March 2018 - vcf-midatlantic

Need to change April workshop date
by Evan Koblentz 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

A bunch of Sandy volunteers (yes it's still happening) need to use the barracks area April 7-8. That bumps us. (Don't worry, it's set in stone for VCF East weekend.) They said we could reschedule to April 21-22 or 28-29. Vote here: https://doodle.com/poll/vyyvb324ah8i8bvw ... whichever date has the most votes by 11:59pm this Thursday wins. Votes via reply to this message will not be counted.

1 0

Correct link for April 7-8 workshop
by Evan Koblentz 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

Corrected link: https://tinyurl.com/yam5mnpc On Mar 6, 2018 11:06 AM, "corey cohen via vcf-midatlantic" < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: I’ll be Sunday at some point. Maybe Saturday night also if my family is tired of me since my kids are off all the previous week from school. corey cohen uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ > On Mar 6, 2018, at 10:39 AM, J. Alexander Jacocks via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > Confirmed. > > - Alex > > On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 10:37 AM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > >> Same here. Regenerate the tiny url. >> >> On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 10:34 AM Jeff Galinat via vcf-midatlantic < >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >> >>> On Mon, Mar 5, 2018 at 10:58 PM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < >>> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Here's the signup sheet for the April 7-8 workshop: >>>> http://tinyurl.com/yd3mxfsu >>>> >>> Hi Evan, >>> That link does not seem to work for me. I clicked and/or copied it in >> both >>> Safari & Chrome and it just brought me to the default Google Search page. >>> It might just be a problem on my end so I wanted to see if others have >>> problems with it. >>> Regards, >>> Jeff >>> >>

2 1

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Connor's famous (again)
by Brian L. Stuart 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

On Tue, 3/6/18, Connor Krukosky via vcf-midatlantic <vcfmidatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > Wow, yup, I need to go to bed, thought I sent it to JUST Evan and... > Welp, here I am spamming the list now (rolls eyes) > Yup I'm still human guys. Don't worry, still making just as many > mistakes as I always have haha. Don't think it got to > my head too much yet, though maybe it has a little... Some of > you keep me in my place sometimes, and thanks ;) > (Looking at you Ian haha) Connor, Staying grounded is certainly a good thing, but at the same time, you're on an incredible adventure that I suspect more than a few of us envy. And it may well be the only time in history that ignoring Dave's sage advice worked out. :) I think it's safe to say we're all proud of you and look forward to seeing you at VCF. For that matter, I'd like to see you give a keynote at a VCF sometime where you tell us all about this adventure. BLS

5 4

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] East XIII exhibit registration is open!
by Evan Koblentz 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

>> is their advanced tickets via paypal too ? or just wait till that wknd ? There will be. It's not ready. On Mar 6, 2018 12:18 PM, "Dan Roganti" <ragooman(a)gmail.com> wrote: is their advanced tickets via paypal too ? or just wait till that wknd ? Dan

1 0

East XIII exhibit registration is open!
by Evan Koblentz 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

Aaaaaaaand ..... go! http://vcfed.org/wp/festivals/vintage-computer-festival-east/vcf-east-exhib…

3 3

Sign up: April 7-8 workshop
by Evan Koblentz 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

Here's the signup sheet for the April 7-8 workshop: http://tinyurl.com/yd3mxfsu

5 4

[Semi-OT] 3D Printing Replacement Parts (Was: Re: About Bill's message)
by J. Alexander Jacocks 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

A concrete item that you can see today is the power switch on the IBM PS/2 Model 76, in the museum. It was broken at some point in the past, and I 3D printed a replacement. One way that you can deal with the limited number of colors available in PLA/PET/ABS filament is to dye the results. For an example, see this article in Make <https://makezine.com/2013/05/09/how-to-dye-your-3d-prints/> magazine. You can do quite a bit, and in very high quality, if you take the time to properly learn to design parts. All the things that are required for the design of professionally made injection-molded parts (clearance, tolerance, wear, etc.) are also necessary to get a good quality result out of FDM. And, of course, there is SLA, if you really need fine detail. And last, there are those, like myself, who also tinker in the subtractive manufacturing arena that is CNC machining. That produces quite a bit more robust parts, from any machinable material, including ferrous metals. The limiting factor in all these technologies is more the imagination and skill of the user, and less the technologies themselves. Sure, capabilities grow with time, but incredible things are made every day, with very basic tools. - Alex On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 5:16 AM, Dave Wade via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic- > > bounces(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> On Behalf Of Herb Johnson > > via vcf-midatlantic > > Sent: 06 March 2018 03:35 > > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org > > > > Cc: Herb Johnson <hjohnson(a)retrotechnology.info> > > Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] About Bill's message > > > > > Creating a library of open-source vintage computing parts * IS * a > > > good idea. Bill: if you'd like to lead the effort then you have my > support. > > > > I agree, it's a good idea. If Bill agrees, I hope he changes the subject > line! hint > > hint > > > > There's a number of toggles that people try to 3D print, varying degrees > of > > success. Maybe keycaps? Light covers? These are small parts and printing > a > > few at a time gives some "scale" to the effort. Tricks like coloring the > plastics > > are good to know. > > > > I think Keycaps are better made with modelling moulding compounds. > > > > Nice thing about collecting models, is that most all 3D printers use the > same > > modeling language. There are some collections of models out there (no > > magic "git" thank goodness) so those could be pointed to. I think I know > a > > few locations .... > > > > I'm not against 3D printers - just skeptical about their results. But > these are > > not a big stretch. And if there's cooperative colleagues among us to > test, we > > can find out! IXR locally also has, or had, a 3D printer > > - Neil can speak to that. Our friend Matt with the $200 printer, can > participate > > too. We might pass the hat to buy plastic noodles... it is OK to call > them that? > > ;) > > The results can be good, but its not just point and shoot. I think where > they really com in is for new prts to adapt old machines. E.g. > > https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1592139 > > Dave > > > > > herb > > > > -- > > Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA > > http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net > > preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing > > email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com > > or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info > >

3 2

OT: Re: Is it just me or.....
by Herb Johnson 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

> One major difference between the PC and 3DP is the latter will require > substantial materials advancements to make it usefully mainstream and there > doesn't seem to be a Moore's law driving that. That statement, hints at something important. I'm tired of every techie/consumer/science advancement in the last few decades, being compared to the personal computing revolution and to "Moore's Law". Digital technology - almost ALL of it - has advanced in doing THE SAME THING: representing a one or zero with smaller physical hardware. Below the microscopic, it's now below WAVELENGTHS OF LIGHT. OK? Re-read those statements. That's the corollary to Moore's Law. Now: will a 3D printer "advance", by printing pea-sized beer-can openers? Is a 3D printed car a revolution - if it's Hot Wheels sized? So, 3D printing + Moore's Law = zero. Detailed discussion of 3D printing is, as Evan noted, off-topic. But as an engineer, I see that 3D printers have to do more than print plastic forks to be useful to most consumers, and to many techs. But to handle more robust materials, you need more robust tools. A hot tip and a gear to extrude plastic noodles won't get you there. Sorry to those disappointed, but as I said, expectations are too high, the suggested comparison fails. But we vintage computerists, are in the best position, to deny the premise that "3D printing will be the next revolution, like personal computers". We (some of us) know WHY personal computing (and embedded computing) were revolutionary. From an engineering view, 3D printing will be at best, *evolutionary*, like many other advances in technology and materials and processes. Herb Johnson BSEE 1976 -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info

11 20

About Bill's message
by Herb Johnson 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

> Creating a library of open-source vintage computing parts * IS * a good > idea. Bill: if you'd like to lead the effort then you have my support. I agree, it's a good idea. If Bill agrees, I hope he changes the subject line! hint hint There's a number of toggles that people try to 3D print, varying degrees of success. Maybe keycaps? Light covers? These are small parts and printing a few at a time gives some "scale" to the effort. Tricks like coloring the plastics are good to know. Nice thing about collecting models, is that most all 3D printers use the same modeling language. There are some collections of models out there (no magic "git" thank goodness) so those could be pointed to. I think I know a few locations .... I'm not against 3D printers - just skeptical about their results. But these are not a big stretch. And if there's cooperative colleagues among us to test, we can find out! IXR locally also has, or had, a 3D printer - Neil can speak to that. Our friend Matt with the $200 printer, can participate too. We might pass the hat to buy plastic noodles... it is OK to call them that? ;) herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info

2 1

Connor's famous (again)
by Evan Koblentz 06 Mar '18

06 Mar '18

Front-and-center on IBM.com right now.

2 3