Got my Documation punched card reader working with the aid of an Arduino

[antiquekid3]

I don't yet have any interface boards for my PDP-8/M, so I opted instead to read the data into a modern computer with the help of an Arduino.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N27Mr199I7g

My eventual goal is to track down an M843 CR8-E interface board so I can keep it with period hardware. I'll be able to run some simple programs with it. Also, I'm on the lookout for a card punch, preferably one smaller than a kitchen table. I don't yet have room for an 026 or 029, as much as I'd like to have one.

Kyle

 

[TJ_Mossman]

Nice work Kyle! I always get a kick out of seeing vintage storage devices being run on new machines.

-Tom

 

[m_thompson]

Kyle,

Take a look at my project for using a MicroSemi SmartFusion FPGA to emulate peripherals for the PDP-8/E/F/M.
http://www.ricomputermuseum.org/Home/equipment/dec-pdp-8e/making-an-omnibus-peripheral-emulator

You could put the CR8-E logic in the FPGA and connect the card reader to GPIO on the ARM in the FPGA. The one that I am using runs Linux on the ARM, so you could run the card reader with or witho

 

[NeXT]

Wow. That is quite slick.

 

[SomeGuy]

I'll have to remember that link the next time someone sticks their nose up at the idea of hooking a floppy drive to a "modern" computer.