KIM-1 restoration advice sought

From: Ross Archer <archer_at_topnow.com>
Date: Mon Jan 22 22:20:03 2001

Joe,

Thanks for the offer, but unfortunately I don't think it has anything like
standard parts. Everything about it looks custom-molded to fit the
unusual key shape (curved keytops with painted legends and smoothly-
rounded key edges), unusual key layout (slide switch + two independent
buttons and 3 x 7 matrix of scanned buttons).

The way it's put together suggests to me a very well-designed custom
keypad that would only make sense if sold in the thousands.

Of course, as always, I could be wrong. :)


-- Ross




Joe wrote:

> Ross,
>
> What kind of keys does it use? The Motorola and Intel SBCS use
> individual square switches and square keytops and the whole thing is only
> about 1/2" high. I found a small supply of new ones in a surplus store
> here. If your KIM uses the same ones I see how many are left and get them
> for you.
>
> Joe
>
> At 07:25 PM 1/17/01 -0800, you wrote:
> >I have a partially-functional KIM-1 (date code 0378) I'd like to
> >restore.
> >(And if anyone has one in good condition to sell, I'm also interested.)
> >
> >Currently, there are two things wrong, and I'm looking for general
> >advice on what if anything can be done to fix them:
> >
> >1. The keypad is pretty flakey. Several keys register erratically,
> >and when they do, they bounce and report multiple times.
> >The '0' key is particularly bad in this respect.
> >The 'PC' key is utterly caved in. But all but the PC key
> >registers in with varying degrees of retries and effort.
> >
> >I'm handy with soldering, and could remove the keypad, but
> >don't have any idea how to clean / fix a keypad, let alone repair
> >any broken springs, contacts, etc. Can it even be done? Has
> >anyone here even seen the inside of one of these?
> >
> >2. The cassette interface doesn't read. It writes fine, the +12 supply
> >is
> >showing up where it's expected (pin 8 of LM311) and +11-ish on the
> >565 PLL, but I have no idea what the "normal" voltages on each pin
> >are to assist in further troubleshooting. All I'm sure about is that
> >the
> >output of the LM311 is not anything like what's expected, and the
> >trimpot doesn't affect the PLL frequency one iota according to my scope.
> >
> >Any thoughts on how to tell what section is bad?
> >
> >Thanks for any ideas out there.
> >
> >In the meantime, I am thinking of wiring an outboard keypad and hooking
> >it
> >to the application connector. Hand-wired, of course. Where else would
> >you find a 3x7 matrix?
> >
> >.
> >
> >
> >
> >
Received on Mon Jan 22 2001 - 22:20:03 GMT