IIRC there are 2 pins at the sides, it's the top and bottm edges of those that matter. Each edge can eiterh be straight out cut in a bit, they operate 4 contacts i nthe lamphoder. One always operates when the cap is fitted (this inidcates a cap _is_ fitted, removign the cap disables the drive). the other 3 edges encode a 3 bit (yes, I do mean _3_ binary number). In the RL's, only the bottom 2 bits are used, the RK06/RK07 use all 3 bits (and ahve caps numbered from 0-7), I think some CDC drives used a simlar system, but the cape was opaque and didn't also act as the 'ready' lamp. Therefore, if you don't care abotu the cap showing the right number you can use an RK06/RK07 #6 cap on an RL and it'll work as #2. Or you can cut or jumper traces on the frontpanel board to fake the appopriate contacts. But I assume the OP wants to keep his drive original. -tony

In article <20120320130716.GB25942 at n0jcf.net>, Chris Elmquist <chrise at pobox.com> writes: If you get me a design file, I bet I could get you one printed for gratis (or near gratis) as an experiment. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 version available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

On Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 4:58 PM, Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> wrote: I was looking at the shape and especially the tines... I think it would be a great thing to make with a 3D printer, but long, thin parts tend to be fragile, especially when "drawn" on a fused filament deposition printer "against the grain". Liquid polymer and sintered powder objects don't have as much of a dimensional strength/weakness issue, but a tower made of stacked slices of 0.5mm-wide filament isn't particularly strong. For the application of an RL/RK unit select plug, once the plug is in place, it's supported and isn't likely to see much lateral stress on the thin bits, but handling and insertion could damage the plug. One thought I had was a generic plug with slots that would admit long, thin select cams that are printed flat then glued into place (neutral-color ABS would great for this, for the translucent milky color and the fact that acetone welds ABS well). So you'd print generic bodies, face down (orientation also matters with inexpensive FDM printers with no support material), then print two "legs" per plug, also flat to the bed. You would then select the legs based on what the unit number is desired. Slide/place the legs in slots in the body and a swipe of acetone later, it's a finished device. The heated bed on most printers would give the face of the plug a smooth appearance that would require little finishing, just a digit sticker or a moment with a Sharpie. You might have to remove the flash around the rim of the body that happens when the bottom layer spreads on the heated bed, but that's a few seconds with a file or knife. ABS welding rod is $15/lb. Plugs are so small and light that the amount of plastic is trivial. Liquid monomer resin for stereo lithography is not as cheap - $600-$800/gallon, so even small parts can be expensive. Fill a graduated cylinder with water and measure the displacement of one plug to estimate the resin cost there - probably on the order of $0.25-$1.00 - easy to get samples from a friendly source, but if you wanted dozens, somebody is likely to want the resin paid for. -ethan

In article <CAALmimkess-qzURPf1muhVAKk2oZ2iTKyodWiipxNauBOHvuYA at mail.gmail.com>, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> writes: Based on what I've seen come off the printers at the make group that meets at my museum, I'm betting it would work just fine. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 version available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

On 03/20/2012 10:26 PM, Chris Elmquist wrote: I'd be interested in a few. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA

No,m the one I was thinking of, and I am pretty sure it was on a CDC unit -- perhaps a Phoenix drive -- has the same size as an RL unit select cap. But it was opaque black plastic and obviosuly didn't have a lamp behind it. The coding was done in the same wway wit hthe edges of the 2 sid tabes. Whether it was the same code I don't know. -tony

'Twas meant to be private, alas. Damn reply-to. But yes, thanks to a helpful listmember, I'm covered. -Dave On 03/19/2012 09:14 PM, Dave McGuire wrote: -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA