K-RC 5
R4,R13,
R23,R38,
R41,R44,
R48,R55
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
100K OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-100K-RC MOUSER 291-100K-RC 8
R5,R20,
R27,R33
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
4.7M OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-4.7M-RC MOUSER 291-4.7M-RC 4
R6,R21,
R28,R34
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
2.7M OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-2.7M-RC MOUSER 291-2.7M-RC 4
R7,R14,
RESISTOR, 2200 OHM
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R15,R19,
R29,R30,
R31
CARBON
FILM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-2.2K-RC MOUSER 291-2.2K-RC 7
R8,R9,
R10,R39,
R40,R42
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
1M OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-1M-RC MOUSER 291-1M-RC 6
R12
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
150K OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-150K-RC MOUSER 291-150K-RC 1
R16
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
1000 OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-1K-RC MOUSER 291-1K-RC 1
R18
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
220K OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-220K-RC MOUSER 291-220K-RC 1
R26
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
68K OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-68K-RC MOUSER 291-68K-RC 1
R32,R45
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
33K OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-33K-RC MOUSER 291-33K-RC 2
R43
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
680 OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-680-RC MOUSER 291-680-RC 1
R46
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
220 OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-220-RC MOUSER 291-220-RC 1
R47
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
33 OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-33-RC MOUSER 291-33-RC 1
R50,R51
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
4700 OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-4.7K-RC MOUSER 291-4.7K-RC 2
R53,R54
RESISTOR,
CARBON
FILM
10 OHM
+/-5%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 291-10-RC MOUSER 291-10-RC 2
R56
RESISTOR,
METAL
FILM
20.0K OHM
+/-1%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 271-20K-RC MOUSER 271-20K-RC 1
R57
RESISTOR,
METAL
FILM
3920 OHM
+/-1%,
1/4 WATT
XICON 271-3.92K-RC MOUSER 271-3.92K-RC 1
RV1,RV2
(NOTE 7)
POTENTIOMETER
10K OHM
+/-10%,
LINEAR TAPER,
CONDUCTIVE
PLASTIC
CLAROSTAT 308N10K MOUSER 785-308N10K 2
SW1 SWITCH SPDT C & K 7101SYZQE MOUSER 611-7101-001 1
U1
INTEGRATED
CIRCUIT
(USE PART
NUMBER)
NATIONAL
SEMICON-
DUCTOR
LP2951ACN/NOPB DIGI-KEY
LP2951ACN-ND
1
.
SOCKET
FOR U1
8-POSITION, WIRE-WRAP MILL-MAX 123-93-308-41-001000 MOUSER 575-293308 1
.
PERFORATED
BOARD
GLASS-EPOXY, 17" X 8.5"
X 0.062"
VECTOR 169P84WE MOUSER 574-169P84WE 1
(NOTE 2) TERMINAL
PRESS-FIT, SOLDER FORK
TO WIRE-WRAP
VECTOR
T68A/M
(PKG OF 1000)
MOUSER
574-T68A/M
(PKG OF 1000)
1
(ALTERNATE
TO ABOVE;
AVAILABLE IN
PACKAGES OF 100)
TERMINAL
PRESS-FIT, SOLDER FORK
TO WIRE-WRAP
VECTOR
T68/C
(PKG OF 100)
MOUSER 574-T68/C 3
. BRAID, BUS
0.08" WIDE
X 5' LONG
CHEMTRONICS 80-3-5 MOUSER 5878-80-3-5 1
.
KNOB,
POTENTIOMETER
0.748"D,
0.470"H,
FOR 0.125"D SHAFT
ALCO PKES60B1/8 MOUSER 506-PKES60B1/8 2
.
STANDOFF,
CIRCUIT BOARD
SUPPORT
4-40 THREAD,
0.625" LONG,
ALUMINUM
KEYSTONE 1808 MOUSER 534-1808 8
(ALTERNATE
TO ABOVE;
FOR USE WITH T68
TERMINALS)
STANDOFF,
CIRCUIT BOARD
SUPPORT
4-40 THREAD,
0.750" LONG,
ALUMINUM
KEYSTONE 2204 MOUSER 534-2204 8
.
STANDOFF,
PLASTIC COVER
SUPPORT
4-40 THREAD,
MALE/FEMALE
0.625" LONG,
ALUMINUM .
KEYSTONE 8402 MOUSER 534-8402 8
.
STANDOFF,
ANTENNA
SUPPORT
6-32 THREAD,
0.500" LONG,
NYLON
KEYSTONE 1903C MOUSER 534-1903C 8
(NOTE 1) BRACKET, CONTROL . . . . . 1
(NOTE 1) BRACKET, JACK . . . . . 1
(NOTE 1) PLATE, GROUND . . . . . 1
(NOTE 1) COVER, PLASTIC . . . . . 1
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(NOTE 1) BASE, PLYWOOD
PLYWOOD,
DOUGLAS FIR,
GRADE A-D
17" X 11" X 1/2"
. . . . 1
.
HOLDER,
9 VOLT BATTERY
. KEYSTONE 79 MOUSER 534-079 1
(NOTE 1)
MOUNTING PLATE,
BATTERY HOLDER
. . . . . 1
.
CONNECTOR,
9 VOLT BATTERY
. KEYSTONE 72-8 MOUSER 534-72-8FB 1
. LUG, SOLDER NUMBER 4 KEYSTONE 7328 MOUSER 534-7328 1
. LUG, SOLDER NUMBER 6 KEYSTONE 7312 MOUSER 534-7312 2
(NOTE 3) WIRE, HOOK-UP
22 GAUGE,
STRANDED,
TEFLON
INSULATED,
WHITE
ALPHA
5855 WH005
(ROLL OF 100')
MOUSER
602-5855-100-01
(ROLL OF 100')
1
(NOTE 4) WIRE, WIRE-WRAP
26 GAUGE,
SOLID,
KYNAR
INSULATED,
BLACK
OK INDUSTRIES
R26BLK-0100
(ROLL OF 100')
MOUSER
801-R26BLK
(ROLL OF 100')
1
(NOTE 5) WIRE, BUS
16 GAUGE,
TINNED
COPPER
BELDEN/CDT
8013 000100
(ROLL OF 100')
MOUSER
566-8013
(ROLL OF 100')
1
(NOTE 6) TUBING, HEAT-SHRINK
3/32" DIAMETER,
POLYOLEFIN,
BLACK
3M ELECTRONIC
SPECIALTY
FP301 3/32 BLACK 48"
BK
MOUSER
5174-13321
(4' LENGTH)
1
.
MACHINE SCREW,
ANTENNA MOUNTING
STAINLESS STEEL,
PAN HEAD,
PHILLIPS,
6-32 X 5/16"
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
91772A145 8
.
WASHER, LOCK,
ANTENNA MOUNTING
STAINLESS
STEEL,
SPLIT-RING,
#6,
0.031" THK
0.148" ID 0.250" OD
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
92146A007 8
.
WASHER, FLAT,
ANTENNA MOUNTING
STAINLESS STEEL, #6,
0.156"ID,
0.312" OD,
MS15795-805
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
98019A314 8
.
MACHINE SCREW,
ANTENNA STANDOFF
NYLON,
82 FLAT HEAD,
SLOTTED,
6-32 X 1/2"
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
94605A148 8
.
MACHINE SCREW,
COVER MOUNTING
STAINLESS STEEL,
PAN HEAD,
PHILLIPS,
4-40 X 3/8"
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
91772A108 8
.
WASHER, FLAT,
COVER MOUNTING
NYLON,
#4,
0.115" ID, 1/4" OD, 0.062" THK
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
90295A045 8
.
MACHINE SCREW,
CIRCUIT BOARD STANDOFF
STAINLESS STEEL,
82 FLAT
HEAD,
PHILlIPS,
4-40 X 5/8"
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
91771A112 8
.
SELF-TAPPING
SCREW, BRACKET MOUNTING
STAINLESS STEEL,
PAN HEAD,
TYPE A,
PHILLIPS,
#4 X 3/8"
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
92470A108 6
.
SELF-TAPPING SCREW, BATTERY
HOLDER MOUNTING
STAINLESS STEEL,
PAN HEAD,
TYPE A,
PHILLIPS,
#2 X 3/8"
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
92470A097 4
.
SELF-TAPPING SCREW, FIXTURE
MOUNTING
STAINLESS STEEL,
PAN HEAD,
TYPE A,
PHILLIPS,
#6 X 1/2"
. .
MCMASTER-
CARR
92470A148 3
.
FIXTURE,
MICROPHONE
STAND MOUNTING
5/8"-27 INTERNAL
THREAD
ATLAS SOUND AD-11B
HARRISON
INSTRUMENTS
99999-AD-11B 1
Notes:
1) Fabricated item; refer to drawing
2) 250 terminals required.
3) Approximately 10' of hook-up wire required
4) Approximately 40' of Wire-Wrap wire required
5) Approximately 2' of 16-gauge bus wire required
3/9/2014 Art's Theremin Page: The 145 Theremin
http://www.theremin.us/145/145.html 10/11
6) Approximately 4" of heat-shrink tubing required
7) The potentiometers shafts are trimmed to a length of 3/8"
Kynar is a registered trademark of Elf Atochem North America, Inc.
Teflon and Tefzel are registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
Wire-Wrap is a registered trademark of Cooper Industries, Inc.
Photos
(back to contents)
The following photos are of the 145 Theremin built by Keja Rowe, a student at the Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland. Keja followed the prescribed
construction method closely to build his theremin, which serves as a fine example of the instrument.
Closeup View of Circuit Board Large Overall View
Daniel from Switzerland crafted this elegant version of the 145 Theremin in an aero-plywood enclosure. The antennas can be folded over the top of the instrument,
which has a clear cover for viewing the circuit.
Marcus Young, an engineering student, created this unusual version of the 145 Theremin inside an owl. Marcus sectioned the circuit into three printed circuit boards,
and placed the antennas in the owl's wings. In addition, clusters of blue light-emitting diodes illuminate the owl's eyes.
3/9/2014 Art's Theremin Page: The 145 Theremin
http://www.theremin.us/145/145.html 11/11
Roy from Edinburgh, Scotland, built this excellent 145 Theremin in a contemporary wood enclosure and with a rod pitch antenna which he reports works well. The
right photo shows the rear of the instrument, where an added ground post permits good grounding of the instrument when played through a battery-powered
amplifier. You can see Roy playing his theremin here.
Text and drawings 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 , 2011, 2012 by Arthur Harrison
Contact Author
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