8 Mar
2002
8 Mar
'02
3:26 p.m.
On Fri, 8 Mar 2002 19:59:36 -0600 (CST), you wrote:
Ouch. That would certainly explain it. I kept getting outbid by the
same person, but I didn't put 2 and 2 together. I guess it's the free
market economy at work, but it makes it tough if you can't justify
paying a high price from something since it's just to play with.
<sigh>
Well, actually I was considering running it with a BASIC Stamp 2; then
it could take either RS-232 serial input from a PC, or parallel TTL
input from my Mark-8. I really have no idea how much force it will
take to punch clean holes in the tape. I plan to machine the metal
parts for my design and harden them, and then see how hard a solenoid
has to whack the pins to get a clean cut. I picked up a box full of
solenoids tonight at the Surplus Center, and I'm hoping they'll be
strong enough. If so, I'll just need to put together some drivers so
the BS-2 can energize them, and a stepper motor or something to pull
the tape through. (If anyone can supply any details about how a
commercial tape punch works, I'd be very interested to know. No sense
reinventing the wheel...)
-Bill Richman (bill_r(a)inetnebr.com)
Web Page: http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r
Home of the COSMAC Elf Microcomputer Simulator, Fun with
Molten Metal, Orphaned Robots, and Technological Oddities.
Does regular
paper tape normally come with the sprocket holes pre-punched,
or does the device that punches the data holes also punch the sprocket
holes?
The paper tape punch also punches the sprocket holes.
I recently bought some "paper tape"
from eBay, and it looks like
the right stuff except it's totally without holes. I don't think I've
ever seen "virgin" tape before, but I had the idea that the sprocket holes
down the middle came with the tape. I'm kicking around trying to build my
own tape punch, since I have been unsuccessful at scrounging or buying one
so far.
You have been unsuccessful for a very simple reason. Western Numerical
Controls sells new and refurbished tape readers and punches at absurdly
high prices. And because of this, they buy all the good punches that
appear on ebay. In fact, the guy who buys them, is the exact same guy
who sold you that paper tape.
Its very difficult to compete with a bidder who plans to turn around and
resell (or attempt to resell) the paper tape punches for $2000.00 or
so that he buys for $200 - $600 on ebay.
I picked up
some stainless steel flat and some rod of the
appropriate diameter for the holes today, along with some solenoids for
actuating said rods. I'm thinking of machining the stainless to make my
own punch, but the lack of sprocket holes on the new tape has me confused.
Do I need to add another solenoid and pin to punch a smaller hole for the
sprocket, or did I just buy some odd-ball tape?
Are you making some sort of manual paper tape punch?