22 Oct
2015
22 Oct
'15
3:18 p.m.
How about making a version for a REAL PDP-11/70 front panel, and one for
a REAL PDP-11/45 front panel, for those of us who have such stashed away
waiting for the right simulator to come along...
On 10/21/15 3:00 PM, Oscar Vermeulen wrote:
Hi,
> Oscar is already working on another very
promising product.
> [..]He will
also pay a visit to my "museum" to take a few
measurements.
Sorry, can't say more
> I'll leave that up to Oscar. Perhaps he
want to stay "below the radar" until that project is finished ...
Thanks for the kind words on my strange replica mania! We all need to do silly things at
some point in our lives.
No secret... I'd love to do an "Open Source Hardware" PDP-11/70 replica (or
remake - whatever choice of words is preferred). Electronically, it would a simple
variation on the PiDP-8 (i.e., simh brains on a Raspberry Pi, hiding behind a front panel
PCB). It's just a different emulator from the simh stable with less LEDs.
But a 11/70 replica needs two physical 'cosmetic elements': proper switches, and
the white bezel/frame. The switches *seem* to be feasible to produce cheaply (I will know
in a month with PDP-8/I switches...). The white bezel though brings me into unknown
territory. 3D CAD (based on Museum Measurements), then injection molding or vacuum
forming. Or any technique to produce a plastic object in medium quantities. All I know so
far is that it's very feasible - and much cheaper to do than just a few years ago.
If anyone here *does* have know-how in this field, I'd love any advice. I got some
preliminary quotes and recommendations on making a case replica using vacuum forming.
Which is relatively cheap. Not perfect, but low cost is very important for such a gadget.
Kind regards,
Oscar.