You wrote:
I know I've seen 3D printed switches for mini's show up a few times. Back in 2015, Christopher Parish had a handful of 3D printed replacement switche paddles for his HP minicomputer. While I can't put my finger on it, I seem to recall seeing similar ones for the PDP-8/e but maybe that's a fig newton of my imagination. Am I remembering this right?
(Alex, man, I love ya like a brother, but for the love of God PLEASE fix your mail client) Vince Slyngstad has designed a number of things for the DEC world, including front panel switches: http://so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/cad/3d.php I've printed a few of these with good results. There are three 3D printers here in my lab. I use them with some frequency to make random replacement parts, and quite a lot for customer prototyping applications. I.e., "real work". These are not toys. For all of the assertions in this thread about them being so fiddly, etc, that's really not the case today. These are all Monoprice-branded models (one each of their Mini, Plus, and Ultimate models), and they are essentially plug-and-go, right out of the box. This is not news. I am not a 3D printing "hobbyist" or "hacker". I have enough time-sinks in my life and I do not need or want another. I do, however, need to get work done, which occasionally means making parts, without screwing around, as I have no time to waste. With today's affordable 3D printers this is very much a practical thing, and I do it all the time here with excellent results. Yes, you do need to learn how to use them properly. But the same goes for any tool, even a hammer or a screwdriver. But I would expect a mailing list full of computer people, i.e. thouse with a significantly higher I.Q. than the average slob on the street, should be able to figure that out. Sometimes it's not for work purposes. I messed up my thumb pretty good a few days ago and needed a splint. I found a thumb splint on Thingiverse, and...less than half an hour later, my thumb was in a splint. Nay-say all you want, folks, but it's here. Come see if you don't believe me. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA