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A project log for DEC Precision CRT Display Type 30 Reproduction

Obsolescence Guaranteed just released their new PiDP-1 Replica. While I wait for mine I thought I would make a 2:3 scale Type 30 Display.

michael-gardiMichael Gardi 09/24/2025 at 20:050 Comments

With the display part of the project well in hand I had to decide how far I was going to go with the reproduction. I have been leaning towards not building out the rest of the case, mainly because of the size of the Type 30 even at 2:3 scale.  Here is a side view that I found.

I estimate that at 2:3 scale the sides would be about 20 inches deep. The original was probably closer to 26 inches (and I don't even want to think about how much it must have weighed). For my reproduction this would be wasted space since there is no CRT required. I can't think of where I would be able to actually use it in my cluttered workspace. So I have decided to "chop off" the back part and make my Type 30 reproduction more like a monitor.

To that end I modelled a back plate to finish it off. 

Again wishing for a printer with a bigger build plate, the back was printed in four parts and bolted together. Thanks to a great suggestion from Glenn Babecki over on the PiDP-1 Google Group I have added reinforced holes so that a 75/100 VESA monitor stand or a wall mount could be used to support it.  I also printed a locking hinged arm (based on this design) much like a desktop photo frame that bolts onto the VESA holes.

So with the back on here is what it looks like.

I think that just reproducing the front 10% of the display provides 90+ % of the user experience. 

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