28 Dec
2010
28 Dec
'10
7:20 p.m.
OK, I've been studying the circuit diagrams and service manuals for
the Tektronix 4014 printer interface:
<http://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/401x/070-2303-00_4014_4015_Service_Mar79.pdf>
<http://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/463x/070-1831-02_4631_Service_Nov79.pdf>
I'm starting a project to create a modern printer interface for the
terminal. This involves creating the optional target signal amplifier
board for the 4010/4014 and creating a microcontroller based board
that will drive the terminal like a 4631 printer and scan out the
image from the storage tube for digitizing as a digital image. The
amplifier board is what distinguishes a 4010/4014 from a 4010/4014-1
and provides the signals for the printer.
The original 4631 printer is a completely analog device that scans out
the storage tube and transfers the electrical signal to a dry silver
paper for printing. This design will treat the analog signal supplied
to the printer as a signal for digitizing into a raster image. I plan
on housing mine inside a 4632 video hardcopy shell with a modern printer
inside driven by the controller. Who knows, this project might make
those 4631/4632 printers useful again, considering that noone is going
to be getting a new supply of dry silver paper anytime soon.
I'm looking for other people that have hardware design experience to
join me on this project. All resulting EDA files will be made
available under a suitable open source style license.
Please reply to me off-list if you are interested in collaborating
with me on this project.
--
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<http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/>
Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>
29 Dec
29 Dec
11:53 a.m.
OK, I've been studying the circuit diagrams and service manuals for
the Tektronix 4014 printer interface:
<http://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/401x/070-2303-00_4014_4015_Service_Mar79.pdf>
<http://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/463x/070-1831-02_4631_Service_Nov79.pdf>
I'm starting a project to create a modern printer interface for the
terminal. This involves creating the optional target signal amplifier
board for the 4010/4014 and creating a microcontroller based board
that will drive the terminal like a 4631 printer and scan out the
image from the storage tube for digitizing as a digital image. The
amplifier board is what distinguishes a 4010/4014 from a 4010/4014-1
and provides the signals for the printer.
I beelive a lot ot Tektronix storage tiube devices, not just terminals,
ahd this interface. So your printer controller would hav wider applications.
The original 4631 printer is a completely analog device that scans out
the storage tube and transfers the electrical signal to a dry silver
paper for printing. This design will treat the analog signal supplied
I thought it was partially photographic, which a 1-line CRT (a very odd
looking tube) pointing at light sensitive paper. But it's been a long
time since I was inside one.
to the printer as a signal for digitizing into a
raster image. I plan
on housing mine inside a 4632 video hardcopy shell with a modern printer
I was very happy with this project until I read that part. I am totlaly
in favour iof making modern peripherals for old machines. But I really
don;t like stripping classic hardware for no good reason.Sure the paper
for the 631 is unobtainable now. But I still feel the design of said
printer is interesting, and they should be preserved if possible.
inside driven by the controller. Who knows, this
project might make
those 4631/4632 printers useful again, considering that noone is going
to be getting a new supply of dry silver paper anytime soon.
-tony
3 Feb
3 Feb
10:12 a.m.
Hi there! I'm horribly behind on my Classiccmp e-mails - this one
arrived about 5 weeks ago, and I've only just read it.
On 29/12/2010 03:20, Richard wrote:
OK, I've been studying the circuit diagrams and
service manuals for
the Tektronix 4014 printer interface:
<http://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/401x/070-2303-00_4014_4015_Service_Mar79.pdf>
<http://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/463x/070-1831-02_4631_Service_Nov79.pdf>
I'm starting a project to create a modern printer interface for the
terminal. This involves creating the optional target signal amplifier
board for the 4010/4014 and creating a microcontroller based board
that will drive the terminal like a 4631 printer and scan out the
image from the storage tube for digitizing as a digital image. The
amplifier board is what distinguishes a 4010/4014 from a 4010/4014-1
and provides the signals for the printer.
I think that's an excellent idea. I have a 4006 terminal, and a 4052
computer, and I might want to use it on either of them. Most likely the
4052.
The original 4631 printer is a completely analog
device that scans out
the storage tube and transfers the electrical signal to a dry silver
paper for printing. This design will treat the analog signal supplied
to the printer as a signal for digitizing into a raster image. I plan
on housing mine inside a 4632 video hardcopy shell with a modern printer
inside driven by the controller. Who knows, this project might make
those 4631/4632 printers useful again, considering that noone is going
to be getting a new supply of dry silver paper anytime soon.
I actually have a couple of rolls of paper still in original cardboard
cylinders. Probably long dead, though.
However...
I only have one 4631, not working. At present it is only a museum
piece, but if I eviscerate it to put in a modern printer, it is not even
that.
In addition, while I could easily afford a modern printer to transplant
into the 4631 case, why should I when I have a perfectly good printer
already, plugged into my PC?
I'd prefer to take the raster image and save it in a suitable file
format (TIFF?) for putting on a PC and printing on any old printer.
This would make it much more flexible, and I think it would be of
benefit to do so.
Please reply to me off-list if you are interested in
collaborating
with me on this project.
Sorry, I lack the hardware expertise. But I'll be happy to copy the
relevant bits of the 4050 series manuals for you if this would help.
Philip.
4 Feb
4 Feb
11:08 a.m.
The original 4631 printer is a completely analog
device that scans out
the storage tube and transfers the electrical signal to a dry silver
paper for printing. This design will treat the analog signal supplied
to the printer as a signal for digitizing into a raster image. I plan
on housing mine inside a 4632 video hardcopy shell with a modern printer
inside driven by the controller. Who knows, this project might make
those 4631/4632 printers useful again, considering that noone is going
to be getting a new supply of dry silver paper anytime soon.
I actually have a couple of rolls of paper still in original cardboard
cylinders. Probably long dead, though.
However...
I only have one 4631, not working. At present it is only a museum
piece, but if I eviscerate it to put in a modern printer, it is not even
that. In addition, while I could easily afford a modern
printer to transplant
into the 4631 case, why should I when I have a perfectly good printer
already, plugged into my PC?
As I see ot, the main problem iwt hte 4631 is that the consumables (in
this case spcial paper) are unavailable now. But if you design a
replacement round a particular modern printer (say an inkjet), that is
likely to have the same problem in a few years time. Getting consuables
for older inkjet and laser printers is non-trivial.
I'd prefer to take the raster image and save it in
a suitable file
format (TIFF?) for putting on a PC and printing on any old printer.
This would make it much more flexible, and I think it would be of
benefit to do so.
On approach would be to have a suiable memory device (USB stick, SD card,
etc) conncted to the interfce. And have it store the image on that. I can
later be printed of viewed on a PC.
-tony
6 Feb
6 Feb
6:41 p.m.
In article <4D4AEFF8.40002 at axeside.co.uk>,
Philip Belben <philip at axeside.co.uk> writes:
I believe the printer interface is identical for all storage tube terminals.
Hi there! I'm horribly behind on my Classiccmp
e-mails - this one
arrived about 5 weeks ago, and I've only just read it.
Cool. I was beginning to think noone else was interested.
I'm
starting a project to create a modern printer interface for the
terminal. [...]
I think that's an excellent idea. I have a 4006 terminal, and a 4052
computer, and I might want to use it on either of them. Most likely the
4052. I actually have a couple of rolls of paper still in
original cardboard
cylinders. Probably long dead, though.
I have one roll of NOS paper and a printer with some paper in it.
Shelf life according to the catalog was 6 months and another lister
has reported that they got an image out of a printer with NOS paper,
just not a very good one.
I only have one 4631, not working. At present it is
only a museum
piece, but if I eviscerate it to put in a modern printer, it is not even
that.
You could house the project in an electronics box if you want to leave
your period printer as-is. Nothing in this project requires that you
gut a 4631 (or the 4632 video hardcopy unit which is essentially the
same printer but with different interface electronics).
In addition, while I could easily afford a modern
printer to transplant
into the 4631 case, why should I when I have a perfectly good printer
already, plugged into my PC?
As I say, there's no need to do that. I have two units: a 4631 and a
4632. I was planning on housing my replica project in the video
hardcopy unit and leaving the 4631 as is.
I'd prefer to take the raster image and save it in
a suitable file
format (TIFF?) for putting on a PC and printing on any old printer.
This would make it much more flexible, and I think it would be of
benefit to do so.
Yes, that was always part of the plan. Sorry if I didn't make that
clear. Housing in the 463{1,2} cabinet was just a nice retro factor
thing and not the essential part of the project.
Sorry, I lack the hardware expertise.
At this point its looking like the whole project may be doable in
software with an Arduino Uno microcontroller board. There will be
some interface circuitry, but its looking so far like not much is
needed in terms of custom hardware.
A custom recreation of the 4010 printing option board would be
necessary for any storage tube terminals that don't have the printer
amplifier. Are your terminals 4010 or 4010-1? If you have the -1
then you already have the amplifier board in your terminal; if not,
then we'd need to recreate the amplifier board for you.
But I'll be happy to copy the
relevant bits of the 4050 series manuals for you if this would help.
Thanks, I've got the necessary bits from my own manual collection and
bitsavers. That covers both the amplifier board in the terminal, the
handshaking protocol and the circuitry inside the printer.
--
"The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download
<http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/>
Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>
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