I’ve often wondered if the tape heads from consumer tape devices such as cassette or 4-8 track tape players could be used or be made to be used as replacements. Anybody ever try that?
Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 7, 2022, at 11:51, Michael Thompson via cctech <cctech@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > > >> >> >> From: Gary Oliver <g...@aerodesic.com> >> Subject: DECTape head problem >> >> In debugging my DECtape interface lashup, I found that one of my head >> has two open windings.? Specifically, one channel has an open 'ground' >> with the other two lines apparently the full winding of the channel.? >> The second channel failing has no continuity between any of the three >> lines.? I have tested the other head and it has all the requisite >> continuity so I'm hoping I can at least get a single spindle running. >> >> Has any ever attempted repair of one of these? >> >> -Gary >> > > At the Rhode Island Computer Museum we found several DECtape heads on TU55 > and TU56 drives with open connections. A volunteer got one head X-Rayed so > we could see the solder joints between the tiny wires for the head coils, > and the larger twinax wires that go to the relay board. We couldn't see any > damage to the wires or solder joints. > > We tried heating the potting material to soften it, and digging it out to > get to the solder joints. While digging at the potting material you can't > see the tiny wires, so they will likely get damaged. > > We considered using a solvent to remove the potting material, but thought > that it would eat the enamel off the head coil wires and damage them beyond > repair. > > So far we haven't found a way to repair the heads. > > Michael Thompson