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January 21, 2017 - Trouble in paradise

A project log for The Cardboard Computer - IO is my name

My goal is a 4-bit CPU using recycled cardboard substrate and Diode Transistor Logic. This is an educational platform for me.

dr-cockroachDr. Cockroach 01/21/2017 at 16:027 Comments

Ever have one of those days where nothing goes right? I have been rewiring my program counter and using a circuit that is known good by a number of sources and yet no matter what I do, I can not get it to do anything. Just sits there mocking me. Oh well, that's the price I pay for taking on this project. Never fear, I will figure it out. Transistors and diodes test good. Wiring checks out and solder joints making good contact. I will survive , I will win :-)

Discussions

Ted Yapo wrote 01/21/2017 at 16:34 point

Just move your recycling bin within view of the computer.  Being cardboard, the machine will sense the threat and start behaving properly :-)

Keep at it; I always feel a little let-down when something works the first try.

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Dr. Cockroach wrote 01/21/2017 at 19:58 point

I think that I will use a shredder as the threat ;-)

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Yann Guidon / YGDES wrote 01/22/2017 at 02:23 point

More efficient at coercing bugs out of a circuit : a 'scope :-)

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Dr. Cockroach wrote 02/01/2017 at 22:36 point

I guess I got a bit cocky when the Adder/ALU worked without error the first time :-)

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David H Haffner Sr wrote 02/01/2017 at 22:48 point

Hey Mark, its just metal and cardboard my man, don't sweat :}

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Ted Yapo wrote 02/01/2017 at 22:57 point

Still no luck?  If you can't make any traction, and want to post a schematic, I could throw it into LTspice and simulate it as a double-check.  At least then you would have narrowed it down to a possible bad part or construction error.

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Dr. Cockroach wrote 02/01/2017 at 23:22 point

Oh there is some headway :-) Just that my mind races ahead of the rest of me and I lose focus. I guess that with this project there are way too many irons in the fire. If it comes down to using LTspice then I'll yell for help :-) but I truly want to fuss and tease this a bit more on my own. I have this weekend off and plan on joining what I do have working to each other and see how well the parts will "talk" as a whole :-) Clock - pulser - fsm - decoder - data bus - dmux and then register. This should be interesting :-)

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