Pdp-12 Lab Instructor's Outline

This document serves as an instructor’s guide and syllabus for a series of 16 laboratory sessions focused on the maintenance, troubleshooting, and operation of the PDP-12 computer system. Each session includes specific objectives and procedures designed to train students on hardware functionality and diagnostic tools.

Key components of the document include:

• System Operations: Detailed procedures for loading the Read-In Mode (RIM) and Binary (BIN) loaders, as well as instructions for interpreting paper tape formats.
• Diagnostic Training: A structured approach to using "Maindec" diagnostic programs to identify and isolate system failures across various components.
• Component Maintenance: Lab sessions dedicated to the adjustment and calibration of specific hardware, including the TU-55/TU-56 tape transports, AD-12 analog-to-digital converters, and the VR-12/VR-14 display systems.
• Troubleshooting: Step-by-step guidance on using oscilloscopes to check signal integrity, timing, and synchronization (e.g., memory timing, Linc tape timing, and processor cycle time charts).
• Instructional Support: The guide provides "Failure Directories" and job sheets for each lab, ensuring instructors have a consistent method for testing student proficiency in identifying and resolving common system malfunctions.