Reverse engineering circuitry in a Spacelab computer from 1980
elpocko
96 points
20 comments
May 23, 2026
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Discussion Highlights (3 comments)
kens
Author here if anyone has questions...
GlibMonkeyDeath
The PCB construction is curious (which you say is multi-layer) - why use a grid of 0.1" holes? Is that so it could be easily jumpered? Can you tell if the traces run through the holes or between them? I don't have the patience to reverse-engineer these types of boards, but I do find them really interesting to think about. CAD was just getting started (I just looked up that Gerber format was released in 1980) so I wonder if the masks were hand-drawn.
pickleballcourt
Did not expect such an insanely detailed blog, crazy how even the computers for Spacelabs had such history.