KIM Uno /PiDP-11 plans...

[David C. Jenner]

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.
>
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