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New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

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stephen_usher
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by stephen_usher »

PhilC wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:16 pm @stephen_usher that does look pretty good actually. Shame about the supports though. I'm sure you'll sort it out.
Yeah, just needs to use "tree" supports I think.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:13 pm Well, the top case print overnight was a bit of a disaster.

I obviously used the "wrong type" of supports which won't come off the print without destroying it.

Secondly, I'd modified a post to allow for the 74LS145 to fit, except I'd modified the one on the opposite side of the case to the chip.

Thirdly, the spool got stuck at ~4:30am so I lost 5 hours before I found out that the print was a bit naff and it made a line on the two parts where it stopped..

Other than that(?!) it looks quite good and the cut outs for the ports and the keyboard are just right.


IMG_5077.jpeg
Looks great, I'm sure you'll get all the minutiae figured out :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by stephen_usher »

Last night I determined what was causing the red "ghosting" on the display, one of the three 74LS166 chips is bad. Swapping them around between the three sockets for the colour channels moved the issue. If I only used one chip and put it in the green channel with two of the 166s I'd get a green image, with the third chip, no image at all. More ordered from eBay.

The, hopefully, final version of the top case is printing now. Thankfully it didn't have a filament jam over night. It did have one earlier today, meaning that I've lost 45 minutes. Thankfully the plastic starvation only affected a support. The current ETA is now about 3:15pm (after starting the print at about 1:30am).
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 12:53 pm Last night I determined what was causing the red "ghosting" on the display, one of the three 74LS166 chips is bad. Swapping them around between the three sockets for the colour channels moved the issue. If I only used one chip and put it in the green channel with two of the 166s I'd get a green image, with the third chip, no image at all. More ordered from eBay.
Bad IC's or just not 'working in this system'?
stephen_usher wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 12:53 pm The, hopefully, final version of the top case is printing now. Thankfully it didn't have a filament jam over night. It did have one earlier today, meaning that I've lost 45 minutes. Thankfully the plastic starvation only affected a support. The current ETA is now about 3:15pm (after starting the print at about 1:30am).
Sounds like you have light at the end of the tunnel :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by stephen_usher »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 1:46 pm
stephen_usher wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 12:53 pm Last night I determined what was causing the red "ghosting" on the display, one of the three 74LS166 chips is bad. Swapping them around between the three sockets for the colour channels moved the issue. If I only used one chip and put it in the green channel with two of the 166s I'd get a green image, with the third chip, no image at all. More ordered from eBay.
Bad IC's or just not 'working in this system'?
Definitely a bad IC. The behaviour changes with temperature. The other 74LS166 chips behave normally and don't have a temperature sensitivity.
stephen_usher wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 12:53 pm The, hopefully, final version of the top case is printing now. Thankfully it didn't have a filament jam over night. It did have one earlier today, meaning that I've lost 45 minutes. Thankfully the plastic starvation only affected a support. The current ETA is now about 3:15pm (after starting the print at about 1:30am).
Sounds like you have light at the end of the tunnel :)
Yeah. :crossed1:
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2026 1:53 pm
Definitely a bad IC. The behaviour changes with temperature. The other 74LS166 chips behave normally and don't have a temperature sensitivity.
Fair enough, it happens.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by stephen_usher »

The case is finished! Phew!

IMG_5084.jpeg
IMG_5084.jpeg (167.58 KiB) Viewed 572 times
IMG_5083.jpeg
IMG_5083.jpeg (84.97 KiB) Viewed 572 times
IMG_5081.jpeg
IMG_5081.jpeg (214.95 KiB) Viewed 572 times

I've also published it on Thingiverse just in case anyone else wants to print it: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7336456

I don't want to do another large 3D printing project such as this again.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Looks great :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by HigashiJun »

:bravo:
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stephen_usher
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Re: New project: Repro Camputers Lynx

Post by stephen_usher »

I just realised that the Xgecu T48 could test the 74LS166...

74LS166-test.jpg
74LS166-test.jpg (101.84 KiB) Viewed 545 times

It's dead Jim! :-)
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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