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Our hackerspace name https://coredump.ch https://coredump.ch and logo are based on core memory :) We still want to build an 8x8 (or maybe just 8x7) bit core me

Our hackerspace name https://coredump.ch https://coredump.ch and logo are based on core memory :) We still want to build an 8x8 (or maybe just 8x7) bit core memory one day to be able to store the word "coredump" as ASCII in it. Some time ago we bought some cores on ebay and did setup a 2x2 matrix with them and played around a bit with using an oscilloscope and some FETs to write and read them.

ocfnash 6y ago
You can buy core memory kits [1] for adding core memory to an arduino. They only give 8x4 but you could get to "cordmp" with a five-bit encoding ;-) The vendor, with whom I have absolutely no affiliation except for exchanging a few emails a several years ago, based his kits on a project that I did with a friend a long time ago [2]. It was a fun project that had interesting analog and digital sides to it. [1] https://www.tindie.com/products/kilpelaj/core-memory-shield-for-arduino/ https://www.tindie.com/products/kilpelaj/core-memory-shield-... [2] https://corememoryshield.com/ https://corememoryshield.com/
- rnestler 6y ago
  Oh very nice thanks :) It would feel a bit like cheating though to just buy a ready made kit ;) I wonder how they assemble the cores and the wires efficiently, because that was always the most painful part when working with the cores. Edit: Typos
  - ocfnash 6y ago
    Threading the cores is indeed quite fiddly. I think back in the day, large numbers of seamstresses pivoted into manufacturing core memory!
    - hazeii 6y ago
      If I recall correctly, the weaving was often done in Malta as it was the only place where the carpet weavers had fingers nimble enough to do it. (edit) a bit of digging around turned up an article [0] showing women building core memory for the Apollo Guidance Computer. [0] https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/02/that-time-when-computer-memory-was.html https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/02/that-time-when-compute...
  - EvanAnderson 6y ago
    There's some really good core assembly footage in this old Sperry-Rand film: https://youtu.be/s39Dzei2Z2I?t=92 https://youtu.be/s39Dzei2Z2I?t=92

ocfnash 6y ago

You can buy core memory kits [1] for adding core memory to an arduino. They only give 8x4 but you could get to "cordmp" with a five-bit encoding ;-) The vendor, with whom I have absolutely no affiliation except for exchanging a few emails a several years ago, based his kits on a project that I did with a friend a long time ago [2]. It was a fun project that had interesting analog and digital sides to it. [1] https://www.tindie.com/products/kilpelaj/core-memory-shield-for-arduino/ https://www.tindie.com/products/kilpelaj/core-memory-shield-... [2] https://corememoryshield.com/ https://corememoryshield.com/

rnestler 6y ago
Oh very nice thanks :) It would feel a bit like cheating though to just buy a ready made kit ;) I wonder how they assemble the cores and the wires efficiently, because that was always the most painful part when working with the cores. Edit: Typos
- ocfnash 6y ago
  Threading the cores is indeed quite fiddly. I think back in the day, large numbers of seamstresses pivoted into manufacturing core memory!
  - hazeii 6y ago
    If I recall correctly, the weaving was often done in Malta as it was the only place where the carpet weavers had fingers nimble enough to do it. (edit) a bit of digging around turned up an article [0] showing women building core memory for the Apollo Guidance Computer. [0] https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/02/that-time-when-computer-memory-was.html https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/02/that-time-when-compute...
- EvanAnderson 6y ago
  There's some really good core assembly footage in this old Sperry-Rand film: https://youtu.be/s39Dzei2Z2I?t=92 https://youtu.be/s39Dzei2Z2I?t=92