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5th Generations Jukebox Five Floppy Disk Mechanized Hopper
- Thread starter olePigeon
- Start date
That is really cool! If PC floppy drives had had automatic inject and eject this would have made installing the floppy disk version of Windows '95 or Office '97 (44 disks!!) an absolute breeze.
@olePigeon I tried it yesterday. I have a slipping wheel as well. The unit will spin until the two sides of the center piece are far away from each other, and then it will stop. I can roll it back and get the two side of the inject mechanism lined up, but I'll need to secure my wheel to the shaft too. What did you end up using.
For me, it was just the one on the left (when looking at the unit as it would attach to a computer), the one with the single wheel that does not have the other pulley wheel on it. The other shaft with the two pulley wheels seems to be fine. Perhaps the two pulley wheels are one unit and the two of them hold on better than the one.
I tried my SE | SE/30 adapter on an external drive and the prongs are too wide for the opening. I also see a problem in that if the jukebox is flat against the front of the external drive, it will press against the eject button, which seems like a problem.
For me, it was just the one on the left (when looking at the unit as it would attach to a computer), the one with the single wheel that does not have the other pulley wheel on it. The other shaft with the two pulley wheels seems to be fine. Perhaps the two pulley wheels are one unit and the two of them hold on better than the one.
I tried my SE | SE/30 adapter on an external drive and the prongs are too wide for the opening. I also see a problem in that if the jukebox is flat against the front of the external drive, it will press against the eject button, which seems like a problem.
@pcamen I ended up not gluing it, but I can take pictures of the positions.
I found that the old grease on the screw bars was the biggest problem in preventing everything from running smoothly. The arm didn't move smoothly or without some force, and it most often would get stuck either at the tension bar for holding the floppies up, or towards the end where it's supposed to just barely poke out the grabber parts. It was also really loud and you could hear it sort of grinding.
I used some old fashioned 3-in-1 oil and liberally lubricated the shaft (it's a silicon lubricant as well as anti-corrosion.) After I ran it a few times, it feed up the old grease and it wasn't nearly as loud. Eventually it appeared to do a full run without issue.
Also, the metal switch bar where the floppy enters also needs to be oiled so the bar will slide down the hole. Mine was getting stuck, and the floppy wouldn't push past the activation switch upon being ejected.
I'm off work in a few minutes. I'll try to take some pictures and show the areas I'm referring to for lubrication.
I found that the old grease on the screw bars was the biggest problem in preventing everything from running smoothly. The arm didn't move smoothly or without some force, and it most often would get stuck either at the tension bar for holding the floppies up, or towards the end where it's supposed to just barely poke out the grabber parts. It was also really loud and you could hear it sort of grinding.
I used some old fashioned 3-in-1 oil and liberally lubricated the shaft (it's a silicon lubricant as well as anti-corrosion.) After I ran it a few times, it feed up the old grease and it wasn't nearly as loud. Eventually it appeared to do a full run without issue.
Also, the metal switch bar where the floppy enters also needs to be oiled so the bar will slide down the hole. Mine was getting stuck, and the floppy wouldn't push past the activation switch upon being ejected.
I'm off work in a few minutes. I'll try to take some pictures and show the areas I'm referring to for lubrication.
So, good news. I did oil the bars and the little spring, and put a little crazy glue on the shaft to hold the wheel in place. It now seems to operate well.
I tried it with my SE/30 I had up on my bench, but, wouldn't you know it, the auto-inject wasn't functioning. I swapped out the drive and just haven't had time yet to try it as I am struggling with other issues related to getting a SCSI2SD working on that SE/30.
I wish it was easier to hook onto the front of the SE/30. It feels like I am going to break something one of these days, most likely the little hooks.
I ordered an 800k drive to see if the SE SE/30 mount plate will fit into that drive bezel. The Superdrive bezel is a not go as I mentioned above.
I tried it with my SE/30 I had up on my bench, but, wouldn't you know it, the auto-inject wasn't functioning. I swapped out the drive and just haven't had time yet to try it as I am struggling with other issues related to getting a SCSI2SD working on that SE/30.
I wish it was easier to hook onto the front of the SE/30. It feels like I am going to break something one of these days, most likely the little hooks.
I ordered an 800k drive to see if the SE SE/30 mount plate will fit into that drive bezel. The Superdrive bezel is a not go as I mentioned above.
I've bent my hooks already, had to bend them back. I'm worried about metal fatigue. They get a little bit bent every time I hook it onto the front. I think I'm going to investigate making a stand for mine so it doesn't just hang off the floppy drive. Not to mention you have to get the upper doors just right so the disks don't land at a weird angle and jam the device. Maybe 3D print a bracket so the doors are always at the correct angles.
The other problem I'm now encountering is that the axels pop out of their holders. I guess the plastic has softened or something and they pop in and out of the holders rather easily. So as the carriage goes in and out, the axels will pop in and out making a popping noise. I'm trying to think of a good way to strengthen the plastic without breaking it.
Oh, I found that putting some lithium grease on the two tabs on the hooks that grab the disks helps it slide much easier when they hit the plastic pillars to spread the hooks.
The other problem I'm now encountering is that the axels pop out of their holders. I guess the plastic has softened or something and they pop in and out of the holders rather easily. So as the carriage goes in and out, the axels will pop in and out making a popping noise. I'm trying to think of a good way to strengthen the plastic without breaking it.
Oh, I found that putting some lithium grease on the two tabs on the hooks that grab the disks helps it slide much easier when they hit the plastic pillars to spread the hooks.
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