Science Of Cambridge MK14 Replica build

[rubber_jonnie]

A very long time ago, I had an original MK14, complete with books and stuff that a friend gave to me.

It was non-functional and I ended up selling it at a time when money was tight. I wish I hadn't, but that's just the way it goes sometimes, and I didn't have the skills to fix it back then.

So when this came up, I was very happy to see it:

MK14.jpg (44.39 KiB) Viewed 1277 times

Sure, it's a replica and there are differences, but it fits the bill of 'a computer I owned or wanted when I was younger'.

It'll be a fun project to build and I'm looking forward to getting into it

More on this when it arrives.

[HigashiJun]

Another interesting thread begins !

[rubber_jonnie]

Another interesting thread begins !

I also need to build the 610 expansion board for my OSI 600D, so there's plenty coming

I should also get back to my Epson HX-20, that's going to be a tough one as info is very limited.

Looking forward to your X68000 thread

[HigashiJun]

I also need to build the 610 expansion board for my OSI 600D, so there's plenty coming

I should also get back to my Epson HX-20, that's going to be a tough one as info is very limited.

[rubber_jonnie]

Well, some bits arrived this morning

The bare board (Please ignore the test fitted reset switch!!!):

IMG20240713113841.jpg (495.84 KiB) Viewed 1163 times

And the reset switch and keypad:

IMG20240713132019.jpg (226.22 KiB) Viewed 1163 times

So next I need to start a project box for all the other components and see what I need to get ordered

[rubber_jonnie]

Well I started the project box for this today, and rapidly emptied it because I couldn't resist the build!!!

Here is the progress so far:

IMG20240714175207.jpg (292.91 KiB) Viewed 1126 times

And with the keypad sitting in place:

IMG20240714175253.jpg (271.37 KiB) Viewed 1126 times

I had probably about 70% of the BoM in stock, which was nice, but not sure how in the heck I'd run out of 14 pin DIP sockets!!! Also annoying is that in all my bags and boxes of resistors, I still had some I had to order!

What's missing are things like the RAM, CPU and IO chip, and they are really expensive on eBay, so will take a look on Ali Express, see if I can get a better price (And risk the fakes!!!)

I need the LED display too, but managed to get a set of pre-programmed PROMs with the O/S installed, which is handy as my TL866 won't program them.

It's coming together nicely.

[stephen_usher]

It's all too easy to run out of 14 pin sockets! So many chips use them.

Looks like a fun little project once you can get the rare items.

The only thing I can remember bout the MK14 was the attempt to type in "duck hunt" on the one in a back room of the physics lab at school.

[rubber_jonnie]

It's all too easy to run out of 14 pin sockets! So many chips use them.

Looks like a fun little project once you can get the rare items.

The only thing I can remember bout the MK14 was the attempt to type in "duck hunt" on the one in a back room of the physics lab at school.

It's true, so much stuff uses 14 pin it is easy to get through the sockets, just annoyed as I thought I'd ordered some more recently. Maybe that was 16 pin?

I'm impressed your physics lab had a MK14, my school had nothing until we got a single Apple II. I did a lot of BASIC on that though.

[stephen_usher]

I'm impressed your physics lab had a MK14, my school had nothing until we got a single Apple II. I did a lot of BASIC on that though.

I'm not sure but it could have been owned by one of the teachers, possibly the same one who pre-ordered a ZX Spectrum and hence had a grey key Issue 1.

[rubber_jonnie]

I'm impressed your physics lab had a MK14, my school had nothing until we got a single Apple II. I did a lot of BASIC on that though.

I'm not sure but it could have been owned by one of the teachers, possibly the same one who pre-ordered a ZX Spectrum and hence had a grey key Issue 1.

Wow, haven't seen a grey keyed Speccy in a very long time, nice. He sounds like the sort of person who'd have a MK14 as well