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gianlucarenzi

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Posts posted by gianlucarenzi

  4. Posted

    3 hours ago, CyranoJ said:

    Don't know what exactly you expect to see from an old HP with 2 floppies in it, but here goes:
    image.thumb.png.d30246687ae23cfa08c7005a542eb762.png

    Twisted cable:

    image.thumb.png.8a1f9b9448e10aba4e836170bf4aed80.png

    Thanks a lot mate. Is the 5.25" floppy drive a PC Standard One? It seems to have a special 40/80 track selection switch. Usually PC 360K 5.25" hadn't that switch. This is a Cumana Drive, quite common back-in-the-day. What about if I have only a 5.25" 1.2MB DSHD drive and wanted to write/read a SSSD 90K or SSED 180K disks? I know their rotation per minute should be 288 rpm and not 300 rpm nor 360 rpm as always found on those type of drive...

  7. Posted

    On 8/14/2020 at 9:05 AM, CyranoJ said:

    Reporting back now it is all set up:

     

    a8 images working :)    [gw read --drive 0 --rpm 288 --revs=5 <filename>.scp]

    image.thumb.png.3f3824229e0b9f56cfbc9c9d8ed3983c.png

     

    ST images working :)   [gw read --drive 1 --rpm 300 --revs=5 <filename>.scp]

    image.thumb.png.9cf219bd1f4ee2fbdee7dc3f4f50a988.png

     

    Amiga images working :)   [gw read --revs=5 --drive 1 <filename>.scp]

    image.thumb.png.f02856cb7c8b9f63fceea564f3241f80.png

     

    All in all - very happy :D

    So, you have a couple of GW? One for 3 1/2" and the other for 5 1/4"? Is it correct? Or you have only one, and flip between drives? Do you have an enclosure?

     

  9. Posted

    7 minutes ago, ZuluGula said:

    @gianlucarenzi, does the placement of the switches for function keys on XE pcb can accommodate some kind of 3D printed rhombus key cap? I mean one design for all function keys, that will fit in Atari top shell. Does ST function keycaps fit Cherry MX cross?

    The space between function keys on XE is 1.5u as the original rhombus shaped keycaps. It's a matter of shape (3D print is ok as soon as you provide the MX Cherry stem). Otherwise you need to print another 3D top cover of the Atari XE (adding F1...F4 keys too) with the rectangular function keys hole.

    And this is what I am trying to do... @Matej should be quicker than me for this! ;-)

  10. Posted

    1 hour ago, mozzwald said:

     

    https://www.maxkeyboard.com/ansi-layout-custom-color-cherry-mx-keycap-set.html

    Custom colors, custom printed, single sets

    One of the 3 companies is Maxkeyboard. I am awaiting their quotation since end of October. At first glance they asked me about 200 USD for a single set because the startup of the machineries for a single set is about 100 USD, so about 100 USD for the key caps. The keycap profile is DSA, the material is PBT and the printing method is UV Print. 

    They do not last so much... But they can be as good as the other companies product...

    The other two companies gives me Double shot printed keycaps, PBT and the profile is SA, or OEM. Much better looking to me.

     

    1 hour ago, mozzwald said:

    I propose to add both the FFC and through hole. I solder FFC connectors all the time and it's easy peasy :) 

    Easy peasy? Not sure... Remember leadfree solder? Higher temp for melting solder and too much time for the ffc connector.

    1 hour ago, mozzwald said:

    Have you had any boards made yet? I'm interested in the XE board

    Yes. But they are prototypes. As soon as I have something good to show you off I will do. Meanwhile feel free to clone my repo and do all modifications you asking for.

     

    Regards,

    Gianluca

  11. Posted

    3 minutes ago, ZuluGula said:

     

    Would you consider replacing the IDE style connectors and cables with FFC cables? Thera are already adapters made here.

     

     

    My main goal is to be easy to solder. The ffc cables are everything but easy to solder. In my daily job I am used to use them in all our boards, and they are easily usable if they are placed by pick and place machines and solder in the oven. By hand they are barely unusable, sorry. Maybe a smaller one should do the trick, but I need to find out the correct piece. Do you know a good replacement?

  12. Posted

    1 hour ago, Krenath said:

    Definitely interested in learning more about the 800-style keycaps from WASD.  I haven't located any sites yet where I can order custom-printed custom-colored keycaps, but I would think that putting together something for the original 800 wouldn't be too difficult.

    Well it's a little bit tricker than you are thinking.

    I found 3 companies can do custom keycaps, but they need 200 orders or so just to begin productions.

     

    1 hour ago, Krenath said:

    I'm throwing together a Cherry board design for the original 800 over in this thread if anyone is interested: 

    Actually I drop the 800 keyboard type because I did not find anybody whom lending me a computer for measurements and working stuff. Now I have a PCB for Atari 130XE and Atari 800XL I actually have, and I am awating the blank keycaps (DSA profile) and the special high quality stickers (vinyl stickers with transparent background) I have designed. All stuff is it in my github repo. As soon as my prototypes will be ready I can show my progress to all of you, so if somebody will join this ride, and help us to reach the 200 orders, the only thing it will miss for Atari 800 keyboard will be a matter of 2/3 keys. The proposed price will for the keycaps will be around 60 USD.

     

    https://github.com/gianlucarenzi

     

    and look for Atari 130XE MX Keyboard.

     

    Regards,

    Gianluca

    atari-xe-style-maxkeyboard.pdf atari-800-xl-style-maxkeyboard.pdf

    • Like 1

  13. Posted

    Hello guys! I need your help Atari 800, ATARI 800XL/600XL owners!

    If you guys own a caliber I urgently need to know which size in millimeters (or even better in keycaps unit 1U) the following keys:

     

    ATARI 800:

      - CONTROL key (to my measurements using pictures found on internet) 1.5U

      - LSHIFT key 1.75U as well as the RSHIFT

      - FUNCTION KEYS (Select, Start...) 1.5U

      - CLR SET TAB key 1.5U

      - RETURN key 1.5U

     

    ATARI 800XL

      - CONTROL key 2.0U

      - LSHIFT key 2.25U

      - RSHIFT key 2.0U

      - CAPS LOWR key 1.25U

      - RETURN key 1.75U

      - ESC key 1.25U

      - FUNCTION KEYS are spaced as 1U keysize.

     

    The only correct keyboard I can check is the Atari 130XE style...

     

    In attachment the PDF layouts of those keycaps (used by MaxKeyboard) and the keysize in keycap units.

     

    Please help me,

    Gianluca

    atari-800-xl-style-maxkeyboard.pdf atari-xe-style-maxkeyboard.pdf

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    Hello guys! I know this question is OFF-TOPIC but as I see you guys own a caliber and some of you are owning Atari 800 and XL series, I urgently need to know which size in mm (or even better in keycaps unit) the following keys:

    ATARI 800:

      - CONTROL key (to my measurements using pictures found on internet) 1.5U

      - LSHIFT key 1.75U as well as the RSHIFT

      - FUNCTION KEYS (Select, Start...) 1.5U

      - CLR SET TAB key 1.5U

      - RETURN key 1.5U

     

    ATARI 800XL

      - CONTROL key 2.0U

      - LSHIFT key 2.25U

      - RSHIFT key 2.0U

      - CAPS LOWR key 1.25U

      - RETURN key 1.75U

      - ESC key 1.25U

      - FUNCTION KEYS are spaced as 1U keysize.

     

    The only correct keyboard I can check is the Atari 130XE style...

     

    In attachment the PDF layouts of those keycaps (used by MaxKeyboard) and the keysize in keycap units.

     

    Please help me,

    Gianluca

    atari-800-xl-style-maxkeyboard.pdf atari-xe-style-maxkeyboard.pdf

    • Like 1

  17. Posted

    no. Its solution is a USB converter from a original ST keyboard. My goal is to have a 3d case as XE style with PCB and newer keycaps (no yellowing, no retr0bright):

    1- with the USB for PC

    2- without USB for drop-in replacement for Atari XE broken or yellowed keyboard

    3- with USB with 4 more keys

    4- with more 4 keys and usable with the original ATARI XE Computer but with a custom cover with 4 extra keys

     

  19. Posted

    On 10/1/2020 at 7:49 PM, Mr Robot said:

    Yes, and @Level42 also sells them. @tf_hh (I think) makes a small board for the keyboard slot with just a few tact switches so you can operate the atari with the lid off.

     

    mine combines both of those.

     

     

    Next few days I will show you my 3d/schematics of the adapter board, or you can show me yours. What about the cut-hole of the keyboard Atari 800XL? How far from RETURN key are the function keys? Do you know somebody who can give me some measurements for Atari 1200XL or Atari 800 computers?

    32 years ago, I bought an American NTSC 48K Atari 800 from Best Electronics (if I remember correctly) with two reconditioned Atari 1050 Disk Drives and a CX85 numeric keypad. I made an Electronic school project with its 4 joystick port (I wrote a special P: handler for Centronics Interface using two ports of the PIA (7 bit ASCII + a BUSY input line)) and it worked 😜 One Disk Drive went with a broken belt after few years...

    I remember I was used to have a 230Vac - 110Vac converter to use it, and the vertical blank was 60 Hz instead of 50 Hz ( I remember Alternate Reality Music and Game ran faster).

    The worst thing is: I DO NOT OWN THIS ATARI 800 ANYMORE. I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE F**K HAPPENED TO IT. I thought I left it in the attic, but I cannot find it anymore. Maybe I lend it to someone who forgot to gave me back in the days... 😞

    Can somebody gives me the cut-out keyboard measurements? Even the function keys cut-hole plastic and sizes...

    I need to deserve to Atari computers something good, because they gave me the opportunity to go to Tech High School and then to the University for Computer Science and Maths.

     

    • Like 1

  21. Posted

    1 minute ago, Mr Robot said:

    they are Atari 1200XL F1-F4

    Ok, I forgot about the 1200XL.

    1 minute ago, Mr Robot said:

    Yes

    So the board can be used into it too.

    1 minute ago, Mr Robot said:

    I have one of those too :D

    Really? With crimp flat ribbon cable (like HDD, FDD)??? 😕

     

    1 minute ago, Mr Robot said:

    You would need custom metalwork, just like the real keyboard does to hold those buttons on a separate board, lower than the main board. I haven't really done any research into what exactly I'd need. I paused this project and went onto tother projects for a while.

     

     

    I do not see any metalwork needs. All can be done with 3D plastic print. The project has to be easly adapted for every need because it's open source.

     

    Here is my PCB so far (some hours)

     

    PCB_EDGE_XE.png

    XE-PCB-3D.png

  22. Posted

    Great job indeed!

    What're the upper left keys?

    It seems you are using the correct footprint of the keycaps/switches (HELP/RESET/OPTION/SELECT/START function keys apart)

    If you build 2 different PCBs: extra upper left keys and main keyboard (I suppose they are not standard footprint. I do not own any 800XL/600XL/800 at the moment) detachable, this can be easy to add a footprint for Arduino Style PCB the next time.

    What's the connector inside the Atari 800 XL PCB for keyboard? Is it a single line edge connector type like Atari XE?

    If so, I've just designed an adapter from EDGE CONNECTOR to 26pin flat ribbon cable (very thin PCB Thickness 0.8) so this can be used as well.

    Is there a way to reuse the lateral function keys? With a sort of cherry MX adapter under the hood? may I have the physical dimensions of the cutout on the XL plastic case?

    In the next few days I will show you the XE board design.

     

    Does anybody gives me the cutout dimensions for keyboard in 800? Even the lateral function keys cutout and possibly a picture of the connector on the motherboard.

     

    Regards,

    Gianluca

  23. Posted

    I've asked WASD the custom keyboard layout. They told me, for some keys there is no problem, for other they are customizable only for VERY BIG Quantity (MOQ 2000 pcs/lot) because of the cost of the mould (the keycap will be Double-shot type expecially the dark brown ones (Atari 800 and XL Styles)) so I have only ONE OPTION:

    - The keycaps must be for XE Line (White/Cream with Dark Grey/Black Legends), and NO WAY TO HAVE BIG SPACEBAR (9U) from them.

    So, I have a couple of companies interested in this project, but they need MOQ (100/200 pcs).

     

    BUT MY GOAL IS:

    1- Have a DROP-IN replacement for XE Line of computer with custom keycaps and legends

    2- Build a PC USB keyboard using the same keycaps + some more keys usable with emulators (tell me which keys and how many) because I am start designing an USB XE Style keyboard case.

    3- If some hacker need only custom keycaps for his/her project all keycaps are ready.

     

    At the moment this dream need 100 sets (at least) of keycaps for XE Line. I am building the PCB for (1) & (2) with mechanical switches and maybe at the end of october I will have some pieces. If this project will reach the MOQ for keycaps I will try to start the first production run for XE style stuff. When done, if there will be enough request for 800/XL style I can ask for how much for the new keycaps. They do not to be DYE-SUBLIMATED legends, but due to the color they need DoubleShot or Laser engraved (I will see...). But the production run will be MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE (anyway I am lucky enough to live close to https://matt3o.com so I can arrange a meeting with him within December, so I can tell you something more about XL/800 keycaps, so do not hold your breath)...

     

    (A) ATARI XE KEYBOARD REPLACEMENT (130 EUR circa):

    1 - The Keyboard PCB + Cherry MX switches + electronics needed to use it into XE line will be around 70 EUR.

    2 - The Keycaps for this will be around 50/60 EUR Mark

     

    (B) ATARI XE KEYBOARD USB (135 EUR + the 3D Print of the case [maybe someone knows how much it will cost?? 30 EUR???])

    1- as (1) above + 4/5 euros for an Arduino UNO type of board for USB HID conversion

    2- as (2) above

    3- the 3D Printed XE Keyboard Case for this project (Q: Someone with Blender/Cura for 3D Design or knowledge for designing this piece of art?? I will be glad to pay him with a complete Keyboard!!) and her/his name should be printed inside the case (like Amiga 1000 engineers!)

     

    (C) ATARI XE KEYCAPS ONLY (50/60 EUR)

    1- as (2) above

     

    So now, you have a price-range information to think about.

     

    My email is: [email protected]

     

    Please feel free to contact me _ONLY_ if you are interested in (A), (B) or (C). After reaching the 100 preorders I will e-mail you back the way to pay for this project.

    So I know it's not very cheap, but if you are looking at the mechanical keyboard world we are in a mid-range price...

    But best of all IT IS UNIQUE.

     

    Regards,

    Gianluca

    • Like 1

  24. Posted

    What is TK-II/AKI?

    Anyway I know about WASD, I had a 104 keys ANSI with Amiga keys from them. USD $170. It's a very good mechanical keyboard. This is why I am planning to build custom keycaps and keycaps printing of the legends using a Cherry MX swtich and a custom PCB board for:

    1- Replacing the original ATARI XE keyboard with PCB + KEYCAPS + FUNCTION KEYS

    2- Building with the same KEYCAPS + PCB + USB MCU + OTHER KEYS (like config, speedup, loader... What else? I am open to suggestions... 3/4 keys are welcomed)

    3- Having the KEYCAPS only to replace some already existing PC KEYBOARD CAPS. The main issue here is the size of some keys (Left Shift, Right Shift, Caps, Return and __SPACE__ ) are not standard for keyboards nowadays. No mention about the legends...

    Doing all stuff with WASD keyboard is very expensive and somehow not practical as they do not have spacebar 6U, 7U or 9U (as the original one) but only 6.25U. So you will need to have some weird in size keys lateral to fill in the gap to have a 9U spacebar. Like 1.5U + 6.25U + 1.25U... 😕

    No mention about their price for each printing...

     

    My goal will be to achieve all keycaps for small quantity (like 50 or 100 sets) under the 50 EUR mark. (55/60 USD)...

     

    Who want to join the ride?

     

    I hope I was clear.

  25. Posted

    Regarding this project I am trying to contact a guy named FelixMuerte who did an excellent 3D object for Atari 130XE (ref. https://it.3dexport.com/3dmodel-atari-130-xe-139144.htm )


    So far I do not receive any good/bad news from him... 😞 Are you guys know anybody who is capable to design an Atari XE USB Keyboard using the same style and size of the Atari XE? It should be used in an Open Source project so it must be Blender compatible. 

    If anyone were able to use 3D programs to create an Atari XE-style keyboard to be printed on 3D printers, I'd be really happy. And maybe make a 50% discount of the final keyboard price for him / her.

    Regards,

    Gianluca

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