Front Panel (Dress Panel?) Dimensions?
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Holger Weiß
Apr 5, 2018, 3:14:45 AM4/5/18
to Altair-Duino
Hi,
I was searching the internet for a drawing of the front panel but didn't find anything. Although my version of the 8800 will be roughly half size of the original I would like to maintain the right proportions.
I tried to resemble the dimensions from the existing high res front panel pictures but again, there is no clear solution.
I would have supsected the designer of the 8800 to use some sort of grid to arrange all the LEDs and switches but whatever I try, I can't find a grid where (at least) most of the switches and LEDs fit in.
I found a website that says the front panel is 19" by 6.5" but that doesn't seem to be right.
If anyone could provide the real dimensions of the Front panel I would highly appreciate that
Thanks
Holger
(sorry for my english, I'm not a native speaker)
I was searching the internet for a drawing of the front panel but didn't find anything. Although my version of the 8800 will be roughly half size of the original I would like to maintain the right proportions.
I tried to resemble the dimensions from the existing high res front panel pictures but again, there is no clear solution.
I would have supsected the designer of the 8800 to use some sort of grid to arrange all the LEDs and switches but whatever I try, I can't find a grid where (at least) most of the switches and LEDs fit in.
I found a website that says the front panel is 19" by 6.5" but that doesn't seem to be right.
If anyone could provide the real dimensions of the Front panel I would highly appreciate that
Thanks
Holger
(sorry for my english, I'm not a native speaker)
Tom Wilson
Apr 5, 2018, 10:36:06 AM4/5/18
to Altair-Duino
I have an Altair Clone, which is supposed to be a 1:1 recreation of the real front panel. The Altairduino is about 90% full size.
I’ll try to get some measurements tonight.
I’ll try to get some measurements tonight.
Holger Weiß
Apr 5, 2018, 10:46:09 AM4/5/18
to Altair-Duino
But as long as the scale is wrong (which I suspect) this is pretty useless :-(
Tom Wilson
Apr 5, 2018, 10:53:04 AM4/5/18
to Altair-Duino
I want to say that my ‘clone’s front panel is 17 inches across.
Tom Wilson
Apr 5, 2018, 10:55:06 AM4/5/18
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Tom Wilson
Apr 5, 2018, 12:25:54 PM4/5/18
to Altair-Duino
Some more info (sorry, this is my last message until I get home)
I measured my Altair Clone's front panel when I was considering cutting a new Altairduino panel. The Clone's front panel is 17" wide and (I think) 6 3/4 tall.
Based on that size, the image above, and typical American units of measurement, here's what you should expect for spacing:
Note that these are center to center numbers for the LED and switch spacing:
5/8" between switches in octal groups (groups of 3.)
5/8" between the status LEDs (Same as Data/Address LEDs. Note A10/INT and A11/WO)
15/16" gap between octal groups
1 1/4" between the function switches (Stop/Run - Single Step - etc) (exactly twice the space between two address switches. Note AUX1/A5 and AUX2/A3)
3" between power switch and Stop/Run switch
1 7/8" from the bottom of the panel to the bottom row of switches
1 1/8" from the top of the panel to the first row of switches.
1 1/4" vertical spacing between rows of LEDs and/or switces
quick cross-check on height:
1.875 + 1.125 + 1.25*3 = 6.75. That matches up with the 6 3/4" I remember.
You will find some variation on the image above. Remember that this was designed in the early 70s, so they didn't have CAD systems, CNC mills, or laser cutters. The front panel stencil was drawn and cut out by hand, and the die for the holes was also built by hand. So measurements will be off by small amounts. The same effects can be seen over on AltairKit.com, where Grant Stockly painstakingly re-created all of the Altair's circuit boards, including re-doing and cleaning up all the stencil work on the circuit boards. (In fact, Grant might have CAD files or at least be able to give precise measurements.)
I'll re-check my measurements on my clone when I get home.
Terry Fox
Apr 5, 2018, 2:30:16 PM4/5/18
to Altair-Duino
Do you want dimensions of an actual Altair, or a clone? I have the original Altair 8800 (not B), Altair turnkey, and an Altairduino (plus an IMSAI 8080). I can get the main dimensions of any of them. My Altair 8800 front panel (less outer case lip) is 6.5 x 16.5 inches, give or take 1/8. Including the outer case lip, its about 7 inches tall by 16.75 long. The metal plate of the front panel slides into the outer case on the Altair, hence the differences in sizes. The Altairduino plastic front panel overall dimensions are 5 3/4 high by 14 11/16, (excluding the bamboo case).
Terry
Tom Lake
Apr 5, 2018, 10:04:26 PM4/5/18
to Altair-Duino
Mike Douglas' Clone is about .25" narrower than a real Altair. The height and spacing of the lights and switches is correct, however.
Holger Weiß
Apr 6, 2018, 5:51:40 AM4/6/18
to Altair-Duino
Tom,
thank you! This is very helpful. Based on your information I made this drawing:
Should be pretty close to the original.
Holger Weiß
Apr 6, 2018, 5:53:09 AM4/6/18
to Altair-Duino
Terry,
could you please check these two dimensions on your original Altair 8800?
Thank you!
could you please check these two dimensions on your original Altair 8800?
Thank you!
Terry Fox
Apr 7, 2018, 11:06:53 PM4/7/18
to Altair-Duino
The dimensions I measure for what you show are 6-7/16 high by 16-3/8 long. That’s the inside dim of the lips on the outer blue case. The front panel itself is a little larger, so it wii be captured within the outer case lip. If that makes sense!
Terry
Terry
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