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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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

Best tech series ever! : )
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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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