What's the best B/W vector monitor? And why?

[cwilkson]

If you're designing a new game, complete with hardware and cabinet, anyway, why not dispense with the CRT completely? Spend some lab time with a fresnel screen, laser diodes, and custom optics. I've been intending on building a vector front-projector from laser pointers and deflection mirrors once I have the money for a major project, and I don't see why you couldn't scale it down for a self-contained rear projection setup.

You nailed it - I need money for a largish project like that. Like I said I'm starting off small. I've been around long enough to know the dangers of biting off too much at a time. A laser projector was one of the first things I thought of. I wanted to use a CRT projector, but have you seen the prices for those things? EEK!! So I thought, hey...I've built simple laser displays before...why not use that? Could even do RGB stuff. But I'm not sure what kind of object count I could get with it. And convergence? UGH. Actually, I'm not sure what kind of line count I can get with a classic xy monitor. But while I'm kicking the tires on display technology I'm playing with the display generation problems. I think I have a simple way to draw partial circles now. It works on paper anyway. (A full circle is easy...I've had that down for a while now.) So yeah...baby steps....

 

[cwilkson]

Just came across some pictures I made from the LAI that was in my Meteor and thought you guys might be wanting to see it.

Now THAT is a neat design.

Not bad. Simple is *GOOD*. Got a schematic for that thing? I do kinda like the discretes though. Because what happens when I can't buy special parts like multi-transistor packs anymore? I have to hack it just like those cursed multi-cap canisters.

Being able to use any B&W tube as a replacement is a strong argument for staying B&W. But color is certainly an end goal. There's nothing quite as beautiful as a well-tuned Amplifone.

 

[dezbaz]

Not bad. Simple is *GOOD*. Got a schematic for that thing? I do kinda like the discretes though. Because what happens when I can't buy special parts like multi-transistor packs anymore? I have to hack it just like those cursed multi-cap canisters.

Being able to use any B&W tube as a replacement is a strong argument for staying B&W. But color is certainly an end goal. There's nothing quite as beautiful as a well-tuned Amplifone.

I just made a site dedicated to this chassis
http://www.dsbelec.iinet.net.au/Dezs_LAI_B&W_Vector_Chassis_Page.htm

Parts list here
http://www.dsbelec.iinet.net.au/LAI_Chassis_Parts.htm (Link is on that site)

 

[Level42]

There's nothing quite as beautiful as a well-tuned Amplifone.

Absolutely, but you won't be able to find med-res CRT's anymore anywhere.....