Hello!
Someone sent me a lightpen to repair. While I was inside it, I traced the schematics and made a copy of the PCB, so now I can make more lightpens.
I think I found plastic tube similar to the original, and I will need to 3D print a tip and a back piece to hold the cable in.
Who wants one? Normally this would connect to the CPC expansion port, but I guess most people already have some stuff there. So, where would you connect it? For now I'm using the bypass connector at the back of the MotherX4, but other options are possible.
If there are enough people interested I will look into pricing and such to make a batch of these.
This is a lightpen based on the CRTC logic and so providing 1 character (mode 1) accuracy. Interestingly, the CRTC continues counting characters also in the border, so that doesn't limit you to a 40x25 area.
This lightpen does not seem to have any trigger/button mechanism. Is there another that does? What trick did they use? (as it sounds a bit annoying to have to wire the button to the joystick port, and the rest of the lightpen to the expansion port).
Also, maybe these schematics and PCB tracing should be added to the wiki page about it. The lightpen does not contain just a simple diode, there is an amplifier/filter circuit in it (I'm not entirely sure how that works, my skills in analogue electronics aren't that good).
Quote from: PulkoMandy on 12:37, 28 September 24This lightpen does not seem to have any trigger/button mechanism. Is there another that does? What trick did they use? (as it sounds a bit annoying to have to wire the button to the joystick port, and the rest of the lightpen to the expansion port).
I dont know if it helps but the lightpen(cant remember make/model) i had back in the day on my CPC came with an art package written in basic with some assembly(so was easy to change it/add features), but its trigger was pressing the space bar which would draw a white line horizontally at the vertical position of the pen and stop when it reached where the pen was on the screen.
Quote from: PulkoMandy on 12:37, 28 September 24Hello!
Someone sent me a lightpen to repair. While I was inside it, I traced the schematics and made a copy of the PCB, so now I can make more lightpens.
I think I found plastic tube similar to the original, and I will need to 3D print a tip and a back piece to hold the cable in.
Who wants one? Normally this would connect to the CPC expansion port, but I guess most people already have some stuff there. So, where would you connect it? For now I'm using the bypass connector at the back of the MotherX4, but other options are possible.
If there are enough people interested I will look into pricing and such to make a batch of these.
This is a lightpen based on the CRTC logic and so providing 1 character (mode 1) accuracy. Interestingly, the CRTC continues counting characters also in the border, so that doesn't limit you to a 40x25 area.
This lightpen does not seem to have any trigger/button mechanism. Is there another that does? What trick did they use? (as it sounds a bit annoying to have to wire the button to the joystick port, and the rest of the lightpen to the expansion port).
Also, maybe these schematics and PCB tracing should be added to the wiki page about it. The lightpen does not contain just a simple diode, there is an amplifier/filter circuit in it (I'm not entirely sure how that works, my skills in analogue electronics aren't that good).
Hi,
If you make some, I'll be interested
Quote from: PulkoMandy on 12:37, 28 September 24Normally this would connect to the CPC expansion port, but I guess most people already have some stuff there. So, where would you connect it? For now I'm using the bypass connector at the back of the MotherX4, but other options are possible.
If you are looking for a suitable connector, the Modular socket used for the Plus series' light gun port looks like a good candidate.
You would still need some sort of expansion when using the light pen with an ordinary CPC, but at least with a CPC+ you could simply plug it in.
See https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Connector:Aux_socket_(CPC_Plus_only)
I can easily fit different connectors and make different versions. So, no adapter needed :)
On 6128plus it has its own port at least. :)