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December 4, 2017 - Cell Pointer register

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 12/04/2017 at 11:072 Comments

I have been a bit slow with updates but many chores have kept me away from the IO project. Melting some solder these past few days and the Cell Pointer boards are almost wired up. I really want to get the Brainwarp instructions up and working before the end of this year :-)

December 5 and the Cell pointer register is wired up :-)

Decided to wire the power and ground buss with bare wire as well as the enable line.

After wiring this register and then another I thought that it would be best to wire up a test panel to make sure I had things right. Glad I did as the second register had a few issues. The test panel again uses house lighting switches and a micro switch is used for the enable function.

Discussions

Starhawk wrote 12/14/2017 at 00:41 point

"Chores", right. Ha! I saw what you were doing Monday, and it sure as heck wasn't raking the yard :P

That register is a lot cooler to look at IRL, BTW. I wish I could've kept the one you brought, but I could tell how much careful work went into it, so I didn't dare ask. That had to take an afternoon or two to build...

...oh, and if you want to get nitpicky -- that there is a regular ol' pushbutton switch. A microswitch is essentially a lever switch without the lever, and is the sort of switch in your mouse that gives that click noise when you left- or right-click. Here, this is a microswitch, although it uses great whacking quick-disconnect lugs instead of PC pins...

The noise they make is why microswitches are also called "snap-action" switches. Cheaper mice and such use a different clicky switch, BTW, called a "tactile" or "tact" switch. I friggin' hate 'em, because they're a hallmark of cheap-enough-to-be-truly-awful design, but I'll admit they've got their place, lousy as it is.

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Dr. Cockroach wrote 12/14/2017 at 01:28 point

Hey, I am getting older and "microswitch" was the only word that popped into my head Lol.  A 4 bit register takes about 5 hours if done all at once but I tend to drag things out for days. I think that a 4 bit register nibble can find its way to you :-)

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