[Coco] Proto CoCo

[Joel Ewy]

My $.02 worth would be that if there is address decoding circuitry, etc.
it should be flexible, or optional.  E.g., PLD of some sort, or at least
DIP switchable addresses.  You might also sell a bare board without the
decoding portion stuffed as an option.  For cases, I would think it
would be reasonably easy to fabricate something similar to the Disto
Super Controller cases from two pieces of sheet metal.  My dad built a
hydraulic press around an automotive jack, and made a simple 90 degree
brake for it from angle iron.  Using a setup like this one could bend
the edges of a flat rectangle of sheet metal down to form the top- or
bottom-half of a Disto-like enclosure.  Or just clamp it in a large vise
and bend.  Drill matching holes in the cover and the bottom-half to
screw them together. 
Also, the DS-69 box inspires me to try vacuum-forming project cases. 
Building your own vacuum forming box isn't too difficult, though I
haven't yet tried it.

JCE

Ries, Rich [S&FS] wrote:
> Subject: Re: 
>
>   
>>> If I was to make a quick prototype board what would people like on
>>>       
> it???
>   
>>> Decode section, wire wrap section to bus signals????
>>> Thanks,
>>> Mark
>>> Cloud-9
>>>       
>
> A decode section might be nice; definitely buffered Addr & Data lines,
> and maybe (F)IRQ & the Bus Req & Bus Ack lines. I wouldn't need a box if
> I'm doing 1-off protos, instead a couple of legs on the bottom to
> prevent the protoboard from wobbling in the socket would be needed.
> Enough room would be needed for an EEPROM, a couple of PIAs, and glue
> logic.
>
> Crazy idea #1: run the signals to a socket on the far edge of the board,
> allowing piggy-backing of projects!
>
> Crazy idea #2: have the wire-wrap legs come down in two rows, with 3/10"
> spacing between the rows. This would allow someone to plug the
> protoboard into one of those nylon prototyping boards. (Fooey! Don't
> remember the name! Must be getting old! They look like this:
>
> .o.o.o.o.o.-.... Power bus
>
> .o.o.o.o.o.o.... Each vertical group of five sockets is connected
> together,
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....  and isolated from all other sockets
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....
>
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....
> .o.o.o.o.o.o....
>
> .o.o.o.o.o.-.... Power bus
>
> --Rich
>
>