Z80/Z180 hardware projects 

I have built a number of different Z80/Z180 systems over the years. Most of them was built on VeroBoard prototype cards with soldered wiring. One objective is to build the ultimate MIDI hardware sequencer (I'm into music also) and of course the basic need to create all sorts of weird gadgets just for the fun of it! 
 

Projects

Z80 dual CPU 19" rack unit 

The currently most advanced system consists of two Z80 CPUs with bank switched memory, mounted in a 19 inch 1 HE rack unit. The CPUs are connected with a serial link and each CPU has a number of I/O devices attached. Here are some of the features: 
  • Two RS232 serial lines with DB9 and DB25 connectors. 
  • Parallell interface for lightweight LCD terminal with DB15 connector. 
  • MIDI interface with two 5 pin DIN connectors. 
  • 3.5 inch floppy drive for 720KB DOS diskettes. 
  • More than 512KB of SRAM and EPROM, some I/O mapped and used as RAM-disks. 
  • Simple 4 page MMU for bank switching, one for each CPU. 

Pictures

Front view 
Rear view 

System overview 
 

LCD terminal 
Inside view 
Close-up of one CPU board 
 

Z180 prototype 

Now I'm working on a Z180 system where the goal is to produce a number of generic CPU boards in the standard Europa 100 x 160 mm format and a 64 pin Europa backplane connector. The first stage of this project has been completed with success. I have built a prototype board in the correct format with a Z180 CPU and most of the circuits needed. The prototype carries 128KB SRAM, 128KB FLASH EPROM, some PALs for address decoding, a Maxim RS232 converter and some EXO-3 clock oscillators. 
 

PCB layout drawings

Here are som pictures of the PCB layout and component placement. 
Prototype board, component layout 
Prototype board, component side 
Prototype board, solder side 
 
Read the prototype board ORCad plain text net list: tst180.net Read the prototype board design document and specification in PDF format: hwproj.pdf (Only in swedish at the moment, sorry). 
 

Pictures

Here are some pictures of the physical hardware. 

Front view 
 

Rear view 
Inside view 
 

Z180 serial version

This project is currently in progress, the main objective is to design a generic Z180 CPU board in the standard 100 x 160mm Europa format. The board contains the basic computer core with lots of RAM and FLASH EPROM, RS232 drivers, clocks and bus drivers. The application specific logic should be placed on separate boards and connected to the CPU board through the 64 pin Europa type C connector (backplane or ribbon cable). 

A professional PCB factory will be engaged to produce the board thus yielding a professional board with through plated vias and pad holes, solder mask and component print. A number of boards will be produced and anyone liking the idea may purchase some boards at production cost plus postage. Send me an email if you are interested! Please note that the total stock of boards will be very limited... 
 

Schematic drawings

CPU board main schematic 
CPU board support logic schematic 
 

Black box II

This system is still under construction. It is based on a Z180 serial version CPU board equipped with a number of I/O-boards. MIDI sequencing with tape sync is the main purpose with Black box II. Here are the main features: 
  • Two external RS232 serial lines with two DB9 connectors. 
  • 32 bit general purpose parallell interface with one DB36 connector. 
  • Two MIDI interfaces with four 5 pin DIN connectors. 
  • 3.5 inch floppy drive for 1.44MB DOS diskettes. 
  • 512KB SRAM and 512KB FLASH EPROM. 
  • Front end Z80 system (VT100) with front panel 40 x 2 char LCD, keyboard and data wheel, RS232 interface.
  • SMPTE sync interface with audio input/output, two RCA connectors.
The raw alu box in the middle (not black) is the one called black box II. 
 

 


For more information please contact me at: francis.gormarker@swipnet.se