Thanks. Heh, yea, that would be quite a task making this in to a kit ... that said though, there's links to the PCB designs for the newer cards at www.relaycomputer.co.uk/pages/progress/ and I think I'll upload the Gerber files too so you could get any of the PCBs manufactured if you really wanted to make a bit of the computer.
It's nice how you've done that multi-screen edit, so that we can see everything at once without you having to wobble around with a handheld camera or anything seasick like that. :)
Thanks :) - although if I'd built my computer 'landscape' rather than 'portrait' of course I wouldn't need to do the multi-screen in the first place ;)
The current (temporary) clock is based on a 32.768KHz crystal divided down and at 32Hz the computer works fine but at 64Hz the relays start locking up. The maximum will be somewhere between those two values (if I had a variable clock) but 32Hz is quick enough.
At the moment it's running off a temporary clock board which uses a 32.768kHz crystal run through a series of 16 divide-by-2 gates (taking the clock down to 0.5Hz at the last gate). I tap off the result at the last 8 gates (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64Hz) and put that through an 8-to-1 selector which takes a 3-bit input to select one of the 8 lines - that's what the DIP switch is controlling. Previously I was using a 555 timer set up that had variable control but I wanted something that had some discrete fixed clock speeds. When I design the proper clock card I might implement both as well as having a more 'authentic' relay ring counter (which will be a fixed clock speed).
i wanna see it doing 20 decimals of pi
My new computer runs at over 4 Hertz! 😎
"You mean 4 GIGA Hertz... right?"
... "right?? ??" 😯
I want one
Sounds like a syncopated calculating tap-dancer! 😊 Wonderful device!!
Thats very cool, I absolutely love everything about your design and setup here, awesome job!
where do you get the switches?
So this is what they meant when you said to code the computer in binary, it is actually a hard switch coding.
That's really cool man
Amazing work and presentation. Available as a kit someday? Hehe just hoping!
Thanks. Heh, yea, that would be quite a task making this in to a kit ... that said though, there's links to the PCB designs for the newer cards at www.relaycomputer.co.uk/pages/progress/ and I think I'll upload the Gerber files too so you could get any of the PCBs manufactured if you really wanted to make a bit of the computer.
What kind of switches are those? I want to get some for a project I'm doing.
Do you mean the main 'paddle' switches? ... if so they're these ones: www.nkkswitches.com.hk/products/Rockers/M/M2018TYW01 with the 'H' caps.
there's a bit more on them in my blog post here www.relaycomputer.co.uk/posts/2014/07/user-interface-data-switches/
A very outstanding computer, obviously a labor of love, and the best looking relay computer ever made in my humble opinion.
It's nice how you've done that multi-screen edit, so that we can see everything at once without you having to wobble around with a handheld camera or anything seasick like that. :)
Thanks :) - although if I'd built my computer 'landscape' rather than 'portrait' of course I wouldn't need to do the multi-screen in the first place ;)
Oh this is delightful! Well done!
Sounds like an old fashioned telephone exchange. :) Great work.
I love the sound ... and the flashing lights ... but mainly the sound ;)
I love the lights, it's like the WOPR from WarGames.
That's absolutely the look I was going for :)
This is exactly how I imagined the future would look like!
Nicely done!
That amp gauge is about the only part of this that I understand.
yes
I hear Todd Howard is planning a SkyRim port
What are the small squares and text with lights behind them called? Could use them for a project of mine... Great work 💪
They're these: www.nkkswitches.com/products/illuminated-tactile/jb-series-low-profile-illuminated-tactile-switches
Perfect thank you!
I love the quasi musical beat at 8:00. Well done!
what is the highest clock frequency?
The current (temporary) clock is based on a 32.768KHz crystal divided down and at 32Hz the computer works fine but at 64Hz the relays start locking up. The maximum will be somewhere between those two values (if I had a variable clock) but 32Hz is quick enough.
Amazing! I just had a flashback to Bletchley Park. That's awesome!
Bravo! It's clear that you put a lot of work into it!
Beautiful
I don't think you should use a bell when this halts. Instead it should definitely have a mechanical buzzer.
Brilliant! Thanks for showing this. Imagine if you could travel back in time to the 19C and show this off to Charles Babbage. He'd be mighty pissed!
This is so beautifully useless. Nice work
Oh I’m sure he knew going into this that it would be supremely slow. But clickety clackety/flishity flashity!
Blinken liiiiighhtttssss.
But seriously, impressive work.
awesome work and eemo!
The content and quality of these videos is amazing. They should be used to teach CS in schools.
Definitely!!!
Why the dip switches for speed instead of a variable control?
At the moment it's running off a temporary clock board which uses a 32.768kHz crystal run through a series of 16 divide-by-2 gates (taking the clock down to 0.5Hz at the last gate). I tap off the result at the last 8 gates (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64Hz) and put that through an 8-to-1 selector which takes a 3-bit input to select one of the 8 lines - that's what the DIP switch is controlling.
Previously I was using a 555 timer set up that had variable control but I wanted something that had some discrete fixed clock speeds. When I design the proper clock card I might implement both as well as having a more 'authentic' relay ring counter (which will be a fixed clock speed).
Very impressive work, thanks for sharing it. I love being able to hear the sound of a computer doing its work.