More testing of the console printer controller logic in the IBM 1130

SHORT VIDEOS OF SOLENOIDS ENGAGING FROM XIO WRITE COMMAND EXECUTION

Here are two videos in slow motion of characters being requested - you can see a few solenoids activate to fire off the selection of that character and trigger a print cycle. These are two different character codes thus different solenoids of the character selection group trip in each. The sound of the fans, slowed down, is an annoying buzz.

The third video is the solenoid in the function group activating to trigger a line feed. This happens when the XIO Write sends the code 0300 for a line feed operation. Sorry that due to the orientation when taking video, YouTube insists on calling this a short rather than a regular video.

DEVICE GOES NOT READY AND BUSY IF IT NEEDS TO SHIFT TO UPPER CASE ON BALL

When the controller sees a character code request for a position on the opposite hemisphere from where the typewriter is currently resting - in other words the 'upper case' or 'lower case' side of the ball - it first fires off a shift solenoid to flip the ball around. The logic waits for a positive confirmation through a microswitch that this has completed, staying busy until that point. 

Since the original printer is gummed up and not under motor power, that cycle does not take place and this leaves the controller logic hung in the busy state. I can see that with a XIO Sense Device execution. This is a healthy sign from the controller logic.

REMOVING PRINTER FOR RESTORATION

I removed the console printer from the computer. This involves removing the faceplate which has the 16 Console Entry Switches which are cabled to the CPU itself. You then have to pull some SMS paddle cards from the signal and power SMS cages inside the machine. Finally the cable has to be snaked out of the machine, a tedious task.

Printer on its side to video the solenoids

1053 moved to the bench for restoration

WILL PUT MY 1130'S PRINTER ON THIS MACHINE AS IT IS MOSTLY WORKING RIGHT

I grabbed my 1053 from the bench where I was finishing up its restoration and moved it over near the 1130 I am working on currently. I will set up a table where it can sit, then plug it into the 1130 and make use of it to further validate the device controller logic.

My 1053 ready to install on the 1130 being restored

My code to fire off characters is already updated to provide for a short interrupt routine that simply resets the printer response status and branches out to resume the mainline execution. I will make a further tweak where I can read the CES switches and use that as the character to type, a convenience compared to loading the IAR and then loading the data value with several button presses, switch rotations and switch settings. 

1053 EMULATOR IS READY TO BE CABLED AND TESTED

It has been years since I built this emulator to plug into an 1130 in place of the Selectric typewriter printer. As such, I am not sure how debugged it was but at some convenient time I will plug this in and see what results I get.