Grey typewriter carriage with a typed index card that reads: Hackday.io Typewriter Projects | Folks are often asking about doing curious hacks on typewriters (along the lines of the USB typewriter https://www.usbtypewriter.com/), so I thought I'd pass along this index of some prior projects and attempts to do interesting hacks using them: https://hackday.io/search?term=typewriter

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Chris Aldrich

I'm a biomedical and electrical engineer with interests in information theory, complexity, evolution, genetics, signal processing, IndieWeb, theoretical mathematics, and big history. I'm also a talent manager-producer-publisher in the entertainment industry with expertise in representation, distribution, finance, production, content delivery, and new media.

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  3. I once had, for a brief moment, the idea of creating a custom PCB with mechanical switches as a replacement for the mushy and horrible feeling keyboard of my Smith Corona SL470.

    I then realised that I liked manual typewriters quite a bit more (probably a keyboard feel thing), and that PCB design was way beyond my current capabilities, so I promptly parked the idea.

    I might revisit the idea at some point, once I muster the courage to learn PCB design.

    Other ideas I’ve had:

    • Interposer board for smith Corona wedge, to capture key presses (allowing recording of typed text) and/or use the typewriter as a line printer of sorts.
    • Power supply swap in SC wedge, to allow powering with DC power, and run off of a wall wart or USB power bank (would help make the machine a bit lighter, and more versatile, and removing the power cord that’s always in the way)
    • Smith Corona type bar electric motor swap for a DC motor (brushed or brush less) in the hope of shedding a bit of weight and make it more efficient, and eventually battery powered

    These are nothing.but ideas though, and I’ll need to do some research before diving in

    Reply

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