Epson PX-8 specifically TF-10 problem...

[Fred Cisin]

On Sat, 9 Dec 2017, allison via cctalk wrote:
> I have several Epson PX-8s and i used them.. They work well with the
> various wedges I have.
> I also Have a PF-10 which is the portable 3.5" 40 track two side floppy.
> The problem is it randomly does not turn the media unless I give it a
> push to get it turning.
> Things checked:
> * Batteries, NEW fully charge (Both).
> * internal Power supplies, current voltage and bridged with external
>    supplies does not help.
> * media checked for binding, it does not.
>  When it turns it reads and writes correctly and at the correct speed.
>  It may do so without help for many tries then will stop required a
> manual push.
> At first glance I though there were motor bearing issues but have verified
> this is not so.   If I force motor on and restrain it I has good torque
> and no
> dead spots.  All signals in the motor control look good on the scope.
> Any thoughts?

How does it detect the presence of a disk?   and/or disk change?



Totally irrelevant to the matter at hand:
BTW, how close to "industry standard" is the interface to the drive 
mechanism itself?   Would it be practical to replace the mechanism with 
one of the 80 track (and also 2 sided?) Epson drives?  Either the whole 
drive, if it is fairly "standard", or just the stepping mechanism if there 
is another Epson drive similar enough?
Besides significant increase in capacity, it would simplify data 
interchange a bit.
Although the track spacing is 67.5 tpi, instead of 135tpi, I wonder 
whether the track width is similarly different.

--
Grumpy Ol' Fred     		cisin at xenosoft.com