Vulcan-74 - A 6502 Powered Retro MegaProject

[barnacle]

I just thought the steam engine would want to express itself... publicly?

Neil

[Oneironaut]

I hope my synth never ends up under that much water! I don't intend to seal the glass windows to the front, and doubt they would take the pressure of even a shallow dive. This is a land vehicle only.

On that note, I am sourcing some sturdy floor safe casters this week to I can create the removeable legs. I am a few welds away from a base frame, so if the weather sends snow then at least things can continue indoors.

Goals this week... speaker grill frame welds, build a stand on wheels, install the CRT frame.

Also started working on a 6502 <-> 6502 communications scheme using 574 latches and 138 muxes.

Fun to see this project taking form after 5 years of just thinking about it and making crude sketches.

Brad

BigDumbDinosaur wrote:

Oneironaut wrote:

Had a few more hours outside in the back 40...

Thought occurred to me that when you get the facade done, you should paint a picture of Captain Nemo’s organ, meaning the one installed in the submarine Nautilus, on it. 

[Oneironaut]

Boring night in a small hotel along the North Shore of Lake Superior tonight.
I wasn't planning on working on the 3D model anymore, but it does give inspiration.
This isn't the final layout of controls, and I may change the speaker grill design, but this is probably close to what the final Synth will look like...

On my way home I am stopping at the hardware store to get the four 5 inch casters so I can finish the rolling stand this weekend.
Next parts to acquire will be the front glass panels and a source of 1/2" thick cherry wood or mahogany for the trimmings.
Not sure what wood these 70s and early 80's synths had, but this is the look I am going for...

I can't wait to connect the keyboard up to the protoboard and jam out for a while, even if it's just on a single channel for now!

Later!

[Oneironaut]

The LucidScience Musical instrument Company has commissioned me to also make a desk style stand instead of the typical tubing style keyboard stand.
This will have lockable 4 inch floor safe casters as well as pull out drawers on each side that double as 5.25 inch floppy disk organizer for all those sample disks.
Design work will start soon.

[Oneironaut]

Not much to report on frame development as I have been busy with work.
It was cold and rainy today, so the outdoor welding shop was closed.

I did manage to work out the basic frame for the stand that I am going to make.
This will use up the last of the angle and flatbar that I have sitting around.

Basic renders, not showing the pull out floppy disk drawers yet....

[barnacle]

Do you have any diagonal bracing in or between the pillars?

Neil

[Oneironaut]

Yes, at the back there is a cross brace which is not shown in the render.
Casters also jack up from inside the pillars to lift the unit 1 inch from the floor for moving around.
Pillars also sit in channels under the unit for centering.

barnacle wrote:

Do you have any diagonal bracing in or between the pillars?

Neil

[Oneironaut]

Almost done roughing in the main part of the frame now. It's amazing that there is no snow on the ground yet, but not cool that the sun goes down by 7:30.
I can't weld in the dark, but did actually start on the stand tonight. Having the frame indoors for the winter is actually going to happen.

Also did the precision work needed to mount the 88 key piano board.
I was quite challenging since there is only 1/16" of clearance around the keys and the frame.

Once the stand frame is done, I will cut various bits of generic plywood so I can fill the sides and work on the huge PCB framework.
I will have to find a source for 1/2" mahogany or cherry wood over the winter for the final work.

That's it for another week, I am back on a scary plane to places near the North Pole for work again.
I look forward to catching up on all the great projects here.

Cheers!
Radical Brad

[BigDumbDinosaur]

Oneironaut wrote:

That's it for another week, I am back on a scary plane to places near the North Pole for work again.

Been on bush flights up to Churchill (Manitoba)...scariest part was flying into a white-out while on final and the engine’s fuel pump sucking fumes out of the tank.  My philosophy was (still is) the pilot has a vested interest in making a safe landing, so he’s going to do his best to avoid using his plane to punch a hole in the ground. 

——————————
Edit: fixed typo.

[barnacle]

Exactly the reason I don't approve of self-driving cars! If the driver ain't got skin in the game...

Brad, make sure your wood is properly dried and seasoned: it'd be a shame if it bent or cracked once fitted. It might be that a suitable veneer on a plywood base is feasible?

Neil

[Oneironaut]

I will be sourcing the wood from the specialty plywood store since they have knowledgeable carpenters there.
The wood will probably be a few hundred, so I will certainly get their advice on using it.
Funny, the wood will probably be the most expensive part of this build!
My entire basement is 1 inch thick pine log siding, and I did a 2 year cure on it before use.

barnacle wrote:

Exactly the reason I don't approve of self-driving cars! If the driver ain't got skin in the game...

Brad, make sure your wood is properly dried and seasoned: it'd be a shame if it bent or cracked once fitted. It might be that a suitable veneer on a plywood base is feasible?

Neil

[BigDumbDinosaur]

Oneironaut wrote:

Funny, the wood will probably be the most expensive part of this build!

Wood in general seems to have gotten ridiculously expensive.  Even a lowly 4' × 8' sheet of half-inch plywood has become a budget buster.  No idea what some mahogany or cherry is going to set you back, but I suspect it’s going to be a lot.

What particularly annoys me is you pay a lot these days for two-by-fours, but have a hard time getting ones that are straight and not full of knots.  It has almost gotten to where building something from steel is cheaper than from wood. 

[barnacle]

Even more off topic than normal, but it might amuse: when I built my first car, forty years ago, it had a steel chassis frame with a plywood body covered in sheet aluminium. For obvious reasons of moisture stability, I used marine ply.

And ended up with a car body that not only couldn't rust, but which was guaranteed for eight years against shipworm...

Neil

[BigDumbDinosaur]

barnacle wrote:

And ended up with a car body that not only couldn't rust, but which was guaranteed for eight years against shipworm...

...shipworm being a particular concern for those who habitually drive their cars into flooded underpasses. 

[Oneironaut]

I will probably need a full 4x8 sheet if I go with some kind of high quality plywood.
The goal was 1/2" thickness, but I could squeeze 3/4" if I really had to.

Budget for the wood will be $400, so I will be shopping around.