IBM 5251 Beamspring with DMAs CommonSense
Posted: 11 May 2017, 01:07
So, I've been working on getting this fine 5251 Beamspring to get DMA's CommonSense working with it.
tl;dr - life is good.
My biggest concern right now with any design is that I've not managed to locate an edge-connector which is accurate enough in its specs for board thickness that I was willing to trust. A loose connector means your calibration values will either wander over time / temperature or columns / rows will just stop working until you re-seat.
As I'm prototyping I decided to solder the pins directly on like so using male colour-coded Jumper cables like so:
What are the colours I hear you ask?
[*] Red - Rows.
[*] White / Green / Yellow - Different locations on the protoboard for columns.
[*] Black - Da Errfs.
So, to the protoboard - it looks like so:
Now the colouring probably makes more sense as you can see that the columns are grouped. Why oh WHY did I align the columns in that strange round-in order? I'm paranoid about cross-talk so I figured I just wouldn't take the risk.
The observant may also notice that I soldered in female sockets along the edge. As I'm prototyping I know for sure I was going to be re-locating cables around so I made my easy. Now they're in a permanent spot I simply dropped a dab of solder on each one to keep the male jumper engaged with the female socket.
Finally - da errfs:
Yeah - I can do better and I will... but that will be done properly when I'm done with the cleaning.
I have to say - this is pretty shiny. Full details to follow when I'm not being run out the door.
Enjoy!
tl;dr - life is good.
My biggest concern right now with any design is that I've not managed to locate an edge-connector which is accurate enough in its specs for board thickness that I was willing to trust. A loose connector means your calibration values will either wander over time / temperature or columns / rows will just stop working until you re-seat.
As I'm prototyping I decided to solder the pins directly on like so using male colour-coded Jumper cables like so:
What are the colours I hear you ask?
[*] Red - Rows.
[*] White / Green / Yellow - Different locations on the protoboard for columns.
[*] Black - Da Errfs.
So, to the protoboard - it looks like so:
Now the colouring probably makes more sense as you can see that the columns are grouped. Why oh WHY did I align the columns in that strange round-in order? I'm paranoid about cross-talk so I figured I just wouldn't take the risk.
The observant may also notice that I soldered in female sockets along the edge. As I'm prototyping I know for sure I was going to be re-locating cables around so I made my easy. Now they're in a permanent spot I simply dropped a dab of solder on each one to keep the male jumper engaged with the female socket.
Finally - da errfs:
Yeah - I can do better and I will... but that will be done properly when I'm done with the cleaning.
I have to say - this is pretty shiny. Full details to follow when I'm not being run out the door.
Enjoy!