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Post by xefned on Dec 22, 2013 22:30:36 GMT -5
If you can confirm it works and is a good setup and the rest of the components are easy enough to get, I would like one. .. If there are others relying on this for their only light pen, they should be the priority though. For me it would just be a fun project and an alternative in my collection. .. I would expect to pay for it also. I'll send you the parts along with the board.  I'll test it tommorow. I've got 4 different phototransistors with slightly different reception angles, so I'll swap them out to see what works the best. I'm thinking the phototransistor needs to extend a little closer to the opening of the sharpie. Anyone know? Is it supposed to extend to the very edge? I'll alter the PCB and re-etch if necessary. -->Never mind that. I discovered there were little plastic nubs in the sharpie nose that were catching on the lip of the phototransistor. After x-acto-ing them out, the glass lens extends to 1/8" from the opening. A very small narrowing of the pcb nose would allow it to extend all the way out the tip, if that becomes necessary. Happy holidays! |
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Post by sj on Dec 23, 2013 3:49:35 GMT -5
Brilliant!
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Post by 50tbrd on Dec 23, 2013 4:42:57 GMT -5
I am using ParaJVE.
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Post by gauze on Dec 23, 2013 8:11:16 GMT -5
what cheap photo transistor are you using in that board above?
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Post by xefned on Dec 23, 2013 12:51:44 GMT -5
Quick demo...
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Post by VECTREXER on Dec 23, 2013 14:45:11 GMT -5
The "web" pattern is comment to all light pens. Think of it as pattern used help to define track the location of the light pen. You will notice the "web" appears when you move the light pen too fast, or when the light pen sensor is little too far from the screen for a moment. |
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Post by xefned on Dec 23, 2013 19:19:54 GMT -5
Super! I'd call that a success then.
Thanks Vectrexer, VectrexMad, and Chris M (on FB) for verifying. +1 to the awesome Vectrex community for inventing, documenting, and keeping the project files available all this time.
The only thing I feel is lacking is that it's so lightweight, the coiled cable weighs it down. So I wouldn't recommend coiling the cable for the light pen.
Gauze, there are several phototransistors available that spec in the close range of the one Tony Duell specified. The exact one in the video above is:
Osram BPY 62-3/4It was the cheapest one I could find and seems to work great. Let me know if you're having trouble finding one. I can dig up the other spec sheets if you want.
The only other minor annoyance is - I had Office Depot print the design and I can see they reduced it a few percent. I etched and drilled maybe 6 boards. The slight shrinkage means I had to bend the IC pins more than I'd like to make them fit. It's overly anal but I'll probably re-etch and re-drill the boards before making any more pens. So Glip, it will delay your board a few days. I'm also making one for my friend who got me into Vectrex this year. His b-day is in Jan. Anyone wanna teach me to burn a bin to an eeprom? (PM me!) I'd love to send him a home-made Mail Plane cart to go with it. Anyone else need a home-etched PCB to build a Light Pen?
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Post by gauze on Dec 23, 2013 23:21:21 GMT -5
thanks for the part number Xefned.
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Post by VECTREXER on Dec 25, 2013 14:15:18 GMT -5
Something that Richard has done lately for the VecDump cart is to "machine" away the the copper instead of etching. He used a Roland engraver and three cutting tips remove the excess copper from the board, as well as drill holes and shape the board. Granted, you have to have the engraver to do the work. But I found the alternate method of one-off / small run board production interesting since there is no hazardous liquid to account for and dispose of afterward. Also no transparency distortions to deal with when making photo etched boards.
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Post by 50tbrd on Oct 5, 2014 17:25:52 GMT -5
Is there something wrong with your site, VECTREXER? |
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Post by VectorX on Oct 5, 2014 17:36:51 GMT -5
IS there? It works for me.
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Post by 50tbrd on Oct 5, 2014 18:53:09 GMT -5
Maybe its the same issue I have with Kristof and Martijn's websites.
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Post by Luitoine on Oct 6, 2014 2:16:10 GMT -5
The site works for me, but the countdown to CGE 2014 is now growing up, since the date is already past  |
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Post by VECTREXER on Oct 8, 2014 6:16:20 GMT -5
Maybe its the same issue I have with Kristof and Martijn's websites. What issue is that? |
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Post by 50tbrd on Oct 8, 2014 11:30:51 GMT -5
I cannot view them through Mozilla or Explorer, only through mobile on my iPhone.
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