video of Model F's getting made at the factory by robots

[Janeiac]

Geek porn

[0100010]

Yup, oldie but a goodie.  Makes it seem so simple compared to rebuilding one by hand.

[Chromako]

That was awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[Melvang]

Anyone else find it amusing that they were using XT keyboards to make AT keyboards?

[fanpeople]

Wow. That was really cool.

Great find 

[Janeiac]

Anyone else find it amusing that they were using XT keyboards to make AT keyboards?

I think they are making XTs. It's 1983, and the membrane seen is just a carrier to place the keys that is stripped off as they are placed on the metal plate. You can see the robot squashing the two metal plates together. Yes, it's amusing, though... iBM computers controlled by IBM keyboards, making more IBM keyboards.

[chyros]

Hahaha that was awesome, nice one! xD

You can see why they stopped making these, though. Five robots required just to put the base keys into the plate?! xD

[rowdy]

Anyone else find it amusing that they were using XT keyboards to make AT keyboards?

It will always be the last generation of keyboards on computers controlling the equipment that makes the next generation

[Janeiac]

It occurred to me that the robot process in the video may explain why IBM went to the two-part keys. I had thought that was so they could easily be swapped for different software applications. But having all blank keys fed into the machinery with no sorting necessary makes sense. The whoever inspects and packs it in a box could pop on whatever tops were needed.

[chyros]

It occurred to me that the robot process in the video may explain why IBM went to the two-part keys. I had thought that was so they could easily be swapped for different software applications. But having all blank keys fed into the machinery with no sorting necessary makes sense. The whoever inspects and packs it in a box could pop on whatever tops were needed.

Nah, I'd expect it was still cheaper/easier to make the one-part caps, otherwise they would never have switched to them later...

[CPTBadAss]

I love when this video gets reposted. So cool. For those who want an inline video:

[Melvang]

I love when this video gets reposted. So cool. For those who want an inline video:

Only way we can see the video link is a quote CBA.

[CPTBadAss]

Only way we can see the video link is a quote CBA.

I have no idea who can see what so I just posted it like normal. I use Chrome so I just tap the "Load unsafe scripts" button in the address bar. I added a quote, though I can't personally see either until I hit that button.

[kishy]

Uploaded by our very own dear departed dw_junon...may his forum username rest in peace. I remember the IRC discussion when he got his hands on this.

(for clarity I believe the actual person is still alive and well)

[vivalarevolución]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

[Melvang]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Those robots (at the time of the making of this video) probably created more jobs than they took.  That is when you look at the number of man hours of maint, programming, setup, and such vs a couple guys putting caps on.  Plus, it shifts the labor force from unskilled labor to the skilled trades.  Granted there are a lot of robots that are taking jobs, but 9 times out of 10 it is unskilled labor.  Don't want a robot to take your job, learn a skilled trade.

[engicoder]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Except its a plant in Scotland....so it not a problem because its just a bunch of damn Scots losing their jobs 

[berserkfan]

I wonder how much these robots cost now, 4 decades later. surely prices have dropped a lot? If RAM prices have fallen by over 99.9%, maybe these $10 million robots have become cheap also. If it only costs $50000 to set up a plant like this, we could do a mass geekhack thing and have someone producing model Fs from his garage?

(just my pie in the sky)

[SpAmRaY]

So the reason for the stepped keys was so the robots could pick them up like single unit keys?

[berserkfan]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Except its a plant in Scotland....so it not a problem because its just a bunch of damn Scots losing their jobs 

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Those robots (at the time of the making of this video) probably created more jobs than they took.  That is when you look at the number of man hours of maint, programming, setup, and such vs a couple guys putting caps on.  Plus, it shifts the labor force from unskilled labor to the skilled trades.  Granted there are a lot of robots that are taking jobs, but 9 times out of 10 it is unskilled labor.  Don't want a robot to take your job, learn a skilled trade.

I don't exactly think that industrial revolution era assembly line jobs sticking keycaps onto barrel stems are 'quality, high paying' jobs.

'quality, high paying American jobs' are things like Goldman Sachs banker, Bank of America mortgage assessor, Washington Lobbyist, Texas-based security contractor, New York White Shoe lawyer, University of Chicago Law School law lecturer, etc.

[Melvang]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Except its a plant in Scotland....so it not a problem because its just a bunch of damn Scots losing their jobs 

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Those robots (at the time of the making of this video) probably created more jobs than they took.  That is when you look at the number of man hours of maint, programming, setup, and such vs a couple guys putting caps on.  Plus, it shifts the labor force from unskilled labor to the skilled trades.  Granted there are a lot of robots that are taking jobs, but 9 times out of 10 it is unskilled labor.  Don't want a robot to take your job, learn a skilled trade.

I don't exactly think that industrial revolution era assembly line jobs sticking keycaps onto barrel stems are 'quality, high paying' jobs.

'quality, high paying American jobs' are things like Goldman Sachs banker, Bank of America mortgage assessor, Washington Lobbyist, Texas-based security contractor, New York White Shoe lawyer, University of Chicago Law School law lecturer, etc.

So it's not a quality high paying job because it is blue collar?  Whats wrong with doing physical labor for a living?

What would you say if I told you I made over $90k the last two years working as skilled labor in the construction trades.  I am not saying these jobs are "high paying", though our definitions of "high paying" are probably different.  But working as skilled labor such as industrial maintenance mechanic, many of the union construction trades like millwright, pipe fitter, electrician, iron worker etc, is more than enough to support a family of 4 on with single income.  How is that not a quality job?

[vivalarevolución]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Those robots (at the time of the making of this video) probably created more jobs than they took.  That is when you look at the number of man hours of maint, programming, setup, and such vs a couple guys putting caps on.  Plus, it shifts the labor force from unskilled labor to the skilled trades.  Granted there are a lot of robots that are taking jobs, but 9 times out of 10 it is unskilled labor.  Don't want a robot to take your job, learn a skilled trade.

What happens when the robots learn the skilled trades?

[Melvang]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Those robots (at the time of the making of this video) probably created more jobs than they took.  That is when you look at the number of man hours of maint, programming, setup, and such vs a couple guys putting caps on.  Plus, it shifts the labor force from unskilled labor to the skilled trades.  Granted there are a lot of robots that are taking jobs, but 9 times out of 10 it is unskilled labor.  Don't want a robot to take your job, learn a skilled trade.

What happens when the robots learn the skilled trades?

Talk with anyone that has worked in those skilled construction and building trades and ask them when it will happen.  We probably have more job security that 3/4 of the job market.

[kishy]

Uploaded by our very own dear departed dw_junon...may his forum username rest in peace. I remember the IRC discussion when he got his hands on this.

(for clarity I believe the actual person is still alive and well)

Ah, there it is. Blast from the past. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=18706.0

[vivalarevolución]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Those robots (at the time of the making of this video) probably created more jobs than they took.  That is when you look at the number of man hours of maint, programming, setup, and such vs a couple guys putting caps on.  Plus, it shifts the labor force from unskilled labor to the skilled trades.  Granted there are a lot of robots that are taking jobs, but 9 times out of 10 it is unskilled labor.  Don't want a robot to take your job, learn a skilled trade.

What happens when the robots learn the skilled trades?

Talk with anyone that has worked in those skilled construction and building trades and ask them when it will happen.  We probably have more job security that 3/4 of the job market.

Interesting.  I would have to verify this claim with some experts on AI.  Time for a career change, then.

[Melvang]

Look at all those robots replacing quality, high-paying American jobs.

Those robots (at the time of the making of this video) probably created more jobs than they took.  That is when you look at the number of man hours of maint, programming, setup, and such vs a couple guys putting caps on.  Plus, it shifts the labor force from unskilled labor to the skilled trades.  Granted there are a lot of robots that are taking jobs, but 9 times out of 10 it is unskilled labor.  Don't want a robot to take your job, learn a skilled trade.

What happens when the robots learn the skilled trades?

Talk with anyone that has worked in those skilled construction and building trades and ask them when it will happen.  We probably have more job security that 3/4 of the job market.

Interesting.  I would have to verify this claim with some experts on AI.  Time for a career change, then.

It's much more than the AI.  Until they have robots that are quicker, more mobile, better balance, stronger, higher dexterity, can drive forklifts, aerial lifts, climb a ladder, they won't replace building trades.

[jacobolus]

So the reason for the stepped keys was so the robots could pick them up like single unit keys?

I think the reason was because they hadn’t figured out how / didn’t want to spend money on adding stabilizers.

[berserkfan]

So it's not a quality high paying job because it is blue collar?  Whats wrong with doing physical labor for a living?more than enough to support a family of 4 on with single income.  How is that not a quality job?

Melvang, you clearly missed the satire.

1)   Goldman Sachs banker isn’t exactly a job that creates value for anything outside Goldman Sachs
2)   Bank of America mortgage assessors caused BoA to wind up with millions of bad mortgages that had to be bailed out by blue collar workers such as yourself
3)   Washington lobbyist produces lots of hot air. Good stuff for the public, not so much.
4)   Texas –based ‘security contractors’ aka mercenaries were notorious in the Iraq war.
5)   NY White Shoe lawyer is another of the vampires and parasites that have made the USA notorious for its lawsuits
6)   U of C law school lecturer was Obama’s last and only regular job before he became a ward of the public.

I don’t personally despise hard work or blue collar jobs. But your response is exactly why I don’t want my kids to do blue collar work. Working with welding (I think I recall you saying you were a welder?) doesn’t train the brain. Working with information, you at least don’t get fooled and taken for a ride by the bankers, politicians and lawyers.