dan 💾Jun 19, 2024

There's a #RetroComputing bit of silliness that I've been poking away at with little success for the past month-ish.

You might remember the ThunderScan, that lets you turn the ImageWriter dot matrix printer into a scanner? Well, @keelan gave me one to play with while I was in Canada! He documented it here: https://beefchicken.com/retro/thunderscan/

Anyway, it's old and uses usually-ignored-and-often-not-even-plumbed-in-anymore serial cable pins, so it's been a bit of a brouhaha to get it set up.

1/🧵

Reverse Engineering the ThunderScan

Show threaddan 💾Jun 19, 2024

The ThunderScan predates the round mini-din 8 serial ports and so has an extra adapter box for the Mac Plus and newer. I was having *no* luck with the SE and my not-quite-complete cables.

Then last night just before midnight I realised that I could ditch the adapter box and plug straight into the 512, right?

Turns out that yes, I can! And it works! (just about)
#RetroComputing

2/🧵

Show threaddan 💾

...just about...

The scanning head itself picks up images! But the serial cable I have is the wrong type, so the ImageWriter's parts don't move. Whomp-whomp.

BUT! If I move the head and the roller around manually while the scanner software thinks it's scanning, it picks up light and dark areas! IT WORKS! (just about)

#RetroComputing
3/🧵

Jun 19, 2024 at 2:31pmWeb
Show threaddan 💾Jun 19, 2024

So here's the result of that first test scan. Not an image of pure beauty, but the thing works!

And it looks like there's a place in York that actively makes and sells 512-to-IW2 adapters. So I may need to give that a go! https://www.yorkav.co.uk/acatalog/Apple-Imagewriter-Printer-Adapter-Lead---cable-SL-2778.html#SID=179

More to follow in due course…

#RetroComputing

4/4

Apple Imagewriter Printer Adapter Lead / cable

Show threadLydie Miles-MonaghanJun 19, 2024
@billgoats This is an absolutely insane hack
Show threaddan 💾Jun 19, 2024
@Lydiee It absolutely is :D
Show threadpaulrickardsJun 19, 2024
@billgoats This is a lot like the hand scanner I need to try. Keep it steady and you’ve got a winner! 😆
Show threaddan 💾Jun 19, 2024
@paulrickards One line at a time, where I think each line is the height of one pin on the printer head. Eep >.<