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Replic'Oric Project
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Manoel
Apr 9, 2014, 7:18:16 AM4/9/14
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Hi everyone,
Those who follow the Defence-Force forum or the CEO forum are already aware of this project, but I now that some people only read about oric on this news group so for you, I will give you here some information on the project I've started a few weeks ago: Replic'Oric.
But what is Replic'Oric? Replic'Oric is an Oric Replica with two version and this project have a few goals:
- The first goal is to provide a fully useable Oric Schematics as the only know schematics is an old scan from originals paper from Oric International and some part are barely readable or some components does tell their part number. (I.E. IC21 which is a 74LS04)
- The schematics will also include all known official reworks found in the service manual and on Oric from Oric France (buffer on Phi2, Diodes on tape signals.., +5V for SCART connector)
- The second goal is to provide replacement PCB for broken Oric. Thoses PCB will of course have a similar layout of the official one, especially on the connectors position, but I will try to keep major components positions and orientation
And there will be at least two version for the replica
- The first version will be a fully vanilla one is to get a standard replica where all original components could be soldered and get a fully functional Oric.
- The second version will be a more "modern" version of the Oric removing the need of the ULA and most of the TTL chips and use a CPLD (or FPGA) to replace them, the 6502, VIA, PSG will of course be the same. This version will of course keep all the standard connectors, and may why not include all the StratoCumulus enhancement.
The roadmap is as follow:
End of this week or next week: The schematics should be finished followed by a verification that everything is OK => The "new" schematic will be released
End of May: The PCB layout should be done => release of the PCB layout
June-July: A batch of PCB could be done (10 pieces will cost around $10/PCB, 30 pieces will be around $7, VAT and delivery excluded)
End of this year: Depending on the difficulty of sourcing components, fully functional replica PCB could be made and sold (price unknown as it will really depends on components prices)
One problem on the "fully functional replica" is provisioning in ULA. But the more problematic is the ROM as there is still copyright on it. I may need to deliver without ROM or a Free one that will not be an Oric ROM. Or try to get official authorisation to distribute physical copy of the Oric 1/Atmos ROM (Bill G. where are you? ;))
The ULA problem could be solved by an ULA replica in a CPLD with an adaptation board to fit in a DIL40.
At the same time, the StratoCumulus project will also be done in parallel, but the roadmap is still unclear for now, so I can't comment on it (and it will depends on other non Oric projects) And depending on what the Second version of the Replic'Oric will include, it may need to wait for the StratoCumulus.
Another part, is on the mechanical part. I'm absolutely not an expert on this, and the most complex part will be the Keyboard, I think it's almost impossible now to build a copy of the Oric keyboard, and plastic mould cost really a lot and I don't know what's happen to Tangerine mould but I suspect they were trashed.. I really don't know if making a replica case could be possible in the current situation.
--
The schematic capture is done! I will now verify that there is no missing net or component (but I doubt) and already start to place component on the pcb!
The work Tangerine made on the pcb layout is not that bad for a hand drawn pcb (there were no cad software a that time) as the component are really packed. There are a few possible improvement, but this is not the goal for this step.
The version will be issue 6 that include all know official rework including the one from Oric International on tape input and the 5V for RGB output. I use a compatible DIN connector so existing cable should work.
The component placement should be really similar to the issue 4. There could be small adjustment as i don't need precise placement for chip, only the connector and hole will be at the exact same place (and NMI button and speaker)
One last thing, to accommodate with more easy to find 20cm x 15cm pcb panel, the pcb will be 0.5cm less on the large side (the two screw hole may be a bit cut, but that's not a real problem.)
--
For the current status, the schematics is close to be finished, and the PCB layout had started. Most of the current problem are around support for VSync and some component placement, especially the HP and output connector, they need to be at the correct place to match original cases.
You will find more information on my onw blog:
http://www.986-studio.com/category/retro-computing/oric/
Or on the Defence Force forum:
http://forum.defence-force.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1063
Manoel / Godzil
Those who follow the Defence-Force forum or the CEO forum are already aware of this project, but I now that some people only read about oric on this news group so for you, I will give you here some information on the project I've started a few weeks ago: Replic'Oric.
But what is Replic'Oric? Replic'Oric is an Oric Replica with two version and this project have a few goals:
- The first goal is to provide a fully useable Oric Schematics as the only know schematics is an old scan from originals paper from Oric International and some part are barely readable or some components does tell their part number. (I.E. IC21 which is a 74LS04)
- The schematics will also include all known official reworks found in the service manual and on Oric from Oric France (buffer on Phi2, Diodes on tape signals.., +5V for SCART connector)
- The second goal is to provide replacement PCB for broken Oric. Thoses PCB will of course have a similar layout of the official one, especially on the connectors position, but I will try to keep major components positions and orientation
And there will be at least two version for the replica
- The first version will be a fully vanilla one is to get a standard replica where all original components could be soldered and get a fully functional Oric.
- The second version will be a more "modern" version of the Oric removing the need of the ULA and most of the TTL chips and use a CPLD (or FPGA) to replace them, the 6502, VIA, PSG will of course be the same. This version will of course keep all the standard connectors, and may why not include all the StratoCumulus enhancement.
The roadmap is as follow:
End of this week or next week: The schematics should be finished followed by a verification that everything is OK => The "new" schematic will be released
End of May: The PCB layout should be done => release of the PCB layout
June-July: A batch of PCB could be done (10 pieces will cost around $10/PCB, 30 pieces will be around $7, VAT and delivery excluded)
End of this year: Depending on the difficulty of sourcing components, fully functional replica PCB could be made and sold (price unknown as it will really depends on components prices)
One problem on the "fully functional replica" is provisioning in ULA. But the more problematic is the ROM as there is still copyright on it. I may need to deliver without ROM or a Free one that will not be an Oric ROM. Or try to get official authorisation to distribute physical copy of the Oric 1/Atmos ROM (Bill G. where are you? ;))
The ULA problem could be solved by an ULA replica in a CPLD with an adaptation board to fit in a DIL40.
At the same time, the StratoCumulus project will also be done in parallel, but the roadmap is still unclear for now, so I can't comment on it (and it will depends on other non Oric projects) And depending on what the Second version of the Replic'Oric will include, it may need to wait for the StratoCumulus.
Another part, is on the mechanical part. I'm absolutely not an expert on this, and the most complex part will be the Keyboard, I think it's almost impossible now to build a copy of the Oric keyboard, and plastic mould cost really a lot and I don't know what's happen to Tangerine mould but I suspect they were trashed.. I really don't know if making a replica case could be possible in the current situation.
--
The schematic capture is done! I will now verify that there is no missing net or component (but I doubt) and already start to place component on the pcb!
The work Tangerine made on the pcb layout is not that bad for a hand drawn pcb (there were no cad software a that time) as the component are really packed. There are a few possible improvement, but this is not the goal for this step.
The version will be issue 6 that include all know official rework including the one from Oric International on tape input and the 5V for RGB output. I use a compatible DIN connector so existing cable should work.
The component placement should be really similar to the issue 4. There could be small adjustment as i don't need precise placement for chip, only the connector and hole will be at the exact same place (and NMI button and speaker)
One last thing, to accommodate with more easy to find 20cm x 15cm pcb panel, the pcb will be 0.5cm less on the large side (the two screw hole may be a bit cut, but that's not a real problem.)
--
For the current status, the schematics is close to be finished, and the PCB layout had started. Most of the current problem are around support for VSync and some component placement, especially the HP and output connector, they need to be at the correct place to match original cases.
You will find more information on my onw blog:
http://www.986-studio.com/category/retro-computing/oric/
Or on the Defence Force forum:
http://forum.defence-force.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1063
Manoel / Godzil
Andre Majorel
Apr 9, 2014, 5:31:18 PM4/9/14
to
On 2014-04-09, Manoel <godz...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Those who follow the Defence-Force forum or the CEO forum are
> already aware of this project, but I now that some people only
> read about oric on this news group so for you,
Thank you so much. :-D
> Those who follow the Defence-Force forum or the CEO forum are
> already aware of this project, but I now that some people only
> read about oric on this news group so for you,
> I will give you here some information on the project I've
> started a few weeks ago: Replic'Oric.
> Another part, is on the mechanical part. I'm absolutely not an
> expert on this, and the most complex part will be the
> Keyboard, I think it's almost impossible now to build a copy
> of the Oric keyboard, and plastic mould cost really a lot and
> I don't know what's happen to Tangerine mould but I suspect
> they were trashed.. I really don't know if making a replica
> case could be possible in the current situation.
The keyboard was made by Stackpole. It might have been an off-
> expert on this, and the most complex part will be the
> Keyboard, I think it's almost impossible now to build a copy
> of the Oric keyboard, and plastic mould cost really a lot and
> I don't know what's happen to Tangerine mould but I suspect
> they were trashed.. I really don't know if making a replica
> case could be possible in the current situation.
the-shelf "bed" with custom key caps.
Last I looked, Cherry (and probably others) still made
individual keys but I'm not sure if they do space bar
assemblies.
There is an insane amount of information about keyboards with
individual switches on
http://deskthority.net/
including
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Stackpole_Components
--
André Majorel http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/
Endless variations make it all seem new
Can you recognise the patterns that you find ?
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