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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Linear Solenoid (push-pull) - PicoMite
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Mixtel90 Guru  Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 7843 |
Huh.... The Chinese across the road from us simply cover their (ordinary, cheap) keyboard in clingfilm and change it now and again. :) Ordinary membrane keyboards are remarkably gunk-resistant. Mechanical keyboards aren't. And remember, folks, what some regard as the best keyboard ever made (the IBM Model M) was a membrane keyboard! For severe gunk removal from membrane keyboards just shove them in the dishwasher then leave them somewhere sensible to dry out for a few days, turning occasionally so that puddles will shift. You can get IP67 keyboards (at a price) that you can hose down. . Edited 2025-05-31 22:23 by Mixtel90 Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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Nimue Guru Joined: 06/08/2020 Location: United KingdomPosts: 419 |
 -- one to suggest.I believe they are IP54 (limited dust protection, limited water ingress allowed) The real issue is that the control booth is not a booth - they are open and on the factory floor so to speak. Not my monkey and not my circus though. N Entropy is not what it used to be |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 7843 |
I don't know if they are still available, but you used to be able to get proper shaped "keyboard condoms" that are moulded to fit the keys. These are a sort of posh alternative to clingfilm. :) I've not tried it, but I suspect the Perixx-type keyboards might be easier to water and dust proof than normal ones because the key travel distance is less. Some people hate the feel of them but I think they are ok. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Nimue Guru Joined: 06/08/2020 Location: United KingdomPosts: 419 |
In this case I'm just a friend of the boss. The units are control units for injection molding and vulcanisation of rubber - things like custom golf grips (big business apparently) and widgets (washers, custom bungs, gromets etc). They look like they were built circa 2000. The heavy lifting end is not made by the same people who made the control units - the control units run WinNT, not connected to the internet and probably not turned off for 20 years. The software is from a long dead company and they are praying that things don't break or the cost for new kit would break them. N Entropy is not what it used to be |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 7843 |
They could well be PS2 keyboards then. And I hope they at least keep software backups. Hardware can usually be replaced in some way. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Nimue Guru Joined: 06/08/2020 Location: United KingdomPosts: 419 |
As far as I know no. Customer data / orders are all new systems, but they dont link to the process machines. The operator sets up the machine manually, adds a customer reference and "go". The setting data and stats are printed on a DMP2000 dot matrix (seriously) and this is added to a filing cabinet till next time. All the SPC stats stuff is a print out. Peak 1995-2000 It reminds me of that take-away still running on a C64, with 5.25" data storage. What they need is £150,000 investment to sort it all out. As said, spit and string holding it all together. Entropy is not what it used to be |
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