Date : Mon, 20 Mar 2006 21:34:45 +0000
From : Fragula <fragula@...>
Subject: Re: Web site: Mainly Master 512
Hi Jules!
I probably shouldn't take this question so seriously. But....
FPGAs and CPLDs are marvelous things at the moment. It would be quite
possible, frexampe to mount a small FPGA on a small PCB on an oilrig,
and pop that into a 6502 sized (or z80, w.h.y.) hole. That's possible
now. Also putting a physically smaller, modern SMD ?PROM on a carrier,
tying off unused address/data lines and stuffing that in a ROM socket.
Major chips are, strangely, not such a big problem. They will be the
first to dry up though. And EPROMs the advance warning of that.
Transformers and chokes. There are a few small companies that will wind
a one-off transformer up to spec (where known) at almost-reasonable
prices. (err.. £140+VAT for a mains tranny for my '66 Vox AC-10 twin! -
an official spare, frexample, If it were available, i'd guesstimate at
around 40-60 quid. It might be a couple of quid for a small choke in yer
switch mode, or a few grand for one of the big linear thingies in a STRETCH.
The real problems will be things like 4000-series CMOS logic, mainstream
of he 70's, but certain numbers getting fairly scarce now. See allso the
ubiquious 74-series TTL.
Well, yes, it /is/ possible to put a load of smd transistors on a tiny
board.. But a law of diminishing returns cuts in here at some point..
What about replacing that little 8 pin SMD IC on your classic 2005 video
card?
What is possible, is that, like the vinyl (record) business, small
businesses might step in to fill a void for enthusiasts, collectors,
museums etc. Small fabs could get built. (there are certainly people
collecting the smaller die bonding machines, messing with garage sized
clean rooms etc. already!) Small ICs are possible..
But then what do we do for Domino DIN plugs? Maplin have "discontinued"
them. No demand apparently. RS & Farnell/CPC will probably go the same
way. Time to break out the dremel! (Epoxy resin is your friend!)
The guitar amp *might* serve as an example. All mainstream audio tubes
are in production again. On a smaller scale, and in China, Lithuania
etc. Quality, consistency and reliability are not *quite* what they were
at Mullard or MOV in the 60's, but they do work all the same. Maybe that
will happend with TTL and CMOS logic at some point. Cheap clones.. Maybe
not tho, as there isn't yet the same die-hard gorravit type market.
Yet. I was seriously sweating future valve availability for my amp
collection back in the late 80's/early 90s though. It *may* happen, but..
Where things differ: Well.. Marhsall Amplification down in Milton Keynes
wouldn't turn a dollar if it were not for valve availability. (Their
solid state offerings have been, without exception, disgusting!) They
have a large customer base of people with discerning ears.. This isn't
true of Computer ICs. Come to think of it, try buying graded high-gain
germanium audio transistors now to make fuzz face clones.. <sigh>
It would be nice if a mom-n-pop outfit in Taiwan got hold of a small fab
to do 10,000 batches of TTL, maybe the odd 8-bit micro too. Seems
unlikely even to me.
Failing that, there are always FPGAs and CPLDs.
More worryingly, How long before the EEC Ban unauthorised tinkering with
electronic items outside of state-approved factories) completely? I
mean, Heath and Safety!!!
PCBs! Dioxins! (the chemicals) in capacitors? Lead in Solder! (read that
one and weep!). Didn't affect my grandad, or for that matter the
millions of old codgers who are allegedly draining the NHS dry at the
moment with their extended lifespans. Living longer than ever!
As are the people on pacific islands, who smoke, dink, ere starved
during the second world war until they had certain DNA changes, and
don't have modern medicine to thank for it. We should all smoke 50 a day
, drink moonshine and get thoroughly malnourished. At least thats what
some statistics indicate. However, we have a H&S culture, political
correctness, and, again some statistics indicate, a gradually
diminishing life expectancy. (Probably due to loads of people suffering
from P.C.+H&S induced stress, and spontaneously exploding!)
While I'm on a rant... Oh.. EVEN while I'm on a rant, I'm almost afraid
to mention the risk that Some People might Misuse technology. i.e. for
monopoly breaking, perhaps by means of reverse engineering for
compatibility, fair use of DVDs and CDs. Couldn't happen here right?
Wrong. Half of that has already. Lead solder is banned in production
(and in repair, for all I know!, and the replacement stuff is pants!)
And in Japan, its now illegal to sell any electronic equipment made
earlier than a few years ago.. No more (legal) computer, valve amp, or
old radio/hi-fi collecting there. :-( You Want 'Puter? You go buy nice
fashionable inter-miclosoft box. You get new one every 18 months.
So, Comrades. We face an uphill struggle. Anyone know of a little fab
"going cheap"? we could have a whip round, get a raffle going.. organise
a summer fayre...
Cheers!
M.
Jules Richardson wrote:
> Ian Wolstenholme wrote:
>
>> I reckon Beebs will still be around even if nobody or any anything else
>> is........
>
>
> Not so sure, what's the average lifetime of an IC? I'm sure I remember
> about 50 years being quoted back in school science lessons.
>
> Given that EPROMs seem to be doing a bit better than what was expected,
> 100 years might be possible - beyond that it needs someone to
> remanufacture the chips...
>
> I wonder if there's a lifetime on the plastic used too?
>
> (it's one of the things I ponder occasionally in connection with the
> museum - most museums can keep their exhibits going pretty much forever,
> but I'm not quite sure yet what our plan will be beyond say 30 years,
> when it'll be almost impossible to maintain systems in running condition)
>
> cheers
>
> J.
>
--
(Sorry if I top-quote occasionally, the b@...*rds make me use LookOut in
work.)