1 Dec
2016
1 Dec
'16
11:27 a.m.
Hey all --
Due to a small miracle I now have 8KW of perfectly functioning core in my
long-ill Imlac PDS-1D. The last hurdle is devising a replacement for the
missing display (an X/Y vector display). For the time being I'm going to
attempt to use an oscilloscope, but first I need to build a cable.
The Imlac uses a Winchester connector (14 position) for the display and
while they're not as common these days the parts can still be found so I
thought I was in the clear, but what I failed to notice is that three of
the "pins" (for the X, Y and Blank signals) are actually tiny coaxial
connectors that fit within the Winchester housing (i.e. they're the same
diameter as a Winchester pin).
I haven't been able to track these connectors down anywhere. Anyone have
any ideas?
Failing that, I can always just tap into the backplane to pick up these
signals and ignore the connector on the bulkhead, but it would be nice to
be able to use the original connector...
- Josh
1 Dec
1 Dec
11:47 a.m.
On Dec 1, 2016, at 2:27 PM, Josh Dersch <derschjo
at gmail.com> wrote:
...
The Imlac uses a Winchester connector (14 position) for the display and
while they're not as common these days the parts can still be found so I
thought I was in the clear, but what I failed to notice is that three of
the "pins" (for the X, Y and Blank signals) are actually tiny coaxial
connectors that fit within the Winchester housing (i.e. they're the same
diameter as a Winchester pin).
What is a "Winchester connector"? Do you mean a D-sub connector, i.e., with a
trapezoidal shell such as you find on terminal or VGA connectors? Those come in a number
of widths, with names like DE (for the VGA size), or DB (the 25 pin classic RS-232), and
so forth. Often, incorrectly, all are called DB.
Those shells have a variety of choices for pins. They may be two rows of pins (e.g.,
DB-25), or 3 rows (e.g., DE-15). You may also find ones that have just miniature coax
inserts, or a mix of coax and plain pins. The coax inserts are generally larger, such
that it takes up much of the height of the connector. I haven't seen coax pins that
are the same diameter as plain signal pins, that's rather hard to imagine especially
for something as old as an Imlac. Examples of mixed pin D-sub connectors are the Sun
video monitor connectors, with RGB on coax.
paul
11:51 a.m.
On Thu, Dec 1, 2016 at 11:47 AM, Paul Koning <paulkoning at comcast.net> wrote:
Like one of these bad-boys, only with 14 connectors rather than 34:
http://cables24.com/en/others/cable-v-35/1470-V-35-m34-Winchester-34pin-mal…
Sorry for not being more specific. The coax connectors in a 13W3 connector
(for example) are much larger than what I need.
- Josh
On Dec 1, 2016, at 2:27 PM, Josh Dersch
<derschjo at gmail.com> wrote:
...
The Imlac uses a Winchester connector (14 position) for the display and
while they're not as common these days the parts can still be found so I
thought I was in the clear, but what I failed to notice is that three of
the "pins" (for the X, Y and Blank signals) are actually tiny coaxial
connectors that fit within the Winchester housing (i.e. they're the same
diameter as a Winchester pin).
What is a "Winchester connector"? Do you mean a D-sub connector, i.e.,
with a trapezoidal shell such as you find on terminal or VGA connectors?
Those come in a number of widths, with names like DE (for the VGA size), or
DB (the 25 pin classic RS-232), and so forth. Often, incorrectly, all are
called DB.
Those shells have a variety of choices for pins. They may be two rows of
pins (e.g., DB-25), or 3 rows (e.g., DE-15). You may also find ones that
have just miniature coax inserts, or a mix of coax and plain pins. The
coax inserts are generally larger, such that it takes up much of the height
of the connector. I haven't seen coax pins that are the same diameter as
plain signal pins, that's rather hard to imagine especially for something
as old as an Imlac. Examples of mixed pin D-sub connectors are the Sun
video monitor connectors, with RGB on coax.
paul
2:36 p.m.
On 12/1/2016 11:51 AM, Josh Dersch wrote:
On Thu, Dec 1, 2016 at 11:47 AM, Paul Koning
<paulkoning at comcast.net> wrote:
Like one of these bad-boys, only with 14 connectors rather than 34:
http://cables24.com/en/others/cable-v-35/1470-V-35-m34-Winchester-34pin-mal…
Sorry for not being more specific. The coax connectors in a 13W3 connector
(for example) are much larger than what I need.
- Josh
Try Electro Mavin. He's been buying and squirreling away connectors for
40 or 50 years. I don't know any other vendor with as much stock as he has.
You may need to bull your way thru to him or his daughter or other
person in the know for connectors, but he is your best shot.
http://www.mavin.com/
I've seen him pay serious money for connectors at various swap meets
around LA and in other transactions where connectors were up for grabs.
thanks
jim
On Dec 1,
2016, at 2:27 PM, Josh Dersch <derschjo at gmail.com> wrote:
...
The Imlac uses a Winchester connector (14 position) for the display and
while they're not as common these days the parts can still be found so I
thought I was in the clear, but what I failed to notice is that three of
the "pins" (for the X, Y and Blank signals) are actually tiny coaxial
connectors that fit within the Winchester housing (i.e. they're the same
diameter as a Winchester pin).
What is a "Winchester connector"? Do you
mean a D-sub connector, i.e.,
with a trapezoidal shell such as you find on terminal or VGA connectors?
Those come in a number of widths, with names like DE (for the VGA size), or
DB (the 25 pin classic RS-232), and so forth. Often, incorrectly, all are
called DB.
Those shells have a variety of choices for pins. They may be two rows of
pins (e.g., DB-25), or 3 rows (e.g., DE-15). You may also find ones that
have just miniature coax inserts, or a mix of coax and plain pins. The
coax inserts are generally larger, such that it takes up much of the height
of the connector. I haven't seen coax pins that are the same diameter as
plain signal pins, that's rather hard to imagine especially for something
as old as an Imlac. Examples of mixed pin D-sub connectors are the Sun
video monitor connectors, with RGB on coax.
paul
2 Dec
2 Dec
8:32 a.m.
On 12/01/2016 01:51 PM, Josh Dersch wrote:
Like one of these bad-boys, only with 14 connectors rather than 34:
http://cables24.com/en/others/cable-v-35/1470-V-35-m34-Winchester-34pin-mal…
Sorry for not being more specific. The coax connectors in a 13W3 connector
(for example) are much larger than what I need.
- Josh
Yup, that's an M connector, and industry compatible. In fact, Newark
still stocks the standard stuff in AMP (Now Tyco, I guess). I use that
34-pin size to make NIM modules. Newark may also stock the coax pins,
but I know they have the single-contact pins.
The holes in the housing and the springy fingers are all standardized,
so AMP parts will fit Winchester shells, etc.
Jon
1 Dec
1 Dec
2:31 p.m.
Have you considered using a vector arcade game monitor?
On 12/1/16 1:27 PM, Josh Dersch wrote:
Hey all --
Due to a small miracle I now have 8KW of perfectly functioning core in my
long-ill Imlac PDS-1D. The last hurdle is devising a replacement for the
missing display (an X/Y vector display). For the time being I'm going to
attempt to use an oscilloscope, but first I need to build a cable.
The Imlac uses a Winchester connector (14 position) for the display and
while they're not as common these days the parts can still be found so I
thought I was in the clear, but what I failed to notice is that three of
the "pins" (for the X, Y and Blank signals) are actually tiny coaxial
connectors that fit within the Winchester housing (i.e. they're the same
diameter as a Winchester pin).
I haven't been able to track these connectors down anywhere. Anyone have
any ideas?
Failing that, I can always just tap into the backplane to pick up these
signals and ignore the connector on the bulkhead, but it would be nice to
be able to use the original connector...
- Josh
2 Dec
2 Dec
8:29 a.m.
On 12/01/2016 01:27 PM, Josh Dersch wrote:
but what I failed to notice is that three of
the "pins" (for the X, Y and Blank signals) are actually tiny coaxial
connectors that fit within the Winchester housing (i.e. they're the same
diameter as a Winchester pin).
These pins MIGHT be compatible with AMP pins for the "M" series of
connectors. If so, I have some of these pins at work that we will
likely never use. If you can send a photo of the end you have I can see
if it looks like it might work.
Jon
9:47 p.m.
On 12/2/16 8:29 AM, Jon Elson wrote:
On 12/01/2016 01:27 PM, Josh Dersch wrote:
Here's a pic of a real Imlac video cable (not mine):
http://yahozna.dyndns.org/scratch/imlac/cable1.jpg
Pins P, J and R are the coaxial pins.
And here's a pic of the male side:
http://yahozna.dyndns.org/scratch/imlac/cable2.jpg
If you do have any that look like they will work, let me know. I think
I may have tracked down the part (thanks to those here and a fellow who
responded off-list, see page 15 of
https://3o9g5a3i56xc3au70w1rfrdv-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads…).
Thanks,
Josh
but what I failed to notice is that three of
the "pins" (for the X, Y and Blank signals) are actually tiny coaxial
connectors that fit within the Winchester housing (i.e. they're the same
diameter as a Winchester pin).
These pins MIGHT be compatible with AMP pins for the "M" series of
connectors. If so, I have some of these pins at work that we will
likely never use. If you can send a photo of the end you have I can
see if it looks like it might work.
Jon
2893
days inactive
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days old
7 comments
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participants (5)
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derschjo＠gmail.com -
jonelson126＠gmail.com -
jwsmail＠jwsss.com -
paulkoning＠comcast.net -
uban＠ubanproductions.com