New WM-DD center gear prototype is here (EDIT - final version is here)

Hello guys,

I'm glad to announce that the first working prototype of newly made center gear is here.
It's just prototype, made of brass, not plastic. It is also missing parts necessary to fix it to the original metal ring.
I used epoxy glue, instead. It works fantastic, even after playing 3 cassettes on my WM-D3.

There is still long way to go. They must be made of plastic. Metal would wear adjacent plastic gears quickly.
With Philip, we're trying to find way how to make it. It's not easy and not cheap. Even 0.05 mm difference in size will cause problems. It needs lot of time and money but there is progress.
I'll keep you informed.



Marian

EDIT: Now final, plastic version is available

 

This is absolutely a great step in the right direction.

Would Brass be that destructive to the other gears?

What are the options moving forward? Using the brass to create a mould to then be filled with an appropriate material?
When you say its missing parts, do you mean a collar for either side?

Perhaps if all the gears that this gear came into contact with were also of the same material, that would take away the issue of wear & tear. You could argue that this would create a friction issue, but the same principle works fine for watches etc. Just wondering if thats an option. I have yet to take a brave look inside a DD so basically have no idea what I am talking about.

Anyway, this now has me looking at my large collection of DD units and knowing that a longterm solution is not that far away.

I have a formLabs PLUS SLA printer. Annoyingly, the teeth are just a bit too fine to use their tough resin, which would have been ideal.

 

Wow cool! I do agree on doublecee about the bras.
So if I counted correctly the gear has 120 teeth?

 

http://www.sdp-si.com/Plastic_Gears.php
https://www.emachineshop.com/machine-shop/Custom-plastic-gears/img/page86.html&img_id=522

 

Nice work. Like you have already mentioned your prototype will wear out the adjacent gears quickly, nice work though a step in the right direction keep up the good work.

 

I hope I can finish this project.

I studied technical engineering school, then I Technical University (Radioelectronics) and now I work as computer specialist and java developer.
I have all skills to prepare technical drawings, doing CAD designs, etc.

The design will consist of one gear and two rings and three screws. These dural rings and screws will be used to fix the gear to the metal disc.

Now, it is necessary to have 1:1 prototype done and tested. If all is OK, then I can order model production and then final mass production of plastic gear. Together with my friend Philip, we're working on it. He's searching for producers in US and I'm searching in China.

It would be fine to sell this self-repair kit for acceptable price so that it would be available for everyone.

Brass material isn't the best for this design. It wears quickly and it would wear all adjacent plastic parts. I will reopen my WM-D3 and see what damage it did.

Marian

 

I'm very exited! Hope you two find a nice manufacturer/deal.
It's going to be injectionmold right?

 

This is great news indeed, thanks for all the effort your putting into this, I currently have 6 DD's with non-repairable centre gears and this could bring them all back to life

 

superb work Marian - if we get to the point of needing investment, I'm sure members could crowd fund this project

hope someone is secretly working on a replacement 2v aiwa battery!

 

Nice work Marian... Can't wait for my latest DC-2 to receive the new gear.. jay

 

How about 3D printing?

 

Great work so far Marian.

That is what this guy seems to be doing

http://makezine.com/2014/03/21/resin-casting-going-from-cad-to-engineering-grade-plastic-parts/

alternatively could the gear just be machined (which I presume is how the brass one was made) from a suitable plastic ?

 

Good work, Marian!

New hope for my DC2, that's been on the shelf for a couple of years with a broken main gear. People who have the know-how to repair the broken gear seem to have LONG waiting lists.

Hope you find a good solution to have it produced in durable plastic.

Best
Jørn

 

Another reason why I am so encouraged by this is because I have DC2 that Marian serviced for its previous owner and its still going strong... and thats just with a gear repair. A new gear is an altogether new and exciting notion, especially when I have 8 Clacking DD units in need of work.

 

gentlemen, this is great news!
i am ready to crowd-source, if needed, and also willing to
test the gear in DD, DDII D3, DD33 machines if necessary
(the other) Marian

 

So I'll be sending you a DC2 and D3 and DD33 to test in Marian.

Count me in!