ZX Printer Belt

[beanz]

Maybe you can buy a fax roll, and cut it for 10 cm, and use that, so there's paper between styli and printer roll.

Yes that's an idea...doesn't matter if it actually prints or not...now I think about it will the printer run anyway without paper?? I know the feed button works but don't think I've actually tried to run it via print commands etc.

[beanz]

2nd printer up and running...sort of, it's printing but the styli are not properly "working" so I need to remount them.

The 2nd printer needed the belt printing at 102% to rotate. I also added gun oil on the gears which seemed to help rotation. The fact I'm "custom" making each belt for each printer right now suggests a 3D printed mass market belt isn't an option...at least on the low end 3d printers I have...might be also why Mutant Caterpillar is only offering refurbs on the printer rather than selling the belts themselves, maybe they are custom fitting them.

I think I'm going to try the stapler trick that was mentioned very early in the thread, I know years ago I tried it using that build guide (using a record player belt) and the stapler posts seemed to work, though the belt ultimately didn't...so I guess it's worth a try using the staple method on the 3D belt as that's the time sink really when putting these things together, that being trying to get the styli on the printed posts and then having them stay on while still allowing the movement it needs.

[beanz]

The staple solution works great, very firm and easy to do in a couple of mins rather an 1hr. A bit of insulation from a 22awg wire fits perfectly as the cap on the staple, nice and tight no glue needed so the stylus moves freely as it should.

See photos, The print is blurring as it goes to the right though..anyone got any thoughts on that? remember I've printed the belt slightly bigger so I was wondering if the spacing of the posts is now causing the blurring as it will be slightly more apart because of the extra length...which at 102% slightly under 2mm.

Really happy with the post solution though..saves a bunch of time and is really solid.

inside of belt (belt turn inside out). Staple added and top snipped off leaving the post you see


Belt right side out with stlyi mounted and held on with 22awg wire insulation, just stripped it off a wire, pushed it on (it's nice and tight) then snipped it down to size.


Mounted in the printer


Blurry print as it goes to the right.

[ant]

Finally re-posting the .STL file in ZIP form for the ZX printer belt with the stylus mounting posts. It is passworded, so those wanting to use will need to PM me for the password. I am doing this to restrict access to those who have been of such great help in the development of this project, so please don't get your feelings hurt if access is not granted.

The belt with the attached stylus will, as mentioned before, be available on the SMR site very soon at a modest cost of $15.

For those of you wishing to download the file and print your own, I will be more than happy to assist as it can be a little tricky to get it "just right". I designed the post dimensions as small as I could, but feel free to modify the file if you can improve on that detail.

Regards,

Mike

Printer belt posts.zip

Hi, I just reached this post. I need to print a band. Is it possible to send me the file password? TIA

[ant]

Somebody knows where we can buy aluminum paper for this printer on nowadays?
Thanks

[jojo]

Replaced the belt on one of my zx printers , but..............

I think something is wrong , please look at the pictures ;

and ignore the missing characters

what might be wrong giving me this result ?

[XavSnap]

Hi Jojo,

One of the printing needles seem to be dead...
Only one needle is link to the high voltage metal belt located inside the plastic cover box!
The ZxPrinter test if the needle is present to adjust the zero start point to align the first dot.
In case of an unused needle, the motor steel to run, and wait the next needle (the second) to print the next line.
The blank line is the waiting time to get the working one.

The low contrasted point seen a to be a bad contact with the high voltage metal shield, due to dust and sparks on the metal strip how burn the surface.
You had to clean the metal using a ink rubber cleaner or a fine sandpaper to polish it.
Don't forget to use oil on it, but dry it to avoid to glue the silver-paper dust's.

Other tread on the ZxPrint (fr): https://forum.system-cfg.com/viewtopic. ... er#p163838

[jojo]

Thanks Xavsnap ,

dim print can also be caused by 35 year old paper

i will try to find some time to investigate as both my printers have the same symptoms .

[Moggy]

DO NOT clean the rubber drive roller as this is conductive ( hard as that is to believe ) and is an essential part of the printing circuit, cleaning it especially with rubber cleaning solvent will result in no print at all.


Link to service manual...

https://spectrumforeveryone.com/wp-cont ... Manual.pdf

[Paul]

In case of "old" paper it mostly works to heat it at approximately 50 degrees Celsius in the baking oven for half an hour in order to dry it.