PDP-8/A front panel

[charlesmorris at direcway.com]

>From: woodelf <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca>
>What about switches for the front panel, that is a big expense too.

There are 20 inexpensive tactile-feedback pushbuttons on the 8/A programmer's panel, not paddle switches. IIRC they were less than $1 each including the separate keytop. Vince would have the exact figure.

>>The other major ticket item for this project is the front
>>plate.  Anyone know where we can get those done inexpensively?

>What about a local machine shop?

The front panel runs $90 in single quantities from Frontpanelexpress.com. (They get cheaper in quantity too). NO way a machinist with a Bridgeport would be able to do one for that! $90 would pay for 2 hrs labor (if you're lucky) and I think it would take far longer to do each one. Not even counting the engraved, color-filled legend at each LED and switch position. All of that is done by computer-controlled machine in minutes directly from the panel design software's output file.

-Charles
ps still looking for a bootable OS/8 RL02 pack for my 8/A, can anyone please help?