Dumpster diving save VFD - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Miti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 10:37:22 am
content: Another dumpster diving save of some… gorgeous … 4x20 VFDs. I like VFDs a lot.Now I have to find the perfect filter for it. And an application.Miti

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 10:54:23 am
content: Wow, looks impressive!Never seen a 4x20 characters of a 7x5 VFD matrix dots before. From what device was it recovered?

author: Miti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 11:05:30 am
content: Quote from: RoGeorge on April 29, 2024, 10:54:23 amDon’t know what it was. Check Noritake site.https://www.noritake-elec.com/products/vfd-display-module/built-controller-vfd

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 12:37:17 pm
content: I managed to save a load of 112x16 graphical Noritake VFDs from one of my former employers, they were all about to be scrapped. Several have made their way into projects I've created.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 02:45:35 pm
content: I see a lot of wires, does this module have a serial port? Some of them have a small 3 pin header on the board for serial. I think it even breaks out to the parallel header

author: Miti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 04:30:49 pm
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on April 29, 2024, 02:45:35 pmThis is 3 lines serial module, but you need to supply 5V, 36V, GND, filament supply.So what you see there is exactly that, 5 wires going to Arduino and the supplies to the module itself.Cheers,Miti

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 06:43:53 pm
content: Ah makes sense, I have a 4x40 module that's 5V only, it generates what it needs from that.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 06:46:10 pm
content: Quote from: RoGeorge on April 29, 2024, 10:54:23 amI'm thinking payphone. The last generation ones with the texting feature.

author: Miti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 10:43:22 am
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on April 29, 2024, 06:46:10 pmNo, no, no, they are current production, brand new modules.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 10:47:22 am
content: I've seen current generation industrial kit with these displays fitted. So not surprising they're in production still.More lifespan/thermally rugged than OLED, wider temperature range (OLED really does not like hot ambient if you drive it bright, VFD doesn't care), they're fairly rugged to physical abuse, and they don't go blurry and slow in subzero temperatures.But on the other hand high power consumption (makes it difficult for portable devices) and a relatively large form factor make them impractical in other ways.Fun fact, Noritake make VFDsandfine chinaware for your grandma. An interesting combination of abilities.

author: krish2487
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 12:58:46 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on April 30, 2024, 10:47:22 amIts not a stretch to imagine that the environmental requirements for both VFDs and fine chinaware are somwhat same.. :-Dlong lifespan, rugged, wide temperature range and so on..

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 01:12:09 pm
content: Yeah, here in Japan Noritake are known for various types of high grade ceramics both industrial and kitchen, and of course their VFD's, including the Korg Nutube.

author: Miti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 02:06:02 pm
content: Do you have any source for a good filter, something similar to the HP34401 front panel, dark green, about 1mm thick, good transparency? I can’t seem to find any, but I’m not known for finding things.Cheers,Miti

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 02:26:40 pm
content: Nothing that isn't available on Amazon. Grey smoked acrylic would do the trick.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2024, 11:14:00 pm
content: I bought a pack of thin (maybe 0.8 to 1 mm) plastic sheets on Amazon, various colors. I think they called them acrylic but they were more flexible like polycarbonate. Used some for contrast filters on CRT oscilloscope, as well as VFD displays. My favorite color is "rose", kind of pale pink. It makes the VFD look white, by filtering out some blue and green. Can be combined with smoke for additional contrast. I've also used colored "gel" or cello or cellophane sheets, which are very thin. This needs to go in between the VFD glass and some other durable lens like acrylic.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2024, 10:24:10 am
content: Quote from: macboy on May 06, 2024, 11:14:00 pmYeah, gel sheets are good, though you do need to combine them with a rigid sheet of something. They are available in a large range of colours too