| Audio Tweaks - Submitted DIY Projects |
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AIR-FORCE ONE
DIY interconnect cable by Guus Das
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| Preparing the conductor, part 1 |
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- We will use the braided shielding of the 1mm
mini-coax.
- Therefore we need to peel of the outer sleeve
without damaging the copper wires. I advise to use a
device similar to the one shown left.
- Drill a small hole, the size of the outside
diameter of the cable, in a 5 to 10mm thick block.
- Attach a scalpel-blade so the point is just
slightly over the edge of the hole.
- Pull the cable slowly through the hole, thus
cutting the sleeve.
- Perform some trail runs prior to the real work.
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Preparing the conductor part 2 |
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- If all is well, the sleeve can be easily removed.
- Peel off gently otherwise the cable-part gets all
twisted!
- Best method is to clamp the wire at both ends
while peeling the sleeve off.
- After this, get to the inner cable-parts.
- With pliers, gently pull it out to get a good
grip.
- Hold the inner part firmly with one hand.
- Separate the two parts by gently rubbing the
shielding downwards between your (clean) fingers.
The use of cleanroom gloves is strongly recommended.
- Each move will separate the parts only a couple of
mm's, so be patient.
- Be careful not to deform the conductor. The shape
must stay hollow, see picture right!
- We now have a silver plated copper braid exposed
to air. If nothing is done, this will corrode in
time. Even if silver oxide is a good conductor, we
want to avoid this.
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Air-tight assembly of the conductor in the sleeve (1) |
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- The hollow conductor has to be closed at the ends.
- Because the sleeve is bigger than the signal-cable,
the gap has to be filled.
- Both of the above issues are solved using a spiral-
wound thin copper wire. Let's call it a
"spring".
- Use a wire with a diameter equal to the gap between
the braid and the sleeve. (D_in - d_out)/2.
- Use a small drill, with a diameter equal to the
diameter of the conductor, to wind the spring on.
- The spring must slide easily over the conductor, but
must tight-fit in the sleeve.
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Air-tight assembly of the conductor in the sleeve (2) |
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- Slide the "spring" ~ 20mm over one end of
the signal cable.
- Solder the "spring" with silver solder.
- Make sure the solder flows all the way through to
the center to make the cable air-tight.
- Also make sure that the solder leaves a smooth
surface.
- Insert the one-side prepared cable into the sleeve.
- With pliers, insert also the soldered spring into
the sleeve. This must be a tight-fit to make it
air-tight. If not, make a spring from ticker wire.
- Mount a spring at the other end of the cable. Solder
it very close to the sleeve. Insert this also in to
the sleeve.
- The signal-cable will touch the sleeve only at some
incidental points which is part of the concept.
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