Search found 281 matches

by tigpha
20 Jun 2016, 22:06
Forum: Workshop
Topic: IBM PC XT -> siXTyPerCent
Replies: 22
Views: 5138

More PCB revisions. Composite view with colour coded rows and columns: sensor-pads-v0.8-2016-06-18.png The columns on the under side of the PCB, which appear to be the driven lines on the IBM PC-XT reference. The columns are separated by chunky ground fencing, which I guess is necessary because thes...
by tigpha
19 Jun 2016, 21:52
Forum: Workshop
Topic: IBM PC XT -> siXTyPerCent
Replies: 22
Views: 5138

New PBC design, following suggestions from DMA. First the rows, on the front of the PCB: sensor-pads-v0.8-2016-06-18-rows-B&W.png And the columns, on the back of the PCB: sensor-pads-v0.8-2016-06-18-columns-B&W.png The weird lines leading nowhere are ground lines to prevent cross-talk. The connectio...
by tigpha
17 Jun 2016, 23:27
Forum: Group buys
Topic: Mini-Groupbuy: IBM Model F "Bigfoots" [shipped]
Replies: 147
Views: 25033

The result looks gorgeous Crossfire, especially considering the condition it was when you received it. You must feel very proud of a job very well done indeed.
by tigpha
16 Jun 2016, 12:52
Forum: Gallery
Topic: Rusty keyboards in abandoned place
Replies: 50
Views: 10879

Madhias wrote: Shameless advertisement to get some clicks: https://www.flickr.com/photos/madhias/
I love the power station control room with the glass skylight. Very super-villain lair!
by tigpha
15 Jun 2016, 21:55
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Is this corrosion?
Replies: 4
Views: 910

I think it's cupric oxide. It won't eat all the way through the copper traces, it's not the same as iron rust. In fact, a black oxide layer is sometimes used to protect the underlying metallic copper. It looks ugly, but it shouldn't affect the performance of the PCB, I reckon.
by tigpha
15 Jun 2016, 19:23
Forum: Workshop
Topic: IBM PC XT -> siXTyPerCent
Replies: 22
Views: 5138

The beamspring design gets lots of praise in DT fora. Probably because they are massively over-engineered, built according to exacting principles. It is curious to note that the parallel sense/drive lines is a modification made later, possibly by IBM engineers who where satisfied with "good enough" ...
by tigpha
15 Jun 2016, 14:16
Forum: Workshop
Topic: IBM PC XT -> siXTyPerCent
Replies: 22
Views: 5138

To illustrate, I suppose something resembling the beamspring PCB, such as the one shown in the Rustmaster Strikes Again! . I'll aim to design the matrix as a four-by-sixteen grid. The PSoC 5 series appears to have enough I/O to cope with that, without need for external components. In fact, with 72 I...
by tigpha
15 Jun 2016, 09:01
Forum: Workshop
Topic: IBM PC XT -> siXTyPerCent
Replies: 22
Views: 5138

Ok, my simplistic understanding of your explanation is to avoid parallel lines (or surfaces, front to back) on the PCB where sensing is not supposed to happen. Because, capacitors! Of course :-) Would it help to insert a ground line between parallel lines on the PCB? What about ribbon cables? I supp...
by tigpha
14 Jun 2016, 20:07
Forum: Workshop
Topic: IBM PC XT -> siXTyPerCent
Replies: 22
Views: 5138

Hi DMA, Thanks for sharing what you find. I don't quite understand, are you referring to the pairs of traces that run between the pads across the width of the keyboard? I meticulously copied the layout and spacings from an existing PC-XT PCB, and I haven't a clue if the result is electronically soun...
by tigpha
06 Jun 2016, 17:47
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

For me, the main appeal of this is the cheap off-the-shelf prototyping board that has all the hardware I need for a Model F controller and maybe for a beamspring controller. Much like the Teensy with hasu's or Soarer's firmware. I agree that the single chip solution is very appealing. I also feel t...
by tigpha
06 Jun 2016, 17:38
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

DMA wrote: ..should I close this thread and move to workshop? Looks like it belongs to workshop.
You will find that instead of one thread, you will need to follow two because both will attract comments at once. I don't think there's any need.
by tigpha
04 Jun 2016, 21:24
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

Hi DMA, The results so far look really promising. I have enough spare IBM Model F PC-XT parts to reproduce the experiment, except for the PSoC, and the unknown VirtualBox ingredient. I have no excuse really, save for "real life" and "work" and "paying bills" etc... I agree with your opinion of C++. ...
by tigpha
03 Jun 2016, 21:12
Forum: Group buys
Topic: Mini-Groupbuy: IBM Model F "Bigfoots" [shipped]
Replies: 147
Views: 25033

Look out for the square IBM badge: the glue is very likely to have lost adhesion, turned brown and powdery. I recommend poking the badge from inside the case with a blunt implement, through the hole that is situated underneath the badge. I was lucky to notice that the badge was detaching on my Bigfo...
by tigpha
31 May 2016, 21:09
Forum: Gallery
Topic: IBM 3101 Industrial!
Replies: 53
Views: 10581

I have heard say that when the beam springs collapse, it feels like an egg shell cracking under the finger. It seems so delicate and refined for such a hulkingly huge behemoth!
by tigpha
31 May 2016, 20:47
Forum: Gallery
Topic: IBM 3101 Industrial!
Replies: 53
Views: 10581

Thanks for the pictures Alex. You have found a beautifully intact specimen. I am curious to know, since you have a Model F right alongside in the photos, how do these two keyboards compare in sound and feel? I very much doubt that I will find one to try for myself, and I keep hearing enthusiasts ent...
by tigpha
31 May 2016, 20:39
Forum: Group buys
Topic: Mini-Groupbuy: IBM Model F "Bigfoots" [shipped]
Replies: 147
Views: 25033

You're all in for a real treat. There is no hype. Of all the keyboards I have tried so far, these are the pinnacle by a very wide margin. I have not yet found any other keyboard as pleasant to type on, and yet still a practical option for regular daily use. Murium may mention Topre as an equal (or a...
by tigpha
31 May 2016, 18:43
Forum: Group buys
Topic: Mini-Groupbuy: IBM Model F "Bigfoots" [shipped]
Replies: 147
Views: 25033

Hi Kekstee, Try some 2mm thick neoprene foam , it's what I use in my Bigfoots, and here is the hole cutting process , without whacking with a hammer like a maniac. Just a gentle twist with very sharp tools is needed. The neoprene tends to resist sliding, so you may need to insert paper tabs against ...
by tigpha
31 May 2016, 08:39
Forum: Workshop
Topic: Can we design the teensy alternative for keyboards?
Replies: 808
Views: 158650

Hasu, I notice you wrote a comment on the Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller? thread. Do you know if the chip proposed here is capable of capacitive sensing, or CapSense® as Cypress Semiconductors insist on calling it? I'd love to see this project offer support for IBM Model F, an...
by tigpha
30 May 2016, 13:20
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

It looks as if the VirtualBox version I'm running is 4.3.36 -- I hope that the PSoC Creator is only required to recompile source code, and that there is an alternative method of uploading the binary images. There is a hint that the device can support "mass storage mode" but I've only so far seen a f...
by tigpha
30 May 2016, 11:41
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

It looks as if I'm ready to rock: PSoC Creator 3.3 Service Pack 2 is installed on the MS-Windows-7 virtual machine. Next step is to get the hardware, and discover if VirtualBox can expose the device to the guest O/S. So far, except for the brain-burp yesterday, progress has been smooth and swift.
by tigpha
30 May 2016, 11:11
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

Well it seems it was a "fat fingers" or "need sleep" failure: I tried again this morning with a fresh download of IE9.Win7.For.Windows.VirtualBox.zip , and it booted up in VirtualBox, and I was able to activate the 90 day trial period. No idea what has changed over the last few hours. Installing Kit...
by tigpha
29 May 2016, 22:28
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

Well, I tried numerous VirtualBox appliance images from the Microsoft website, and they all failed. I shall try getting a PC from eBay instead.
by tigpha
29 May 2016, 21:25
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

Yup, I think that I have found the official VM images at Microsoft . That might be just enough to enable me to do something useful with KitProg. The release notes recommend that "you could take advantage of your virtualization platform’s snapshotting capability so that you can start over with a fres...
by tigpha
29 May 2016, 09:55
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

Hi DMA, That's unfortunate. No need for you to apologise, it's not your fault in any way. I had read the forum post from someone trying to program the PSoC from a Raspberry Pi, which sounds exactly like the kind of engineer that Cypress really ought to be selling to, but no: "We have not yet tested ...
by tigpha
28 May 2016, 22:46
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

I've had a look at the Cypress product documents. It certainly mentions CapSense® a lot, and Cypress also offers prototyping kits with capacitive keypad arrays. Farnell sells the CY8CKIT-059 PSoC® 5LP Prototyping Kit for £7.30 plus £3.95 handling charge for orders less than £20 (boo!). Darned it, fo...
by tigpha
27 May 2016, 21:50
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

So far, only ideas and drawings. The concept is to reuse parts salvaged from an IBM PC-XT, cut down to 60% format, and pierce a few more holes to accommodate the slightly modified layout. If the prototype satisfies me, I will ask a laser cutting shop I have tried a while ago to help with a final des...
by tigpha
27 May 2016, 19:14
Forum: Keyboards
Topic: Anyone interested in an ADC-based capsense controller?
Replies: 71
Views: 15321

Hi DMA, I'm another spectator watching this thread. I have a few IBM Model F rebuild ideas that are missing a suitable controller. This little gem from Cypress might fit the bill very nicely. I don't have the experience of Sensei Hasu in coding such things as TMK, but I am a professional telecoms sy...
by tigpha
11 May 2016, 23:19
Forum: Group buys
Topic: Mini-Groupbuy: IBM Model F "Bigfoots" [shipped]
Replies: 147
Views: 25033

For dirty and cut cable, that's an okay price. As long as nothing is broken besides the cable. Often this is a bad sign: you cut the cable to indicate that the item is broken beyond repair (or not worth the repair). "Beyond repair" did not apply in two out of my three IBM Bigfoots. Cutting the cabl...
by tigpha
10 May 2016, 20:52
Forum: Workshop
Topic: Converting an IBM 5120 Beamspring to USB
Replies: 14
Views: 4939

Looking at the schematics on page 255 of the friendly manual you linked to, in section "Keyboard -- Z4 Socket Pin Assignments" I smell a hint of the same sort of protocol as for the the IBM 5291 terminal keyboard. There's a "Kbd Strobe" and eight "Kbd 1...7" lines too. I suspect the "Kbd O" or "Kbd ...
by tigpha
06 May 2016, 12:53
Forum: Other external
Topic: Great/Interesting Finds
Replies: 26262
Views: 8606049

derzemel wrote: Data General NOVA 2/10 complete system. 8 bids and it's already at 1042 Eur:
Wow! What a beautiful specimen. It looks almost as good as new. And including a punched paper tape reader! Squeal! :o Total vintage awesome!

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