Advice needed: Apple Tape Backup 40SC / "liquid head&qu

#1 Wed, 8 Oct 2008 - 15:49

Alright, here´s another one. Two years ago I got myself one of these very rare Apple Tape Backup 40SC drives. Took it home, powered it up, inserted a tape - complete breakdown! The plastic / rubber transport head / roll of that drive has got liquid within milliseconds ruining the tape. After that I contacted TDK and the maker of the transport roll (some company in Japan) but never got an answer.

Now I´m trying to repair this one myself by looking for an adequate roll / head (the rest of the drive seems to be ok). Does anyone in here has the slightest glimpse of what exchange material might be useful?

Thanks for any information

J

#2 Wed, 8 Oct 2008 - 19:35

The problem is a well known one in the calculator world. Articles like this one should give you a few ideas:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=57

The mechanism itself is a QIC tape, so look around for info about them. Information about tape speed (ie physical metres per second) should give an indication of the required mechanical properties of a replacement roller, home made or a subsitute from another device. A tape drive roller rotates more quickly than a roller in a printer or calculator, so good luck.

#3 Thu, 9 Oct 2008 - 14:47

Thanks for this link! Looks like it will be quite difficult to get a replacement roller...

J

P.S.: once been to Leicester ;-)

Advice needed: Apple Tape Backup 40SC / &quot;liquid head&qu

Advice needed: Apple Tape Backup 40SC / "liquid head&qu