New microdrive internal replacement

[Popopo]

The service manual shows the connections here:

Untitled.jpg

I guess Sinclair left it as implicit that the other end of the cable has the same pinout.

Thank you very much!

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

The Service does not really detail the microdrive and the microdrive head board.

I am looking to up this in a future update of the QL Service Manual

[Popopo]

Hi,

The Service does not really detail the microdrive and the microdrive head board.

I am looking to up this in a future update of the QL Service Manual

Hi,

Thank you for add it to the future update.
... to include it into a new manual version would be awesome and very... very helpful.

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

Just received PCBs from JCLPCB:

[Popopo]

Hi,

Just received PCBs from JCLPCB:
IMG_20231117_103333713.jpg

Why do you have this version of PCBs?
Oh!!! I guess you downloaded the previous one. They work fine, but not fit perfectly the QL.

Before soldering pay attention on MDV1 positions and where are you going to solder the RBP Pico. also about MDV2 and how close you put the regulator (chassis could give some troubles).
I finished today of modifying the original PCBs to do it universal (independent from MDV position) and some little changes.

If I get the OK from somebody with more experience about what I have done, I will order some PCBs and try them out.
When they are tested on my QL, I will do a repository (no idea how to share it with the Author on his repo) and document it to do it free for everyone.

About Soft... will be my next step, no idea how it works to compile and install firmware and soft from Linux (need some compilations), but my idea... is also port it to Java to do it run-able from any computer.

Please, if you know how to compile the code and use it, do you main to give me the steps?
Thanks


Edit:
Those are my modifications, same functionality but trying to get improvements in usability and lower cost (uSD socket directly soldered):

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

I used these PCBs, as they were the Gerber files on the Github site.

You can update the Github repository, or create a fork.

Compiling the software should be hard.

[Popopo]

Hi,

I used these PCBs, as they were the Gerber files on the Github site.

You can update the Github repository, or create a fork.

Compiling tge software should be hard.

I will do it by myself, Dr. Gusman the author of this amazing device is pretty busy and I prefer to do not disturb him too much.
Just... I am not a friendly GiitHub user (in fact I have no idea where is the files to put into the RBP Pico in his repo), give me some days to try it and then I will share it.

Also I will generate and share Gerbers for direct use purpose.

[Popopo]

Hi hi hi!
I would like to get some little help

Doing some little changes, I wonder if it could be more suitable for final user to have only 1 Led on the cartridge (activate state), or preferably 3 leds like now (state,read,write).
My idea is to use only 1 (state) and any other info (read/write states) on the screen. So how I am re-design the board perhaps would be better to know it before to send some to make.

By now... the design goes like this:


Hope this week to upload it to GitHub and after get first board and tested them, to do it public and with Gerbers.
I will try to do it on my repository (main reason is to don't bother Dr. Gusman with my personal modifications) and of course, same license and spirit of development.

Anybody wants to suggest any changes? (for my wishlist of modifications).

[NormanDunbar]

Feel free to ignore me!

You could save some board space by using a 3mm RGB LED instead of three of them perhaps? If you needed to indicate the three operations.

I suspect this is of no use whatsoever, so as I said, feel free to ignore me.

Cheers,
Norm.

[Popopo]

Feel free to ignore me!

No way! Why should do it when I ask for suggestion?

You could save some board space by using a 3mm RGB LED instead of three of them perhaps? If you needed to indicate the three operations.

Nice idea, also I thought about it, just wondering:
1. Prices. I need to check prices for such components (no idea if they are cheaper than 3 elements).
2. It could happen that 2 operations happen at once (ex: activity & reading).

So the idea is pretty good I like it, and need to rethink about it.