Another disk archiver/emulator

Well I'll through my project into the pile also. I have been working on MFM hard drive disk reading and emulation using a BeagleBone Black. Its web page is http://www.pdp8online.com/mfm/mfm.shtml On 12 January 2014 18:02, Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> wrote: Part of the reason I'm bring it up now. I wanted to see if there are existing formats I should be using. If there is a raw transition file format that people like I will see if I can use it. Let me know the URL documenting the format. My current format is just internal format so inefficient. Also if there is a common format for decoded data other than just straight sector contents which I currently do that is used let me know also. I expect the emulator file format to be its own with converter to other formats. The reader I expect can capture the raw transition data from most ST506/ST412 disks. It can decode to sector data with some issues the disks I have. Controller level sparing or mixed track formats are troublesome. I have made a little wirewrap board to interface the BeagleBone Black to disk drives/controllers. The BeagleBone captures/generates the transitions with 200 MHz clock. I am looking at doing a PCB version of the wirewrap board and if people are interested in getting one I can add it to my order since prices go down significantly with quantity. I wasn't wanting to get into kitting since qty savings isn't that much or assembling boards. The goal will be to only use parts that are hand solderable. I was looking at free or very low cost PCB packages so people can modify the board if they desire. I used Kicad http://www.kicad-pcb.org/display/KICAD/KiCad+EDA+Software+Suite for the last board I did a number of years ago. It was somewhat clunky but since the board isn't too complex it should be usable. May be better now. The other option I saw are http://www.geda-project.org/ (PCB), http://www.designspark.com/, and http://www.freepcb.com/ (last update 2010?) And online tools (with risks of poof or site term changes) https://upverter.com/ http://123d.circuits.io/ Anybody recently used any to have recommendations or know of others I should look at? I'll do a separate posting to talk about board features when ready to start. I am planning normal edge connectors for emulator so standard cables can be used though it will drive up the board price. Also use proper drivers etc.