From: Philipp Hachtmann <hachti at hachti.de>
I'm thinking about making punched cards. I could need some information about the
material used for
them. Precise information about tolerances, specifications, references to more
information, and so
on would be quite helpful.
I have read the follow up e-mails too and wonder why you want to do this. If you want
cards for storing data why do you need to print on the cards first? I have a loads
(110,000) of cards of the right shape which I use for my mainframe. They are already
printed up with every two columns marked out as one column of mark sense boxes but of
course the mainframe doesn't see the markings. I have probably more than I will ever
need in my lifetime. I even use them for keeping hand written notes and my ex-ICT engineer
friend folds them in two, pushes the pins of a PCB through them and marks the bay number,
carrier level and card position the card came from on them. If you want, I can sell you
some at less than the commercial suppliers rate and I think less than they would cost to
tool up to make them. Carriage is of course another question. I have been buying up local
supplies of 11" by 14.5" fan fold paper for less than the carriage costs from
say 50 miles away. I see your suffix is .de, I guess that's Denmark or is it Germany?
At least there'd be no customs issues but I would think carriage would still be quite
expensive. I'm not sure my card equipment would be happy without rounded corners. I
know there were hardware modifications listed for dealing with cards with and without
diagonally cut corners at leading/trailing edges. There's also the possibility of
paper cuts for the operators. I think my IBM 029 keypunch uses the rounded corner to push
the card guide down when it registers the card at the punching station. I think a square
cut card would jam up.