WIP - Eth8. A DIY version of Intelligels octalink

DIY STUFF
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With me having a 3D printer and a growing collection of synth cases, I wanted something simple to connect them with one wire (rather than a sea of 10foot noodles)

I’ve decided to have a go at making a DIY version of Intelligels Octalink since it looks simple enough.

16 jacks, 2 grounded ethernet keystones and a spare shielded ethernet cable.

So far I’ve only printed the plate for a 1u rail (50mm) and tested the panel mounted components.

Everything fits and I have the correct ethernet keystones on the way

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There’s 8 jacks which wire up to the 8 wires in an ethernet cable, and the ground goes of the jacks to the metal casing of the keystone.

An internally shielded ethernet cable must be used as well as this will prevent unwanted humms.

I’ll update when I’ve got the new parts and made the 3u and metric 5u faceplate versions.

There’s also versions with 2 ethernet keystones to be used as pass through, so it will essentially mult, so I’ll have a go at that too.

So I can also finally get round to making that buffered multi I’ve been avoiding too =)

7 Likes
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I am struggling to come up with a use case for this - and yet it is still very cool.

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it’s for connecting multiple cases together.

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That is brilliant. I was just thinking about how it could be used as a shuttle.

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I’ve got the proper ethernet keystones turning up tomorrow so I’ll be able to finish these off =)

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Interesting! Definitely something to consider if needs be, although in terms of cost I immediately thought that: 16 short patch cables + 16 female jacks + 1 ethernet cable + 2 ethernet sockets > 8 long patch cables.

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I would say that’s fair, but patch cables are pretty much surplus.

Having 1 6 foot noodle connecting cases will just be nicer than having 8 6 foot noodles.

6foot may be exaggerating, but my cases are about 60cm wide 55cm tall so for my situation, I might have 3 stacked on top of eachother being about 6ft

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part of the draw (at least with eurorack) is that you can connect multiple cases WITHOUT HAVING TO UNPATCH. It’s extremely useful for people who perform live with larger setups. Many of these shuttle modules will use HDMI instead of ethernet too.

You won’t see a lot of Kosmo-centric people with this issue.

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3D print files and vague guide up on printables and maker world for anyone who wants to try this out.

(If anyone’s got pointers for the guides too, I’m happy to hear it)

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Very interesting. I don’t play live or have multiple cases, but looks like ethernet is the way to go if I ever find myself in this position. HDMI? I don’t think so.