What's Inside a Fax Machine? -- The Electronics Inside 13

element14 Presents | About David | Project Videos | The Electronics Inside

Fax Machines, are they confined to history? Are they a relic of an earlier time? What electronic trickery did these classic icons have?

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beacon_dave over 5 years ago in reply to a531016 +3

I used to maintain a number of them which had been upcycled in the 80's into photo printers.
beacon_dave over 5 years ago in reply to beacon_dave +3

Here's some old video footage of one in operation: https://youtu.be/qstC5jEMheA?t=204
beacon_dave over 5 years ago +2

There were also the photofacsimile machines from the 1950s which printed onto photographic materials, which had to then be developed in a photographic darkroom. They were used by the likes of the Press…

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beacon_dave over 5 years ago

This video may be of interest as it covers some of the history and technology behind various fax machine designs.

THE SECRET LIFE OF MACHINES: The FAX Machine

https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/SLOM/0301-The_FAX_Machine.html
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beacon_dave over 5 years ago

This video may be of interest as it covers some of the history and technology behind various fax machine designs.

THE SECRET LIFE OF MACHINES: The FAX Machine

https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/SLOM/0301-The_FAX_Machine.html
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shabaz over 5 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

Best tech series ever! : )
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shabaz over 5 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

Just started watching it again, and it mentions how it was a Scotsman who invented the fax in 1843, before the phone.
I'm always impressed how many inventions originated from Scotsmen over the years... was there any significant invention that doesn't have some Scottish roots : ) It's like the Silicon Valley of the 1800's : )
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beacon_dave over 5 years ago in reply to shabaz

Have you ever made it to Tim Hunkin's "Under The Pier" arcade in Suffolk ?
Under the pier show arcade, southwold/alternative coin operated machines
Looks like a fun place to visit.
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shabaz over 5 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

That looks fun! Unfortunately I've not been : ( I've visited Ipswich a few times in the past (to visit the obvious large firm there) but not explored beyond in that region so far : (
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beacon_dave over 5 years ago in reply to shabaz

Tim did a keynote speech for a Maker Faire event which features a whistle stop video tour of the arcade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi7acYMyRSc

His presentation is interesting as he talks through the design process of one of his newer machines 'alien probe' from a maker perspective. Finished machine in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ysylB8Gvj0

Full video clip from the keynote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUqqImOTbFE

Also there is a look at arcade machines in a 'The Life of Machines' sort of documentary style which also features machines from the arcade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Lb0Gs5hAY
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beacon_dave over 4 years ago in reply to shabaz

shabaz Something to look forward to ?
Thursday March 4th 2021

The Secret Life of components.
A series of eight guides for designers and makers by Tim Hunkin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JAgXz6xO0s

Release Dates:
CHAIN                 Thursday 4th March
SWITCHES         Thursday 11thMarch
LEDs                   Thursday 18th March
SPRINGS           Thursday 25th March
CONNECTORS Thursday 1st April
HINGES              Thursday 8th April
GLUE                  Thursday 15th April
BEARINGS          Thursday22nd April
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shabaz over 4 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

Brilliant. I'm on it, going to make sure these are watched!! : ) So nice to see that Tim Hunkin is still doing stuff.
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