I’m actually not sure where they source it from but my guess would be they just have an abundant stock of it given the abundance of everything else in the shop.
It’s black wax 5 hole paper tape and the controllers the use it are Allen Bradley, manufactured in early 80s I believe but I’d have to check dates.
We also have a few machines that read from magnetic tape so lots of old almost historical computer equipment, but still being used amazingly and making money.
I am a manual machinist. Our shop is more or less that, a job shop that does one-offs or short run work on items that are larger than most cnc machines. However some of the machines have fanuc controls and can thus run programs as well.
Others have mentioned solar and getting your own home running on that which I think is a good first step.
Then understanding battery storage for the solar and integrating this.
You should become licensed to do all of this or be prepared to build a business that employs people to do so.
Next would be to build a solar grid in your yard or buy some land to build on. Then offer to sell it at below market rates to neighbors and integrate your solar grid into their homes.
The end goal being something analogous to a WISP which you could continue to add on to as capital and experience permits.
It’s black wax 5 hole paper tape and the controllers the use it are Allen Bradley, manufactured in early 80s I believe but I’d have to check dates.
We also have a few machines that read from magnetic tape so lots of old almost historical computer equipment, but still being used amazingly and making money.