28 Apr
2020
28 Apr
'20
3:30 p.m.
Bill said
Hi - COVID project.... I have been attempting to read
some old Honeywell
DDP-516 papertapes using the OP-80A or Teletype reader but it's inefficient
and I don't want to damage the tapes. Does anyone have a reliable
papertape reader for sale, or recommend one currently out there on Ebay,
I have an EECO MT-82 (manual on bitsavers), and it's ok but pulls the tape through in
short
sharp bursts rather than a continuous smooth action, even on the lowest baud rate.
I have the serial version, there is a separate I/O board for serial and parallel. For
some reason the right-hand spindle always runs, perhaps the driver transistor logic has
some
problem. I don't use the spindles anyway as I have no reels (I am designing 3D printed
ones)
but the spindle speed is way too fast for old tapes anyway, I think.
With the OP-80A you could try rigging up a small motor to pull the tapes through at slow
speed, say a LEGO Technic M size motor driving LEGO tires through a simple gearbox. And
build
up some sort of tape guide from LEGO as well.
Steve.