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The Finite State Panel

A project log for TMD-1: A Turing Machine Demonstrator

Develop a Turing machine that is simple to program and easy to understand.

michael-gardiMichael Gardi 07/29/2020 at 16:500 Comments

The Finite State Machine Panel will hold the transition table input area. In addition:

It looks like this:

As with the Tape Panel the controls have been designed specifically for this project.

Slider Switch

A slider switch will drop into the top right corner of the panel with labels RUN and STEP.  It is simply a standard miniature slider switch (Amazon: uxcell® uxcell20Pcs 2 Position 3P SPDT Panel Mount Micro Slide Switch Latching Toggle Switch) with a custom 3D shell to give it a "look" consistent with the rest of the project. Here are the parts:

Start the assembly by cutting off the two top plate mounting holes from the switch then sliding the switch into the base piece as far as it will go. You might need a bit of glue to hold it in place.

Next attach the base piece to the bottom of the console mounting piece. I used a small amount of glue to hold it firmly in place. 

Finally attach the slider to the shaft of the switch. Again apply a drop of glue to hold it in place.

Don't forget to save the C clamp (pictured in the first photo) to hold this switch in place when mounted onto the panel.

Play Button

Exactly the same is the buttons used for the Tape Panel but with a slightly different look.

Halt Lamp

Same design as the indicator lamps on the Tape Panel but with a different diffuser design.

Next Steps

When the transition table reader board PCB arrives and I've had a chance to verify the alignment of the hall effect sensors with the input areas, I'll start printing the Finite State Machine board.

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