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Post by mountaingoat on Aug 25, 2015 19:31:24 GMT -5
I wanted to build a lightpen using the well known instructions that you can find here: www.playvectrex.com/vectech/mvlp/mvlp_f.htmThe problem was that I could not find the specific photo transistor that is listed in the parts. I am happy to report that I found a replacement that works just fine and this one is available right now. I got them from Amazon, they are Everlight PT334-6C - www.everlight.com/file/ProductFile/PT334-6C.pdfI did not have any 2N4401-s on hand either, so I used a 2N3904 instead and they work as well. The Schmitt trigger NAND chip is still readily available so I just got those. Here is the completed circuit - I hope I will be able to stuff it in the marker case:  The description says that the pen is supposed to generate a negative edge when it sees light - tested it with a flashlight and also on the Vectrex itself - the scope showed promising results:  The pen works, here it is with Art Master - sorry about the terrible graphics and picture :  If you guys want to build one and have any questions, just post here and I'll try to help. |
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Post by cNp on Aug 26, 2015 2:19:44 GMT -5
Great stuff, thanks for sharing!
cNp
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Post by Rapetou33 on Aug 26, 2015 3:57:43 GMT -5
Thanks a lot!
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Post by VectorX on Aug 26, 2015 9:24:32 GMT -5
The pen works, here it is with Art Master - sorry about the terrible graphics and picture : Oh well, it looks like it's about on par with trying to do anything with Microsoft Paint (but it's automatically cooler 'cuz it's on a Vectrex). |
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Post by Rapetou33 on Sept 3, 2015 10:24:44 GMT -5
Thank you very much for this information !
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Post by mountaingoat on Oct 25, 2015 13:24:47 GMT -5
Finally found an enclosure for the lightpen. The board was just a tiny bit too large to fit in the "standard" marker so I had to look more. Found the "Sharpie King Size" tube big enough - here is the finished lightpen. Made a label by printing a Vectrex logo on sticker paper.  Here is the link to the King Size Shaprie markers - in case someone wants to build one: www.sharpie.com/en-NZ/sharpie-king-size%E2%84%A2-permanent-marker |
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Post by kokovec on Oct 25, 2015 19:12:52 GMT -5
Nice!
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Post by gliptitude on Oct 25, 2015 22:01:58 GMT -5
Finally found an enclosure for the lightpen. The board was just a tiny bit too large to fit in the "standard" marker so I had to look more. Found the "Sharpie King Size" tube big enough - here is the finished lightpen. Made a label by printing a Vectrex logo on sticker paper. Looks cool. Is that big size comfortable enough in your hand to use? Have you played with it much yet? Your post reminded me how much fun I've had with Art Master in the past, and I think I might do some animations tonight! |
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Post by 50tbrd on Oct 26, 2015 3:28:39 GMT -5
Looks pretty good. The King Size tube might be a better solution for a Light Pen with integrated buttons as well.
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Post by mountaingoat on Oct 26, 2015 5:47:36 GMT -5
The big tube is 0.84 inches in diameter - 21 mm and the regular marker is 0.72 - 18 mm. Even the big one seems to fit nicely in the hand.
Because the big tube does not get narrower towards the tip, the circuit can be pushed pretty far up so a button could definitely fit at the end.
The tip was just a tiny bit too small for the transistor I used, so I had to drill it out to have the transistor fit through the hole. I would have had to do the same with the "standard" marker as well.
One word of caution is that the king size sharpie is (not surprisingly) a permanent marker so one must be more careful placing the innards after disassembly to not leave marks on tables etc. :-)
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Post by vtk on Nov 7, 2015 20:06:10 GMT -5
thank you MG, i think this is something i might attempt  |
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Post by gauze on Mar 5, 2017 0:42:31 GMT -5
hey guys, quick one: what methods would you suggest for doing the cut aways so a genesis plug fits in a vectrex? been slowly scraping away a little at a time with a single edged razor. ponderous, man.  |
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Post by 50tbrd on Mar 5, 2017 13:09:12 GMT -5
Belt sander, dremel, soldering iron.
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Post by gauze on Mar 5, 2017 15:12:39 GMT -5
soldering iron sounds terrible! I have a dremel what tip would you suggest?
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Post by 50tbrd on Mar 5, 2017 16:27:29 GMT -5
Cut-off wheel maybe a Sanding drum.
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