[tozParticipant]

Dear Lectroneers

 

Being quite new to Lectron, I immediately fell in love and spent a considerable amount of time during the last few months thinking about how to give re-birth to this utmost fascinating concept! Being in contact with the dear curator of this website as well as with RWO, I’d like to gather the views of as many of the 70 members of this forum as possible!

 

–> What do you think would be the key factors leading to a success of such project?

 

While my interests are mainly of technical and didactic nature, I will obviously also be forced to consider some business-related aspects…

 

Greetings from Switzerland,

Thomas

[LectronFanModerator]

Hi there,

I think that the Lectron system relies on the very good build quality of their modules and also on the simple but effective fast method to lay out your circuit as a readable diagram.

So, a major key would be surely the sturdiness and the electrical contact.

Also, the ground plate is a good idea as it keeps the wiring to a minimum and helps the projects shielded from noises.

But surely, a new concept of grounding could be used, for instance, modules could be designed in such way that there are contact pins at the component’s sides but also, when needed, a central ping for grounding.

Therefore, a grid could be used with pins and contra pins to enable contacts between modules.

I also have a few ideas how to accomplish this, but I would like to hear other concept ideas as well.

Many greetings,

Frank

[tozParticipant]

Thank you, Frank, for your valuable comments. I’m gathering from this that the reliability of the electrical contacts between the blocks are deemed critical/insufficient.

Could anyone else share any thoughts about my plans to give a re-birth to the good old Lectron system?

Any thoughts why the system has not established itself as standard equipment for schools and universities?

Any comments are most warmly welcomed!

Regards,

Thomas

[LectronFanModerator]

Hello Thomas,

What I meant is that with the original Lectron modules, contacts were always very good.

This was achieved by silver plates with a magnet behind.
When 2 adjacent modules are mpounted, the magnets attract each other and the silver plates are pushed together, providing a solid contact.

After a lot of use, the contact plates can easily be cleaned with a moisturised soft cloth with a little dish detergent solution with water.

Corrosion doesnt exist but you should avoid acid or other corrosive solutions to be in contact with the silver plates.

In other words, it should be hard to replicate those contacts without original parts but I’m pretty sure there could be other contact systems like pins as I proposed in above thread.

Many greetings,

Frank

[MichaelKeymaster]

Hello Frank and Thomas,

Thank you for being true Lectroneers and for helping to keep the Lectron System alive!

While I am not at your skill set level, I certainly can appreciate the new circuits that you devise and your very incisive commentary and pedigogical approach.  Fascinating!

Please accept my best regards,
Michael

[MichaelKeymaster]

Hello Thomas,

As far as why the Lectron System and similar systems, manufacturing costs are a barrier and of course purchase cost for the individual consumer.  Vocational and university schools could use the Lectron System but now electronic circuit design and prototyping can be done in PC/Mac software.  This was not the case back in 1965 when the Lectron System was introduced as a revolutionary teaching and demonstration framework.

Best regards,
Michael

[Author]

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