Fwd: Re: Front Panels - New development - Bezels

[Rod Smallwood]

On 08/07/2016 07:14, Pontus Pihlgren wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 07, 2016 at 07:47:32PM +0100, Rod Smallwood wrote:
>>
>> On 07/07/2016 19:11, John H. Reinhardt wrote:
>>> On 7/7/2016 3:02 AM, Rod Smallwood wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>>>> Subject:     Re: Front Panels - New development - Bezels
>>>> Date:     Thu, 7 Jul 2016 08:01:35 +0100
>>>> From:     Rod Smallwood <rodsmallwood52 at btinternet.com>
>>>> To:     Paul Birkel <pbirkel at gmail.com>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 07/07/2016 07:18, Paul Birkel wrote:
>>>>> "MakeAnEight", oh my :->.  Next it will be "SweetSixteen" I imagine.
>>>>>
>>>>> Great news on the casting-in-resin prototype.  How much are these
>>>>> ending up costing?
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Rod
>>>>> Smallwood
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2016 2:04 AM
>>>>> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
>>>>> Subject: Front Panels - New development - Bezels
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Guys
>>>>>
>>>>>                We are able to-announce the successful test production
>>>>> of a PDP-8 Bezel in cast resin.
>>>>>
>>>>>               The result is tough, beige colored, slightly flexible
>>>>> copy of the original.
>>>>>
>>>>>               Bonding the panel to the bezel or adding internal
>>>>> stiffening brings rigidity.
>>>>>
>>>>>               Painting matches the color.
>>>>>
>>>>>               This will be part of our MakeAnEight parts for
>>>>> reproduction or repair range.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>                               Rod (Panelman) Smallwood
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Hi Paul
>>>>                  Well I was going to call it ElevenHeaven but I like
>>>> your idea better.
>>>>
>>>> They got a good result first time.  That seemed too easy. Then I
>>>> remembered
>>>> that when I went through the molding and casting process they said is
>>>> that it?
>>>>
>>>> It just dawned on me. Screen printing is all about handling gloopy
>>>> liquids.
>>>> They have all of the knowledge of mixing and all of the measuring pots
>>>> and
>>>> stirring sticks you will ever need.
>>>>
>>>> Cost? Well that's interesting.
>>>> Usually in a small run/custom situation its the labor cost that's the
>>>> major element.
>>>> Here it seems to be the cost of the materials to get the right result. I
>>>> should know soon.
>>>>
>>>> Regards Rod
>>>>
>>>>
>>> I would stick with the "ElevenHeaven" since that indicates a PDP-11.  The
>>> Sixteen
>>> refers to the bits, I know, but there were a lot of 16-bit-ers out there
>>> and only
>>> one Eleven!
>>>
>>> BTW, I'm looking forward to your getting to the PDP-11 series, especially
>>> an 11/70
>>> panel and bezel.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>    John H. Reinhardt
>> Ok Thanks
>>      Plan is to complete the PDP-8/i and then do the 8/L
>>
>> Next up will be the much requested ElevenHeaven range.
>> As the 11/70 is the headline system we could start there.
>> Panels first, bezel to follow.
>>
>> Longer term goal is a full size operating replica that  is difficult (at
>> least externally) to tell from the original.
>>
> Is there a way to tell your replicas from the originals? Given the prices
> of some original panels it would be nice to be able to identify a
> "counterfeit" one.
>
> Now, I am i no way against what you are doing I think it i great but I'm
> honestly conserned that these will pop up on ebay in the future as the real
> thing.
>
> /P
  Well I could say ours are better. However I'm going to get a number 
burned into the plexiglass.
An easy way to tell is to look at the cutouts. Ours are laser cut and 
perfectly straight, sharp and square.
The originals have tool marks and are a bit rounded in the corners by 
the router.

Regards  Rod