8 Jun
2023
8 Jun
'23
5:13 p.m.
On Jun 8, 2023, at 1:05 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On 6/8/23 09:51, Martin Bishop via cctalk wrote:
Ouch, that would be a case of a badly maintained punch. If you feed such tapes into a
reader that uses a sprocket feed wheel you'd have trouble. If it's an optical
reader with a plain wheel (friction feed) it will probably work ok if the spacing errors
are not so bad that they throw off the timing.
The puches I have knowledge of do all 9 holes.
Similarly, the blank tape stock (of my acquaintance) is unpunched.
That would figure in why I occasionally see tapes with
irregularly-spaced feed holes. That clears that mystery up. Instead of plain paper tape, is there any objection to
Mylar- or
Mylar-coated tape? I note that several manufacturers recommend it.
I just did a Google search for "cnc punch tape" and an ebay sale for new mylar
tape (1000 foot rolls) popped up. That should work great if your punch can punch it
reliably. I'm not sure if all of them do. Mylar tape is much stronger, so it's
great for tapes that are read many times, but that's probably not much of a
consideration for modern hobby usage. It might explain why the stuff shows up when you
look at CNC applications, though -- between the need to be able to do series production,
and the abuse things get in a shop floor setting...
paul