HP-25C Eumulator
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11-14-2014, 02:01 PM
Post: #67
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RE: HP-25C Eumulator
Apologies to Neil again. I am still waiting for the additional buttons before I can mail your kit. After two weeks wait my supplier from HK sent me wrong buttons so it will take a bit more time. I did try to procure locally at higher cost but my local shop (newark.com) only carry black color buttons.
Also I over-charged the shipping. For Europe it's more like $8.00 and for US it's like $5.00, Canada $3. Before I was using small boxes (that I re-cycle from some on-line orders) and the shippings were pricer. Now I ship w/ padded envelops and they fits in a "light-packet" category (being thinner than 2cm) and thus cost less. I will just pocket the "tips" for other projects (say a HP-41) then . If I have to ship again I will adjust the cost for you. (11-14-2014 11:58 AM)SlideRule Wrote: I'm looking into fabricating a case w/ covers. Hope for success. Thanks again for a marvelous project!I was thinking of creating a very simple "sleeve" for it. I.e. kind of slide out, flip-over, slide back in type, like a modern TI-108. I want to show off the circuitry while in use but have some protection on the back. It would be a good project for a 3D print, except I don't have a 3D printer really nice and simple calculator, scroll down on this link to see the case. (11-13-2014 07:58 PM)Mark Hardman Wrote: My NP-25C arrived in perfect condition yesterday. I immediately entered the Moon Landing Simulator--which ran without issue. I had not realized how small this marvel is. It is slightly narrower than a credit card. The keys have very good tactile feedback with a nice accurate snap to them.Thanks for your excellent picture and mini review, it's good to see it along w/ the original calculators it tries to emulate. (11-13-2014 07:58 PM)Mark Hardman Wrote: I was thinking of creating some sort of overlay for the three emulated models. But, the keyboard is small. I strongly feel that the pure minimalist design should not be touched. Besides, after a few minutes of use, the old keystrokes lodged in the deep structures of my brain take over and I don't even need to look at the keyboard.Plastic sheet overlays w/ cut-outs would be ideal, yet like you said, the unit is quite small and it will be difficult to do. (11-13-2014 07:58 PM)Mark Hardman Wrote: Chris, this is an amazing little creation. I would encourage you to pursue its commercial potential: Either as a miniaturized version of the original collectibles (similar to the SwissMicros DM versions of the Voyagers); or as a processor replacement for the large number of damaged ACTs inside Coconuts.I guess such a product is possible in a hobbyist marketplace. I am actually planning to sell my other emulator (TI DataMath) on an electronic marketplace (tindie.com). The DataMath is easier to manage and I am more confident to offer it as a kit. At same size but w/ fewer buttons and only basic functions, it's a better "toy" than the NP-25. It's more finger friendly and the no-RPN nature is more comfortable to most. I have both units sitting on my desk and the "go-to" calculator is the DataMath. For the NP-25, I am somehow reluctant to offer it as a kit at the moment, although I think I have the most simple design possible, it has one more chip and way more buttons and require components on both side of the PCB. I worry the kits would have less successful build rate. I would keep it as it is now and may be order another batch of 10 PCBs (w/ better silkscreen) for another round mini "group-buy" if there are more wants. For a brain transplant design, a couple of members had asked for the h/w design, so hopefully we will see something in the future. If you have my PCB and an old unit, may be you can gauge-fit it and see what kind of approach is needed. LED brightness, PCB sizing, plan / sketch-up key placements. I am curious on whether the LEDs are the same size (so will be possible to use new LEDs). I am always happy to advised / help if someone take the lead. I looked at the "DM"s and they are quite interesting. Except I would want to have the 7 segments back. I guess you will have to make a compromise as they are not common parts anywhere. I would really like to do a HP-41 and again the LCD is the biggest problem. Using a graphic module to "pretend" the 14 segments doesn't look right to me, but may be the only solution (except to shell out $1-2k for custom LCDs). |
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