19 Aug
2009
19 Aug
'09
1:40 p.m.
I've just bought an HP9125 plotter for my 9100
:-). For those who don't
know this device (built entirely from discrete transistors from what I
can see), it's basically a calcualtor interface (4 boards of logic)
driving a pair of DACs, driving an analogue X-Y plotter. Anyway, the last
part has slidewires (essentially long sliding potentiometers) to detect
the pen position and provide a feedback signal to the servo circuits.
I have a HP9125 hooked up to my 9100 too. It's way cool. For a while
I used noncompatible HP plotter pens kinda tape/wedged on
but the last couple times it was just felt tip pens, definitely
not quite as good as real plotter pens.
The HP service manual (OK, it's a boardswapper
guide, but I read all the
information I can find...) says you have to clean said slidewires with
special cleaner and then coat them with special slidewire lubricant. Of
course I want to make my slidewires last as long as possible, getting
replacements is non-trivial :-)
Does anyone know what modern product I should use?
I would guess a good cleaner/lube for slide audio faders would be the right
thing. When I did some techie work in the recording industry, in
fact, the old-timers called the faders "slidewires".
Tim.