18 Feb
2018
18 Feb
'18
11:10 a.m.
On 02/18/2018 11:34 AM, P Gebhardt via cctalk wrote:
Hello list,
currently, I am in the process of trying to bring back to life a disk drive installation
from Control Data known as "841 Multiple Disk Drive" ( MDD ). From the early
'70s. It uses hydraulic disk head actuators! Pictures of the subsystem are here:
http://www.digitalheritage.de/peripherals/cdc/841/841.htm
I started with the power supply. Most of the electrolytic capacitors need to be reformed
which is being done.
As far as I know, some computer installations used 400Hz 3-phase back in the days. Does
anybody know, if that is the case for this type of drive systems? I couldn't find any
indication so far, except for the input filter that supports up to 400Hz (written on it).
I've quite some experience with old linear power supplies, but never worked with
three-phase supplies, yet.
Has anybody experience with this? Anything particular to be considered?
There is an operator's manual, but there don't seem to be manuals or schematics
about this type of CDC drive nor on bitsavers, neither elsewhere on the net. How could
help me in pointing out where to get these?
A lot of questions, I know.... :)
If the motors ran off 400 Hz, they would have to have LOTS
of poles to keep speed within reason. A two-pole motor on
400 Hz would run close to 24000 RPM. My guess is they did
not run the spindles and blowers off 400 Hz, as a momentary
dip would not cause the pack to lose much RPM. The pack has
a huge rotational inertia.
The electronics COULD be run from 400 Hz. If a linear
supply, then the transformers would seem to be insanely
small for the power delivered. That's your first clue. It
was quite common for CDC and other systems to run the CPU
and closely-coupled components off 400 Hz created by rotary
converters. (The IBM 360 was one system that didn't, they
used electronic converters to produce single-phase 2.5 KHz
power.)
Jon