ZX Printer Belt

Any discussions related to the creation of new hardware or software for the ZX80 or ZX81
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1024MAK
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by 1024MAK »

Moggy wrote:This is an upside though I have about forty rolls of ali' paper left thus making me the biggest ZX paper stockist in the world!! :lol:
Flog it on eBay (one roll at a time as R@RE, one last roll remaining, low start price...) and you may make enough money to retire :lol:

Still all slightly tongue in cheek of course. ;)

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mrtinb
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by mrtinb »

Moggy wrote: Cannot comment on your first example but speaking as a former Makita(not Mikita as in the ad) service centre owner, the second example will not work as it is far too stiff for this application.
But maybe these then:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Black-Ru ... d00d232546

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/L-Timing ... d00d232546

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Timing-B ... d00d232546
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Moggy
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by Moggy »

1024MAK wrote:
Moggy wrote:This is an upside though I have about forty rolls of ali' paper left thus making me the biggest ZX paper stockist in the world!! :lol:
Flog it on eBay (one roll at a time as R@RE, one last roll remaining, low start price...) and you may make enough money to retire :lol:

Still all slightly tongue in cheek of course. ;)

Mark
Mark I like the cut of your jib! Soooo Just for you my fine south western Spechum how about FIVE yes FIVE rolls of said paper complete with original cardboard box(honestly I'm that sad) for the princely sum of a GRAND!

Before anyone complains I should point out this stuff is as R@RE as a Jupiter Ace and about as useful and we all know how much ebay optimists want for them don't we?

Said more in desperation now than tongue in cheek :(
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by Moggy »

mrtinb wrote:
Moggy wrote: Cannot comment on your first example but speaking as a former Makita(not Mikita as in the ad) service centre owner, the second example will not work as it is far too stiff for this application.
But maybe these then:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Black-Ru ... d00d232546

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/L-Timing ... d00d232546

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Timing-B ... d00d232546
I think the problem with all of these is A) the tooth spacing B) the general stiffness of the material and C) where and how do you attach the styli?

The puny weak electric motor and plastic bearing surfaces the capstans rode in necessitated a belt that was pliable/flimsy by nature so as not to create a high load/tension on the moving parts.

Using the Makita belt as an example this belt is used on a machine that has Steel pulleys(early models, now aluminium) ball bearings and has a 16000rpm no load speed so has to be stiff and sturdy as a result. Just placing such a belt on the printer capstans is likely to tear away the bearing mounts due to the tension and there is no way on earth the motor would even turn such a belt.

All joking aside I know the German lads especially have put a lot of time into this and would like this to work,so as to restore an important part of Sinclair history and I applaud them for doing so.
But the fact remains that again all humour aside there is no paper supplier no styli supplier and this printer also if memory serves is fitted with a ULA and we all know how fragile they are.

If in the end you can find some one who will supply all of the above for the twenty or so people in the world still using this over complex abomination at a COST EFFECTIVE PRICE then I might be tempted to resurrect my half dozen pieces of junk, until then it's Alphacom all the way for this USER as opposed to a COLLECTOR of ZX goodness.
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mrtinb
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by mrtinb »

RWAP wrote: Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:26 pm Now that some of the members of this forum have a 3D printer... would it be possible to make replacement ZX Printer belts on one?
Seems like there exits filament and resins that let you 3D print rubber-like models. https://www.3dhubs.com/3dprint#/?materi ... er-plastic

I plan to buy a 3D printer within the next 6 months, and then I could try this material and see if it'll work.
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svid123
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by svid123 »

Made my DIY belt with laser printer film and glued belt ribs with Cyanoacrylate glue.
Ribs are made of 3D printer 0.4mm ABS filament extrusion wire. Glued by hand
First printed a belt template on a laser film, then glued every rib on a film stripe. Lastly glued both ends of stripe to close belt loop
Two pins (sliders holders) are also glued
Every part of operation should be very precise. Belt tension when installed should not be very high (closed loop length), because printer film is not stretching. Such belt takes about one hour to make it. Made three different belts to "gain a skill"
The belt is very reliable no problems with a moderate accuracy printing. Printed already two rolls of Al paper. Quality is the same
Attachments
template.zip
Printer template for ribs. Use 300 DPI for printing
(3.05 KiB) Downloaded 242 times
IMG_0240.JPG
IMG_0243.JPG
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PokeMon
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by PokeMon »

Wow ! good work ! 8-)
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by McKlaud »

@svid123: very impressive.
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Andy Rea
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by Andy Rea »

wow that takes some time to do all that

great stuff

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McKlaud
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Re: ZX Printer Belt

Post by McKlaud »

I am looking for a volunteer who can do three of such belts for me :mrgreen:
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