Anybody wanna trade reels?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sweetbeats
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sweetbeats

sweetbeats

Reel deep thoughts...
I need at least a couple 1/4" x 10.5" NAB precision 6-screw reels and I have the same in 1/2", 1" and 2" to offer in trade. Anybody?
 
*bump* *shove* *rattle*

Okay fine...no takers for trading...how about anybody wanna SELL me a couple precision 6-screw 1/4" NAB reels??

They do indeed seem to be hard to find.

I'm about ready to pull some of my empty 1" and 2" reels apart and send the hubs to my machinist to turn down into 1/4" parts!
 
Yeah, but was/is the 1/4" flavor on a 6-screw reel? That's all I need is just the reels.
 
Good catch. Scratch the 7 series as the precision reel looks like it's for a specific recorder. However, the 8206 specifies a "precision reel" for all widths. 8206-17RGY is the part number.
 
I'm pulling apart a 2" precision reel tonight with a phenolic hub...gonna get it to my machinist and see what he can do. Anybody know what the engineering spec is between the inside of the flanges on a 1/4" precision reel?
 
hey sweetbeats, didn't know you got a 2". what kind did you get? I have never used a precision reel on any of my machines, does it make a huge difference?
 
I have an Ampex MM-1000.

All of my 1" and 2" tape is on precision reels...think that's all you could get in 2"...

Anyway, I've experienced the difference between the standard and the precision reels with 1/2" on the Tascam 48 and 58 machines I used to have and now I'm dealing with ugly tape pack issues on my 1/4" BR-20T. What I find with the precision reels is that the ID of the hub is tighter so there is less eccentricity between the reel and the reel table, and the flanges are less prone to being warped or bent, and furthermore the manner in which the flanges mount to the hub is more precise so there's less chance of a flange being wonky. What does it all mean in the reel world? heheh...

On the 1/2" machines I was sold on using them because there was less tension arm oscillation...the tension system just had to work a whole lot less when using the precision reels. Now, I understand that the whole purpose of the servo tensioning system is to deal with that stuff, but it can only react so quickly and unless you are working with a closed-loop system those oscillations are going to be present in SOME fashion inside the headblock...and secondly the tape packs were like glass with the precision reels.

I haven't yet used a precision reel on my BR-20T, but the thicker plastic 7" reel packs tape beautifully and the standard three-screw 10.5" reel packs something ugly, and its not tape tension either. I've measured all that. With the 3-screw 10.5" reel the tension arms are hopping around and I can try and try to to center the reel on the table but the reels themselves are not well balanced so even in library wind you can feel the machine shaking and the tension arm is shaking...7" plastic reel on the trident mount? It nicely centered and everything runs so much more smoothly and the tape packs just beautifully. Same experience I had on the 1/2" machines so that's why I'm looking for 1/4" precision reels and why I like 'em. Everything else works you know? But my experience is that the precision reels work better, at least with the machines I've had.
 
0.30" on the 1/4" and 0.54 on the 1/2".

both are +/- a few thousands

who else would know that but one about to introduce them!
 
what speeds/how many tracks does it do? what kind of tape are you running with it?
 
Cory,

I have my doubts about seeing any benefits with precision reels for 1/4" tape. I'm assuming this is related to the sloppy spooling on the BR-20? If so, I think there are likely other problems that should be addressed. The BR-20 is a very smooth running unit, and spooling mode on that thing should be very smooth with standard reels.

I've rarely seen six-screw precision reels used with 1/4" tape in all my years of recording. I wouldn't even know where to find them. They were quite common on 1/2" tape and up for audio recording and instrumentation tape for industry.

Even my Polyline NAB plastic 10-1/2 1/4" reels spool perfectly. If you're looking for six-screw reels for your BR-20 spooling issues I just hate to see you go to a lot of trouble.

If it's for something else... well... have at it and let us know how it turned out (no pun intended, but your machinist would probably laugh at that one... hopefully not while running the lathe)
 
What is your confidence level in the adaptors? Im not familiar with the adaptors for that machine. I looked up some pics though. You can correct me if Im wrong but they look to just slide onto the trident, and then are secured with ??? Looks like maybe you use the stock rubber retainer?

edit: the only NAB standard that I could locate includes reels, but make no mention of a "precision reel"

And from that spec, the distance between the inside faces of a 10.5" diameter metal reel is .350 +/- .005"
 
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Greg, thanks for the dims...i'll compare that to the 1/2", 1" and 2" reels I have here as far as the difference between the tape width and the hub width and double check for a correlation just as a means of verification, though of anybody I would expect you to have solid information. :)

Beck, point totally well-taken. I don't know. Its weird because spooling with plastic reels either 10.5" or 7" is really great (in both those cases there is no adapter but just the trident. So maybe it IS an issue with the hub adapters. I won't jump ship yet on the standard reels yet, Tim...though I may still see if my machinist can make some 1/4" precision hubs "just because". Nice pun, BTW.

mdainsd, the clamping mechanism is identical to all the standard Teac/Tascam 1/2" and 1" reel locks...plastic, but the 1/4" type are held to the reel table with the same spring-loaded trident that holds the small reels (or plastic large reels) to the table. Does that make sense? So...no...i really DON'T have a lot of confidence in the reel adapters. The 1/2" and 1" equivalents mount to the reel tables with a machine screw...maybe an M5 and a thick machined washer...positive mount. Maybe I'll mess around with some alternative fastening of the adapters to the reel table...try to come up with something that's not a permanent mod but will provide more positive mounting of the adapter.

Falken, the MM-1000 came as a 1" 8-track, 2" 16-track or 2" 24-track. The first two are far more common. There were only about 500 made total between all formats. They were introduced in the late 60's and the MM-1000-16 was the first 16-track machine. Mine is currently a 1" 8-track but I have everything to convert to 2" 16-track. It uses the same amp electronics as the 440 series so all class A discrete amplification there. Mine has the AC capstan and is 7.5/15ips, but many were outfitted with a DC servo capstan and were 15/30ips capable. The transport is based on the VR-1000 2" quad VTR. I have a large thread on mine "Ampex MM-1000 Story..." which has more than you ever wanted to know about them.
 
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I think I understand, LOL. Can you borrow some Otari 1/4-1/2" adaptors (you remove a spacer inside for 1/4" use)? They have a brass collet (like a milling machine uses) that clamps down on all the three blades of the trident and the center shaft. When they are tightened down they dont move. Just a thought.
 
GCalo said:
0.30" on the 1/4" and 0.54 on the 1/2".

both are +/- a few thousands

who else would know that but one about to introduce them!
Click to expand...

Interesting...I measured my 1/2", 1" and 2" precision hubs and I get 0.524", 1.020" and 2.028".

Greg, you don't happen to have the old NAB standards laying around do you?
 
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