A blog of hardware and software stuff and things by Simon Boakhttps://unimplementedtrap.com/en-gbhttps://unimplementedtrap.com/static/img/feed-thumb.pnghttps://unimplementedtrap.com/A blog of hardware and software stuff and things by Simon Boak144144https://unimplementedtrap.com/paper-tape-punch/https://unimplementedtrap.com/paper-tape-punch/<![CDATA[Options for punching data onto paper tape in 2025 are quite limited. This is my attempt at producing a simple machine to do just that.<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/punch-inside-solenoids.hcgwzF7m_a8zFB.webp"/>]]>Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/raspberry-pi-clock/https://unimplementedtrap.com/raspberry-pi-clock/<![CDATA[It's only feature still is telling the time, but it does at least have Wi-Fi now...<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/clock-new-hero.Dmqh9Kwk_1BodQf.webp"/>]]>Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/picontosh-exploring-classic-macintosh-icon-format/https://unimplementedtrap.com/picontosh-exploring-classic-macintosh-icon-format/<![CDATA[Exploring original Macintosh icon resources and turning them into a small desktop display.<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/closeup.BlDaK_zh_230a0J.webp"/>]]>Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/apple-1-with-printer-sd-storage/https://unimplementedtrap.com/apple-1-with-printer-sd-storage/<![CDATA[Wire wrapping the OG Apple with modern parts and some new additions<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/sb-a1.D1Nlk3L7_Z1USHyD.webp"/>]]>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/sb42-random-number-generator/https://unimplementedtrap.com/sb42-random-number-generator/<![CDATA[A machine that gives the impression that there is more going on inside than is actually the case: using CMOS shift registers to produce psuedo-random numbers with Nixie tube readout.<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/sb42-hero.e1nT1djO_25nTjh.webp"/>]]>Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/pidp-8-11-cabinet/https://unimplementedtrap.com/pidp-8-11-cabinet/<![CDATA[My PiDP-8 and 11 replicas are now properly mounted up in this small cabinet made from stuff I had laying around.<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/Cabinet-Thumb.yv_vTbEs_Z1fn8vA.webp"/>]]>Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/arduino-games-console-with-vfd/https://unimplementedtrap.com/arduino-games-console-with-vfd/<![CDATA[A tiny games console built around a Noritake Itron Gu20x8 vacuum fluorescent display and powered by an Arduino nano.<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/gu20x8-life.sluVWD6L_Z2m6EoY.webp"/>]]>Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/sb116-programmers-calculator/https://unimplementedtrap.com/sb116-programmers-calculator/<![CDATA[An Arduino Nano based 16-bit integer calculator designed for helping with 6502 programming projects. It can convert between binary, decimal, octal and hexadecimal and perform arithmetic and other logical operations in an RPN style.<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/SB116-Hero-thumb.z5hXfAwm_FAnqD.webp"/>]]>Sat, 10 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/sb181-74ls181-logic-operator/https://unimplementedtrap.com/sb181-74ls181-logic-operator/<![CDATA[A sort of 8-bit calculator that takes hexadecimal input and displays the results in both hexadecimal and binary. All done with 74 series logic and no microcontroller or CPU and makes for a handy companion for the 8 bit programmer…<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/sb181-thumb.BqGQVsPt_13LH7T.webp"/>]]>Sat, 03 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/mc14500b-1-bit-computer/https://unimplementedtrap.com/mc14500b-1-bit-computer/<![CDATA[I came across this weird chip a few months ago. Designed by Motorola in the 70s, its purpose is to replace the "ladder logic" relays in industrial process control so all it needs to do is make simple decisions based on whether different inputs are logic high or low. Curious to learn more, I built a small single-board CPU around it…<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/mc14500b-main.CCiM_COV_es8xy.webp"/>]]>Sat, 31 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/programmable-led-matrix-driver-without-microcontroller/https://unimplementedtrap.com/programmable-led-matrix-driver-without-microcontroller/<![CDATA[A quick weekend project to see what I could make work with the parts I had laying around. This one's been in the back of my mind for a while so it was time to give it a shot. Using some basic logic chips, 555 timer, and an old static RAM chip, I put together this circuit which can display any pattern you can fit on an 8x8 LED matrix…<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/led-matrix-900.BbfYBXfp_29hfDg.webp"/>]]>Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/box-pan-brake/https://unimplementedtrap.com/box-pan-brake/<![CDATA[I've been using the Clarke brand vice-mounted sheet metal brake for a few years now and it's been useful for various projects and handled both sheet aluminium and steel without issue. But more frequently I found myself wishing I had a real box and pan (sometimes called finger) brake for when I needed 2 folds on the same corner…<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/box-pan-brake-before-n-after.CpRYtYIV_YkJuG.webp"/>]]>Sat, 23 May 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://unimplementedtrap.com/ebd/https://unimplementedtrap.com/ebd/<![CDATA[ebd is a simple tool I wrote in Python for viewing the source of a binary file in hexadecimal. Ideal for working with 8 bit ROMs etc.<br/><img src="https://unimplementedtrap.com/_astro/ebd-short.DDCtHjUo_nN8SX.webp"/>]]>Sat, 09 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT