Availability of PDP-8i Front Panel

[Rod Smallwood]

Hi
    As I make panels I have the dimentions for PDP-8/e (two types) ,8/f,8/m and 8/I.
All except the 8/I start from the same 3mm Perspex blank.   The holes are laser cut. 
First caution. 
Cutting square or rectangular holes in thin plastic sheet is not for the faint  hearted. 

The round holes  need  lining up with the switches behind them.
By all means have a go using  proto boards Pi etc

Second caution
 I you deviate from the DEC bus and wiring structure then all the  vast documentation 
Becomes useless.

So see how you get on. I'll always have ready made available.
Rod

l

Sent from my iPad
 
> On 26 Sep 2016, at 23:05, Anders Nelson <anders.k.nelson at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Ray (and ever,   Iyone),
> 
> I'm also very interested in knowing the mechanical dimensions of the front
> panel PCB and positions of the lamps/switches/mounts/etc., but for the
> PDP-8/e. Does anyone have front panel PCB dimensions and positions for all
> the UI components I could use?
> 
> I can make a simple PCB design for each of the main areas (lamps, switch
> register, other switch groups) that will arrive at a few smaller PCBs,
> saving a ton of cost. I also have experience in LED display and switch
> matrix design so we won't need a thousand wires going everywhere when used
> with an emulator. For example, one USB cable for the entire front panel.
> 
> There exists the amazing PiDP-8 (
> http://obsolescence.wixsite.com/obsolescence/pidp-8) that has all of these
> items taken care of. But there does /not/ exist one for the PDP-8/e.
> 
> I await your wisdom,
> 
> --
> Anders Nelson
> 
> +1 (517) 775-6129
> 
> www.erogear.com
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Ray Neal <rayneal382 at gmail.com>
> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
> Cc:
> Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2016 11:59:24 -0700
> Subject: Availability of PDP-8i Front Panel
> Sir;
> 
> I working on a project to build a PDP-8i for a combined  Compute
> Science/Electronic Engineering course on design.  The purpose of this
> course is to teach the basic of computer design, build and Programing a
> computer they must build.  This course is still a year down the road.
> 
> I volunteer to accomplish the building of the prototype system using only
> the parts available at the time the orginal computer were built.
> 
> The point of the build is, if a 70+ can sit down with the course material,
> and design and build a working model of the PDP-8i, the there is no excuse
> that each student attending the course, should not be able to accomplish
> the same task.
> 
> 1.  I would like to know if you still have your PDP-8i Front Panel still
> available?
> 2.  What is the cost for the panel plus shipping to Tucson, Arizona?
> 3.  I understands that you are attempting to re-manufacture the Switch
> Rocker Assembly? And possibly the PCB board for mounting the switches?
>   a.  If so, I would like to know status, and an estimated cost for a
> complete set?
>   B.  Would these items be compatible to with c&k 7000 u-frame series
> switches assembly?
> 
> One other question I have is do you have any drawings that give both the
> dimensions and profile of the mounting frame?  If so are they available?
> 
> I want to Thank You for taking the time ahead of time in answering this
> E-mail.
> 
> Respectfully;
> 
> Ray Neal