Making a miniature of MZ-80K as “Real Computer”
The 1/5 scale model of MZ-80K is my artwork in 1981, when I was a high school student.
It was mainly built by plastic plate of 1.5mm thickness, because its design was mostly square-shaped.
It took effort to trace accurate shape, paint for good appearance.
Especially it was too laborsome to paint the each key-top by hand, I cannot do it again now, haha.
Raspberry Pi Zero was released last year, Pi Zero W follows this year.
And then, HAL Laboratory announced to produce “PasocomMini” this autumn.
That is a retro-style computer running Smile-BASIC, reproduces the shape of MZ-80C in 1/4 scale.
Well, all the stuffs are ready, let’s make one of mine!
Now I want to know how the technology has advanced through these decades.
＜Concept＞
- Watching as a precise miniature. Playing as a real computer.
- Looking back to 1978, the year of MZ-80K was born, from 2017’s eyes.
→The reference for Sharp MZ-80K (Wikipedia)
＜Function＞
- Main board : Raspberry Pi Zero W (1Ghz clock, 512MB RAM)
- Display unit : 1.5inch TFT, NTSC/PAL input
- Sound : Stereo audio output from Raspberry Pi’s PWM via low pass filter
- Network : Wifi and Bluetooth on board
- OS : Raspbian (Standard GUI desktop environment of Raspberry Pi)
- Input : Not available itself. Use with external devices from USB/Bluetooth or VNC viewer from other PC/Smartphone.
- Battery : 2000mAh LiPo battery. Running time has not checked, maybe 2 hours or more.
＜Internal Connection＞
＜Technical Topics＞
- All of the terminal is accessible for cabled connection, though it normally runs wireless.
- Charging port is settled backside of the body. Charging indicator is lit by internal LED through an optical fiber.
- Power indicator is lit by internal board through an optical fiber.
- Power switch is set at left side of under-body.
- The top body can be fully opened by pivoting newly added hinge.
The work could not be done in 1981 due to lack of my skill, I use brass pipe and 3D-printed hinge parts in this challenge.
- Wiring with connectors and composition of parts are designed to meet the demand of maintenance-purpose..such as replacing battery.
- Cooling is one of major matter in this project. I took care of it much.
- A small copper heatsink was attached to CPU chip.
- Large copper plate was attached to radiate the heat of CPU board. A heat transfer material is used to joint the board and plate through bottom’s hole.
- Outer scheme has no change this time, except fixing a small gap at backside of the body.
＜How She Runs＞
- The screen is awfully small, lol.. It is very hard to accomplish usual work with the machine itself..
Off course, external HDMI monitor or VNC connection will open the door.
- There is remarkable heating of bottom copper plate after continuous high CPU usage.
That indicates the effect of cooling stuff, also reminds me of heating problems in this era.
＜Conclusion＞
- Actually it is far more convenient to use a smartphone than using this gadget machine.
But it is like a vintage machine awoke from long slept past. Lovely. - The job of 2017 and 1981 were both done by myself. But it is like a collaboration work beyond long time.
I have strange feeling about that. - Raspberry Pi Zero W is very wonderful platform, ideal for the project such as this.
You’d better try it, good luck ! - Pictures of the making process are stored at below Google Photo Album
→Link to Google Photo Album
