Any suggestions please for a DIY #papertape punch/reader #retrocomputing project? It seems I can't afford the kit I used at college :-(

I've already settled on reading holes read by photodiodes, pretty much.

Punching? I've considered solenoid punches, but they look to be hard work to build and set up, and LASER punching of cheap thermal paper against a metal anvil (it should blacken and burn away where it isn't backed by metal, and punching speed is not really an issue for small data sets).

Let’s Listen to a Tape — Paper Tape - These days, data is as likely as not to be “in the cloud.” Otherwise, it’s probabl... - https://hackaday.com/2023/08/03/lets-listen-to-a-tape-paper-tape/ #retrocomputing #repairhacks #papertape #teardown #fanuc

Reverse-Engineering Helps Typesetting Machine Punch Paper Tape Again - [Scott M. Baker] wants a paper tape punch for his retrocomputer collection. That’s... - https://hackaday.com/2023/07/11/reverse-engineering-helps-typesetting-machine-punch-paper-tape-again/ #reverseengineering #retrocomputing #typesetter #papertape #linotype #pld

The serial input/output looks simple enough to reverse engineer. I can see RS232 coming in on pins 2 and 3 of the DB25 but a whole bunch of other pins come in too - I need to locate the 20mA current loop pins. #retrocomputing #papertape #pdp11

Look at this 45-year-old bodge inside the tape punch. I’m glad I’m not the only one that mixes up TX and RX on my serial implementations :) #retrocomputing #bodge #papertape #pdp11

I spent the evening disassembling far enough to start on the cleaning process, and to test the power supply components. Everything looked good, so I powered it up. I can feed the tape and mechanically it appears to be working! #retrocomputing #papertape #pdp11

I have a BAI Data Products model 1230 paper tape punch/reader that is in need of restoration. I also have a PDP 11/05 that I've recently got working, which needs some input/output. I'd like to make the two talk. I can't find any documentation on this thing anywhere. Any chance someone in the Fediverse might have some leads on this thing? It appears intact (other than a missing waste bin) however some documentation would go a long way towards restoring it. #retrocomputing #retro #papertape #pdp11

@DataLorean #PaperTape on an #HP2000 mainframe! #PunchCards (very briefly). #Cassette. Then floppies (5 1/4; 3 1/2).

Some TTY ASMR as we capture ca. 1975-78 programs from paper tape #tty #bitstreamcapture #papertape #xp https://youtu.be/XY_0_Q2lkT8

You can now read your old punched paper tape through USB with self-calibration https://gadgeteer.co.za/you-can-now-read-your-old-punched-paper-tape-through-usb-with-self-calibration/

#papertape #retro #storage #technology