Re: PDP-8/e - Front panel switch reproductions and front panel PCB?

2016-03-02 Thread Joshua Stetson 
I've been wanting to get some reproduction switches for my 8/e, simply
because I have a blue panel, but the orange switches. I would love to get a
set of the blue paddles.

I would go in on a set if they were injection molded or cast; unless
they're some of the higher resolution eboxy based prints.

I have thought about just making a silicone mold of an existing switch and
attempting to cast some myself, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 11:16 AM, Anders Nelson 
wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I found switch levers and a mounting frame design (
> http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:360853) that I would like to have casted
> with molded-in color, close to the originals as reasonable.
>
> Has anyone already done this that I can simply buy from? If any injection
> molds have been built I'd love to put those to work. Would it be better to
> just paint a 3D print of these?
>
> Also has anyone created the front panel PCB design? I use EAGLE and would
> love to at least have a CAD outline from which to start as I build my
> emulated PDP-8/e. Pretty much like the SBC6120 but emulated on a 32-bit
> micro as opposed to the HD6120.
>
> I await your thoughts!
>
> --
> Anders Nelson
>
> +1 (517) 775-6129
>
> www.erogear.com
>

Re: PDP-8/e - Front panel switch reproductions and front panel PCB?

2016-03-02 Thread Rod Smallwood 



On 02/03/2016 23:36, Glen Slick wrote:

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 2:56 PM, Vincent Slyngstad
 wrote:

I naturally suggest mine, available at
http://www.so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/cad/3d.php


What, no DSSI bus ID plugs? :)
In between my adventures in Panel Land I also looked at PDP-8 switches 
and other items that could be 3d printed. I came up with the following:


1,  For replacing one or two missing switch levers 3d printing 
is ideal.


2,  I believe the plastic to be ABS

3. For example LEGO bricks were ABS, They are now changing to a 
greener type of plastic.


4. Matching the colo(u)r might  prove interesting.

5. For those who need larger quantities then good old injection 
moulding is still the best way to go.


6. Mould making costs used to be high but modern CNC machines 
can do the job in short order.


7. The split line on a PDP-8 lever is clearly visible. This 
shows they were made in a two part mould.


8, How many per mould were there I don't know but say ten would 
not be beyond even small machines


9. As soon as I get to a ship from stock situation on panels I 
might  revisit switches.


10. And finally .. would I trust the Chinese?  Probably not!

Rod

Re: PDP-8/e - Front panel switch reproductions and front panel PCB?

2016-03-02 Thread Vincent Slyngstad 

From: Glen Slick: Wednesday, March 02, 2016 3:36 PM

On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 2:56 PM, Vincent Slyngstad wrote:

I naturally suggest mine, available at
http://www.so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/cad/3d.php


What, no DSSI bus ID plugs? :)


I had to Google what those were, being basically a PDP-8 geek.
(I found a set for sale on eBay.)  Those do look like something
that shouldn’t be too hard to print.  I don't know the magic
encoding (or indeed anything else about them), though.

   Vince

Re: PDP-8/e - Front panel switch reproductions and front panel PCB?

2016-03-02 Thread Glen Slick 
On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 2:56 PM, Vincent Slyngstad
 wrote:
>
> I naturally suggest mine, available at
> http://www.so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/cad/3d.php
>

What, no DSSI bus ID plugs? :)

Re: PDP-8/e - Front panel switch reproductions and front panel PCB?

2016-03-02 Thread Vincent Slyngstad 

From: Anders Nelson: Wednesday, March 02, 2016 11:16 AM

I found switch levers and a mounting frame design (
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:360853) that I would like to have casted
with molded-in color, close to the originals as reasonable.


I naturally suggest mine, available at 
http://www.so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/cad/3d.php


I've done some work to make the fit as close as I can to the 
original handles.



Has anyone already done this that I can simply buy from? If any injection
molds have been built I'd love to put those to work. Would it be better to
just paint a 3D print of these?


I've ordered handles in "strong and flexible, polished", from 
Shapeways.com.  They aren't cheap, but they're easy and they 
do work well.


I've had good luck just spray painting them with an appropriate 
paint.  Shapeways' color choices for dyed parts are OK, but not 
particularly close to the original colors.  If you decide to go with 
the dyes, you'll want to use urethane floor polish or the like to 
seal the pores and provide a satin finish.  If you don't seal the 
pores, they pick up dirt, and are a bear to keep clean.


Finding the switch bodies to put them on is challenging.


Also has anyone created the front panel PCB design? I use EAGLE and would
love to at least have a CAD outline from which to start as I build my
emulated PDP-8/e. Pretty much like the SBC6120 but emulated on a 32-bit
micro as opposed to the HD6120.


If you want the actual 8/E PCB design, I've re-drawn the bulb PCB at
http://svn.so-much-stuff.com/svn/trunk/Eagle/projects/DEC/8ePanel/

Here's the big list of other PCBs I've drawn, for what that's worth:
http://www.so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/cad/boards.php

If you're wanting a panel for a modern micro, I concur with the 
recommendation or Oscar's 8/I replica as a starting point.  Interfacing 
the pi to something behind Rod's front panel artwork would be pretty 
cool.  (Though I'm a bigger fan of the 8/I panel, myself.)


   Vince

Re: PDP-8/e - Front panel switch reproductions and front panel PCB?

2016-03-02 Thread Don North 

On 3/2/2016 11:16 AM, Anders Nelson wrote:

I found switch levers and a mounting frame design (
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:360853) that I would like to have casted
with molded-in color, close to the originals as reasonable.

Has anyone already done this that I can simply buy from? If any injection
molds have been built I'd love to put those to work. Would it be better to
just paint a 3D print of these?

Also has anyone created the front panel PCB design? I use EAGLE and would
love to at least have a CAD outline from which to start as I build my
emulated PDP-8/e. Pretty much like the SBC6120 but emulated on a 32-bit
micro as opposed to the HD6120.

I await your thoughts!


Have you seen this: http://obsolescence.wix.com/obsolescence#!pidp-8/cbie

It might just satisfy your 'need' (and there are a lot more blinkin' lights on 
the 8i then on the 8e).


If this is not quite right, the basic design may make a good jumping off point 
to get to an 8e variation.


Oscar's design is a scaled (~2/3) configuration, so it is not an 'exact' replica 
per se. There is another
project in the works to create exact PDP-8e/f/m etc replica front panels (Rob 
Smallwood IIRC) but
I believe that is the acrylic panel only, nothing else. You need to supply all 
the other 8e parts yourself.


Don

PDP-8/e - Front panel switch reproductions and front panel PCB?

2016-03-02 Thread Anders Nelson 
Hi all,

I found switch levers and a mounting frame design (
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:360853) that I would like to have casted
with molded-in color, close to the originals as reasonable.

Has anyone already done this that I can simply buy from? If any injection
molds have been built I'd love to put those to work. Would it be better to
just paint a 3D print of these?

Also has anyone created the front panel PCB design? I use EAGLE and would
love to at least have a CAD outline from which to start as I build my
emulated PDP-8/e. Pretty much like the SBC6120 but emulated on a 32-bit
micro as opposed to the HD6120.

I await your thoughts!

--
Anders Nelson

+1 (517) 775-6129

www.erogear.com