After nearly three years of building a computer from relays, DiPDoT is giving it a front panel of its own. In a new video published on 11 October 2026, the maker works through a custom interface built around a purpose-designed PCB and an aluminium faceplate, replacing the temporary Altair 8800 panel used during development.
The interesting part is not just the cosmetic upgrade. Switches, indicator LEDs and connections have to match the needs of this particular relay machine, so the panel becomes a visible, usable interface to a computer built one electromechanical step at a time. The footage also shows the internal backplane and ribbon-cable connection involved in the build.
Watch DiPDoT’s 22-minute video: My Relay Computer FINALLY Gets a Front Panel!
