Commodore 1520 Four Color Plotter teardown  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sonnytiger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2014, 01:24:15 pm
content: This thing was pretty cool, a little cheap feeling, but cool, now if only I had a serial cable, paper and pens to actually test it haha. I suppose I could test it with just a serial cable though. Any ideas for putting one together? Maybe someone has one I can buy for cheap?Thanks for watching!

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 07:31:54 am
content: It just uses the regular Commodore DIN serial connector? I'm pretty sure I've got some of the DIN plugs lying around, I'll have a look and let you know.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 08:07:15 am
content: Quote from: rexxar on January 20, 2014, 07:31:54 amYep, commodore was useing that din cable just about everywhere, printers, disk drives, etc.. Very easy to make one if you cant find cheap somewhere. When i was kid, there was way to chain up diskdrives with those. Required small hack inside disk drive to change its device number if memory serves...

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 09:01:44 am
content: Ahh, my first output device was a 1520. I don't actually remember WHAT I output, probably some BASIC program listings, slowly, on narrow paper. I do remember writing somebody a letter and printing it on the plotter.Think I replaced it with the then ubiquitous Panasonic KX-P1091 (hmm, I think there were some rebadged ones of the same... damned if I can remember now) and a parallel adapter. Many signs, banners and greeting cards were printed from Broderbund Print Shop thereafter. Memories.

author: sonnytiger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 05:00:39 pm
content: It's cool if you have one and don't live too far away, yeah i remember reading about having to change device numbers, good stuff hacking is.I used to have a dot matrix printer I got from my ex-girlfriend that was very similar to the Panasonic KX-P1091 you speak of, it had a bunch of options and LEDs on the front (font, quality, etc.). Now that I think about it, I don't know if I want to throw some money at a serial cable, considering I don't have any pens or paper. Unless the cable is offered to me at a very good price.

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 07:20:39 am
content: I couldn't find those DIN connectors, but I do have a serial cable I could send you. Also a bunch of C64 gear I'd like to see the back of...You're in Canada, so I'm not sure it's even worth the shipping from the US. Looks like it'd be at least $5, might be better off getting one from ebay.

author: sonnytiger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 08:28:32 pm
content: Nah I couldn't find anything remotely reasonable on eBay, I'd be willing to send five bucks your way, though I can only assume you want a little something for yourself.

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:20:29 am
content: Quote from: sonnytiger on January 21, 2014, 08:28:32 pmPM sent.I don't know if you'll ever find pens for it, certainly not ones that work. Just a thought though, maybe you could 3D print some sort of barrel you could put regular ballpoint pens in. Sort of like LED standoffs with a hole that fits the shank of the pen tip? Of course, you'd have to cut the ink reservoir down, and it might leak...

author: wilheldp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:34:41 am
content: Quote from: rexxar on January 22, 2014, 12:20:29 amYou might be able to extract a shorter ink reservoir and ball point out of a novelty pen, such as...http://www.chinawholesalegift.com/Office-Stationery-Gifts/Pen/novelty-pen/Novelty-pen-with-light-21063897/

author: sonnytiger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:49:40 am
content: I was quite worried about getting pens for it, any suggestions for replacements are welcome. I will try something, once I can confirm it actually works (thanks rexxar!)

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 01:33:13 am
content: According to this thread:http://www.commodore128.org/index.php?topic=1405.0The original pen case was 5mm in diameter. I've got a regular ballpoint here with a (roughly) 5mm diameter shank. You still have to deal with the issue of cutting the reservoir and the ink leaking everywhere. Hm. I'll think on this a bit...I'd try the Lemon64 fourm, if anyone knows where to find these pens, they'd probably be hanging out there.http://www.lemon64.com/

author: sonnytiger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 03:09:26 pm
content: okay will do. I could possibly melt the end of the cut off ink reservoir?

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 05:45:01 am
content: Quote from: sonnytiger on January 22, 2014, 03:09:26 pmIf you completely sealed it off, a bit of the ink would get used, then it'd form a vacuum, and no more ink would come out. I wonder if you could poke a pinhole in the side to let air in? I'm thinking the ink is viscous enough that it wouldn't want to come out.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 05:58:40 am
content: The ink that was in those was similar to what you find in a "uniball" pen very watery. If you had a pen it would be interesting to drill a hole in the side and see if it has felt in it. If so you may be able to inject and cork it.Try folding down one of the switches while powering it up. It may have a self test.

author: sonnytiger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 11:26:32 am
content: Right didn't think of that ahah, I will try holding down one of the switches though, thanks for the suggestions!

author: CJWarlock
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 05:47:42 pm
content: Quote from: sonnytiger on January 19, 2014, 01:24:15 pmThanks for the video! It was very interesting for me. I'm a Commodore 64 user and fan and I didn't remember a plotter from Commodore. Thanks for reminding that such device existed.The "cheap" feeling may be actually not 100% valid. Of course the economic factor was important in Commodore. However, that's the style these devices were buit - with repair process in consideration. Pelase notice that the wide PCB, nicely spaced parts spread, voltage regulators' mount and the use of connectors for ribbon cables make repairs easier. That's the construction style of the 80's for devices that had to be repairable. I've seen some other repairable electronic devices from these times (let's say medium class electronics, produced in Germany, Poland, and other European countries) - their electronic construction looked similar to that of the Commodore plotter. I guess that was the standard technical thinking behind such equipment.As for the DIN serial cable I see you've already got an answer from other user.The barrel to hold pens - I think the 3D printing option as proposed by Rexxar would be the easiest solution.Keep up with the Commodore!(As the song in the commercial said "Are you keeping up with the Commodore? Cause the Commodore is keeping up with you.")

author: sonnytiger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2014, 12:43:25 am
content: Cool! Yeah i would have never have guessed that was the deal with the feeling, just based that off of my limited experience in the 2010s haha.I would definitely love to get that thing up and running.I will keep on commodoring! I love old computer tech.