G'day,
I have a ThornEMI Datatech 9800 9-track tape drive.
Has anyone a user- or service-manual or a description how to load a tape?
This drive can load the 7" 9-track tape reels and has an industrial interface with edge-connectors P1 and P2.
Thanks in advance
Lothar
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Pierre
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Oh right, that's an important piece haha. I imagine fusing that Arduino
project mentioned earlier in the thread with an SPI RAM chip and little
extra firmware should be able to grab any length of tape one may have.
--
Anders Nelson
On Sun, Apr 13, 2025, 4:59 PM Mike Katz <bitwiz(a)12bitsbest.com> wrote:
> Plus the circuit and software to operate it and convert the data to serial
> or USB CID.
>
> On Apr 13, 2025 3:10 PM, Anders Nelson via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
> wrote:
>
> Here's a super cheap reader assembly you could bolt to a board, then hang
> your supply reel from a bolt stuck in it if you're looking for the lowest
> cost option:
>
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/224491588288
> --
> Anders Nelson
>
> On Sun, Apr 13, 2025, 6:49 AM Martin Bishop via cctalk <
> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> > The Sanyo Denki readers I have known use sprocket wheel feed, an
> > additional means of damaging tapes.
> >
> > The Fanuc readers use a friction pinch, "rubber on steel", so they can't
> > "saw" the tapes.
> >
> > Perhaps a consideration - if one has a choice
> >
> > Martin
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Chuck Guzis via cctalk [mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org]
> > Sent: 13 April 2025 02:18
> > To: Ethan Dicks via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
> > Cc: Chuck Guzis <cclist(a)sydex.com>
> > Subject: [cctalk] Re: Paper Tape Reader Needed
> >
> > My PT reader is a Sanyo Denki, from a piece of CNC gear. (Bitsavers has
> > some docs on those), Added a +5/+24 power suppy and a STM32 "Blue Pill"
> > MCU interfacing as a USB communications device.
> >
> > Easy peasy and woks a treat.
> >
> > --Chuck
> >
>
>
>
Folks
The jpg I posted previously https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/Pic16F13145FanucInterfac… says it all cryptically
To unpack the approach:
- ex CNC machine paper tape readers are available, the Fanuc ones are both common and susceptable to house training
- so 1) is buy a fanuc PTR + interface : part nos and current picks below
- the required supplies are 200 V 50/60 Hz ~23W, 24V DC at ~1A2, 5V DC ~325 mA
- the Fanuc interface board is https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/A20B-0007-075D_Ptr_Inter… series 74 TTL IO
- my interface bodgit uses a PIC16F13145 EVB as it has 5V IO (which is just the thing for series 74) and some CLBs (a joke, but you have to walk the ground)
- so 2) you need a https://www.microchip.com/en-us/development-tool/ev06m52a to convert parallel octets into serial output
- the interconnect board is connectors and wiring, the one illustrated is built for ease rather than compactness
- so 3) DIY time, [DrB] the wire list for marrying PTR and PIC[DrB] is in the .zip
- a project archive for the PIC containing sources and binary is available for download
https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/FanucInterFace1.zip should contain working code for MPLAB/X
- my Fanuc zoo https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/visualise.php depicts the interconnect board
https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/Pic16F13145FanucInterfac…https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/Pic16F13145FanucInterfac…
FWIW I usually use a Zynq to interface PTRs, this design was an exploration of the 16F13145's capabilities, serendipitously providing a "uart" on an EVB solution
The PTRs run the capstan continuously, the pinch roller is engaged by the centre off switch on the front panel: Manual - feeds tape, but does not assert DataValid; Auto - feeds tape and asserts DataValid. The PIC outputs octets when DataValid is asserted. The pinch roller is engaged when Auto or Manual is selected. The Brake Clamp is engaged when the NO foot pedal is closed. The PT feed is friction, the reader is opto with LED illumination.
The A02B-0047-C061 is compact https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/A02B-0047-C061_Ptr_Front…, but may not come with a Fanuc interface card A20B-007-075D https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/A20B-0007-075D_Ptr_Inter… (which you will need).
The A13B-0070-B001 is a 6U 19" rack panel https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/A13B-0070-B001_Ptr_Bin_F… typically the interface card is attached to this panel
So, picks from eBay.com are:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/126851010269https://www.ebay.com/itm/393980423195 although I have no idea if the PSU is any more than an ornament
https://www.ebay.com/itm/233194641467 or https://www.ebay.com/itm/304005388602 plus https://www.ebay.com/itm/184870581852 or https://www.ebay.com/itm/293557099779
or with a diy panel https://www.ebay.com/itm/224491588288
etc etc
More than one set of bits may be required to eliminate squeaks, but the simple PTRs usu seem to work
Also,
https://www.ebay.com/itm/150974081687 is RtR and uses the same IO interface card as its lesser siblings - I'm (still) reverse engineering the push button and remote logic which is for CNC Gcode use cases
https://www.ebay.com/itm/167311496458 is 2nd generation RtR and I have yet to make mine work ...; item zero is stw a (mechanically damaged) AC PSU ...
HtH, Fanuc also made a PPR Punch Printer Reader with a serial (usu 4800) baud interface https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405256535393
This cookery makes serviceable PTRs out of inexpensive pre used readers - ten times cheaper than a PPR ?
And of course my wiring sheet tells you how to hook up to your favorite hardware - game on ?
Martin
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Katz [mailto:bitwiz@12bitsbest.com]
Sent: 11 April 2025 15:59
To: Martin Bishop <mjd.bishop(a)emeritus-solutions.com>
Subject: Re: [cctalk] Paper Tape Reader Needed
I'm intrigued...
On 4/11/2025 5:54 AM, Martin Bishop wrote:
> Mike
>
> If a clone of https://www.emeritus-solutions.com/papertape/fanuc/Pic16F13145FanucInterfac… would solve your problem I'm happy to share the cookery.
>
> With 60 Hz AC 300cps to a serial port (USB C); the 1/4" jack is for a foot pedal "hold".
>
> For US sources of readers see eg : https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=fanuc+tape+reader - $50 to $3000 for the same thing ...
>
> Martin
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Katz via cctalk [mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org]
> Sent: 10 April 2025 17:10
> To: Tony Duell via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
> Cc: Mike Katz <bitwiz(a)12bitsbest.com>
> Subject: [cctalk] Paper Tape Reader Needed
>
> I have acquired a bunch of PDP-8 and PDP-12 paper tapes and I need a reader so that I can archive them.
>
> Does anyone have a serial (RS-232) or USB reader or reader/punch that needs a good home or can be purchased for a reasonable price?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mike
> bitwiz(a)12bitsbest.com
At 12:39 PM 4/9/2025, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
>I'll continue to play with it but my initial reactions still stand.
>No sign of intelligence and not ready for prime-time.
What did you ask it to do? Exactly, I mean? When it didn't give you
the answer you wanted, what did you say next?
It would not surprise me if comp-sci departments now offer a major
in writing GPT queries.
Today's AI wranglers might be writing queries that range from a few
words to a many pages of text. They're also having a conversation
with it to refine their query. It's more than google.com circa 2005.
Many of us spent years learning how to get better results from Google
more often, after all.
I don't have a problem with skepticism about it. Call it a parlor trick
all day long, tell me it's not *truly* intelligent, but you should also
examine it enough to get to the point where you'll say "that's truly an
amazing and perhaps sometimes very useful parlor trick."
- John
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