4 Feb
2004
4 Feb
'04
6:29 a.m.
On Tue, 2004-02-03 at 16:05, Tony Duell wrote:
You might find an 'idler tyre' for a VCR would
work if you can get one
the right size. You want to go to a _good_ VCR spares/repair place and
see if they can match it up.
YOu can also turn rubber pretty easily on a small drill press. The real
chore is to chuck it so it rotates concentrically. I've had to
manufacture a new rubber anvil wheel for a 1920's Western Union machine,
a tire about 2" diam x 1/4" wide. Came out quite nice.
I got some 60-durometer neoprene sheet (from Industrial Metal Supply,
Sun Valley CA), chopped it roundish, hole-sawed it (large hole) and just
jammed it over a giant mill bit.
It's rubber; it grips. If the tape drive spindle that the 'tire' fits
over is say 1/2" diameter, drill a slightly smaller hole in the rubber,
and chuck a 1/2" 'thing' in the drill press. Press the tire on. It won't
grip hard, but enough for engine turning.
Turn the drill press on, and use a rough file to get it the right size
and shape. Then apply sandpaper on a wooden block. Can't use much
pressure else the tire flies off.
I used the drill press table as a hand rest.
You can get the surface nice and smoothly rough with sandpaper.
tomj
I don't think an O-ring is very suitable here, you want something with
a rectangluar cross-section.
I believe classic car restorers use a 2-part 'rubber' compound to make
thigns like pedal rubbers, seals, etc. I wonder if that could be used to
make rollers, etc. Making the moulds would be fairly easy in a reasonable
home workshop. Anyone know if said compound is available in the UK?
I've got a roller to rebuild sometime. The platten roller for a Versatec
V80 electrostatic plotter. It's turned to goo. This is a full-size
platten, in 2 parts, with differential gearing between them (to keep the
paper running straight!). Should be 'interesting' to repair...
-tony