I am considering a winter project of developing a perforator control
system for a simple roll perforator similar to the Midster.  It will be
based on the popular Arduino microcontroller system.  Actually, it will
use the chipkit Uno which is a faster and better controller, only
because I have more experience with it.

The system will use "Punch MIDI" files produced by Warren Trachtman's
scan processing suite.  I have already written a program that translates
these into arrays of punch instructions.  If there is enough interest,
I plan to write the Arduino code and develop a "shield" to interface
the controller to stepper or servo motor controllers.

There will be an LCD display and an SD card slot to allow loading of
perforator files made on a PC.  Basic soldering and wiring skills will
be required as well as the ability to build a moving punch head
perforating machine.

I plan to test the system on a modified computer printer which is one
possible way to build such a perforator if it is not to be used for
high volume production.

I have little use of a perforator myself and have only one interested
person so far.  I would need a commitment of at least 10 or 20 people
to bother with this project.  The cost would depend on how many people
were interested but it should not be very much as much of the work is
already done.  I have written code for other projects that can be
recycled for the perforator.

If I do the project, the Arduino source code will be available so it
can be modified or maintained even if I lose interest.

Best regards,
Spencer Chase
Garberville, Calif.
http://www.spencerserolls.com/