# Thoughts on Patching and Wires **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [October 29, 2020, 7:12am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087 "2020-10-29T07:12:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChristianBloch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/christianbloch/32/56_2.png) [@ChristianBloch](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/ChristianBloch)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 7:12am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/1 "2020-10-29T07:12:01Z")
Well, I’m not ready to share yet, but I am trying out a thing in the next few days to combat this situation. More soon. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/3/3306e414525e6a9212cf2d819adb63401bed01d1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Bitnik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/bitnik/32/274_2.png) [@Bitnik](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Bitnik)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/2 "2020-10-29T11:41:48Z")
Matrix chip? I’ve looked at this mainly because it also allows you to record the patch and retrieve it. ---
**Author:** ![analogoutput](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/analogoutput/32/29663_2.png) [@analogoutput](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/analogoutput)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/3 "2020-10-29T13:17:41Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/9/934cf4b66f494042099dbbe082b97a87022e2e27.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ChristianBloch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/christianbloch/32/56_2.png) [@ChristianBloch](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/ChristianBloch)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/4 "2020-10-29T15:17:56Z")
Oh, way more analog than that. I’m talking about a different case case. I didn’t mean to overly hype what I’m doing, just wanted to capture the moment of spaghetti. ---
**Author:** ![d42kn355](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/d42kn355/32/273_2.png) [@d42kn355](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/d42kn355)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/5 "2020-10-29T15:32:52Z")
I like lunetta. 😛 please tell me youre making a SEAMOS monster 😃 make it messier… shhhh… no need to combat wombat. ---
**Author:** ![juggle](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/juggle/32/6100_2.png) [@juggle](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/juggle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/6 "2020-10-29T15:48:00Z")
You do realize there are other uses for an anti-gravity device other than keeping cords off your modules don’t you 😃 ---
**Author:** ![heckseven](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/heckseven/32/23483_2.png) [@heckseven](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/heckseven)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/7 "2020-10-29T17:20:49Z")
Ceiling mount your case. Let gravity work for you. Pros: you get to patch lying down. Cons: You have to build scaffolding. Or I suppose you could convert a bunk bed to a synth case. ---
**Author:** ![ChristianBloch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/christianbloch/32/56_2.png) [@ChristianBloch](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/ChristianBloch)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/8 "2020-10-29T17:24:16Z")
> [@analogoutput](#): > > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/9/934cf4b66f494042099dbbe082b97a87022e2e27.jpeg) > > image582×552 114 KB Ironically, this isn’t far from what I’m doing 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Farabide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@Farabide](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Farabide)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/9 "2020-10-29T21:16:41Z")
Just wondering if running some patches through the autoroute function of easyeda or suchlike would provide an optimal layout? ---
**Author:** ![Bitnik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/bitnik/32/274_2.png) [@Bitnik](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Bitnik)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 1:14pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/10 "2020-10-31T13:14:23Z")
> [@ChristianBloch](#): > > Ironically, this isn’t far from what I’m doing Some kind of intermediate patch point? The idea is that you have a number of bus bars running parallel to the modules. Instead of running cables willy nilly from jack to jack you run a much shorter cable to a jack on a nearby bus bar, completing the patch with another short cable at the other end. The problem with this is the number of busbars you’d need to make this idea practicable, and the expense of conventional jacks. So you need to find a way to make many inexpensive, compact intermediate patch points. ---
**Author:** ![ChristianBloch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/christianbloch/32/56_2.png) [@ChristianBloch](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/ChristianBloch)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/11 "2020-10-31T18:10:04Z")
That is actually a different project I’m currently mulling over. What I’m doing right now is a lot more mundane. Essentially just a new expandable case situation. I should be ready to share some time next week if not tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![ChristianBloch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/christianbloch/32/56_2.png) [@ChristianBloch](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/ChristianBloch)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/12 "2020-11-21T17:52:20Z")
I had such high hopes, but my new setup is not really improving on the spaghetti much. I was thinking: 1. The non-vertical nature of my four angled rows was contributing significantly to making panels nearly inaccessible and so going back to a vertical layout would make use of gravity and perhaps some longer cables to keep them more visible and reachable. 2. I had run out of space in my rack and getting close to also running out of space in my two older racks, so it would be neat to have an infinitely expandable system with identical racks as building blocks. I found affordable 18U wall mountable rack frames with fronts that swing out so the inside is accessible. In the end, the gaps between the racks are annoying and I find I have less flexibility in arranging modules. 3. It would be really neat if I could use my mad (OK, rudimentary) PCB design skills to make cheap and easily reproducible rails that span the width of a standard rack without taking out space for rack ears. I was prepared for this part of my solution to fail because they may not be rigid enough. They’re not. I had 20 made (10 rows). I tapped all the holes (that’s 1800 of them) with a drill in layers of six at a time (and the first two individually). It all sort of works, but the flex is ultimately unbearable. So, I’m on to my next new build in the next few days, but here are a few shots of what I ended up with: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/e/ed1f5172f115819e6296cbce5d524ebe38a92831.jpeg) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/4/4417c458eb8fa429315248cf652098a94c1abd68.jpeg) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/d/d2392d557119ad3db0473514bac9a162ebd2bb15.jpeg) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/9/9a7a004f0a4672975675956e239b35b8047ab313.jpeg) Side note: I know @lookmumnocomputer likes to refer to Kosmo as metric 5U, but it’s actually almost precisely half 9U, so I was thinking if things worked out, the 18U racks could also be used for four rows of Kosmo. ---
**Author:** ![heckseven](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/heckseven/32/23483_2.png) [@heckseven](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/heckseven)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/13 "2020-11-22T14:20:27Z")
I will say it looks pretty good in the photos. ---
**Author:** ![devicex](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/devicex/32/28_2.png) [@devicex](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/devicex)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 9:28am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/14 "2021-01-17T09:28:28Z")
ok so hows it going ? ---
**Author:** ![ChristianBloch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/christianbloch/32/56_2.png) [@ChristianBloch](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/ChristianBloch)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 3:34am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-patching-and-wires/2087/15 "2021-01-18T03:34:09Z")
Well, I abandoned the idea entirely and am currently working on more Kosmo space 🙂