| Stocker |
A neighbor of mine had a sale to raise money for a missions trip...aka a garage sale. One of the things that ended up in the garbage was an OLD apple printer.
Aside from being nicely overbuilt like all old computer stuff was, it was way heavy compared to a modern unit. The reason... no SMPS. It has a 20V 3A, 10-0-10 1A (80VA) transformer. Just the thing when you need power for your next gainclone or whatever. I don't think I'll trust the (big) filter caps until they're tested though... Also it had a LOT of transistors to drive 2 steppers, with a load of small value 3W resistors and zeners by them... free. I did a quick search but didn't see any mention of this potential source of parts.
:cool: |
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| planet10 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Stocker
OLD apple printer |
Which one?
dave |
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| Stocker |
Didn't even look!:whazzat:
Seriously, this thing only came out of the bin for 1/2-hour's worth of amusement taking it apart. I was paying so much attention to the outside of it that I ~barely~ noticed the rainbow-apple logo.
Sorry.
-edit-
*something* inside had a date of 1983 on it I think. |
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| planet10 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Stocker
*something* inside had a date of 1983 on it I think. |
had to be an ImageWriter or earlier then... was it very rectangi=ular box shape? the reason i ask is because i probably have a few of these kicking around.
dave |
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| Stocker |
aaaaaahhh. ;) Yes, it may have been the most rectangular box of a printer I have ever seen. Unless my memory fails me, it had a black metal plate under the transformer, about 3x1.5, with at least one naked stepper motor sticking out as well, with one big knob for turning the rubber roller on the side. OH! the bottom comprised almost entirely a single removeable panel that covered the one big PCB, and I remember thinking how easy they must have been to service...when servicing computer equipment was actually the thing to do.
If they are not currently in service as a high-quality dot-matrix printer, why not break one open? |
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| loonatron |
| quote: | | i probably have a few of these kicking around |
Oh dear. (I have this problem too;) though not printers, but monitors! biggest one is 80cm screen! :att'n:
heavy duty printers are also cool for linear sliding bushes, and hardened and ground shafts. Very cool if you like building mechanical things! I'll be using some of these sort of bits for my DIY dubplate cutting lathe! And if I ever get the time, a mini metalworking lathe! |
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| planet10 |
I just disassembled 2 ImageWriter IIs (the less boxy ones). Each produced a 28V 2.85A (80VA) trafo... real squat little units. Now just have to figure out how to take advantage of them. Also got some IEC female chassis mount, and common mode filters.
dave |
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