Amstrad FDD part

gerald · 14:38, 12 February 14

I've just created a wiki page related to FDD model found in CPC range : Amstrad FDD part - CPCWiki.

I see this page as a hub to Amstrad disk related issue like identification/repair/history.
Currently, there are only 5 models listed :
EME-150 A (P/N 30001)
EME-155 (P/N 30002)
EME-156 (P/N Z70312)
EME-156 V (P/N Z80264)
EME-157(P/N Z80425)

Missing are the one found in PCW and some I've read they would exist (P/N Z70313), but never seen.

While we have a drive belt replacement page, it does not help identifying drive model and therefore drive with write pin and drive without. That page is show one drive (EME-150 A) but also have picture of the write pin which is not existing in this model.
Ideally we should have a page per drive mode, but one single page with information on how to identify and open each drive for belt replacement would be OK.

Also, regarding disk drive we have the following page :
Disk drives - CPCWiki :
Include a mix of information related to disk in general (floppy/format/part number), as well as link to specific disk models that seem redundant with the peripheral page.
This page is in the "Page to delete or rename" category. But are we sure all informations are available in other pages ?

Amstrad Disk Drive - CPCWiki :
That one is specific to the DDI-1/FD-1. However, I think it would be better to rename it a Amstrad Disk Drive extension or Amstrad External Disk Drive.

robcfg · 15:54, 12 February 14

Hi Gerald,

Congratulations for the awesome FDD parts page! The pictures are great!

Gryzor · 19:16, 18 February 14

Thanks for the great page and photos, mate! Will take a look at the issues you raised tomorrow...

Munchausen · 20:20, 18 February 14

At least one of my CPC drives does not need 12V and is from a 6128, so I guess that one is missing. When I get some time I'll take a look. There is also the version from the spectrum.

Bryce · 21:02, 18 February 14

What a seriously well made page! Thanks. If you need further photos of any versions, I think I have almost all versions here.

There's also some more info here on identifying the write-pin sensor version: Help, I changed the drive-belt and now my disk drive is suddenly read-only?

Bryce.

gerald · 21:23, 18 February 14

Quote from: Bryce on 21:02, 18 February 14
There's also some more info here on identifying the write-pin sensor version: Help, I changed the drive-belt and now my disk drive is suddenly read-only?

Yes, this page is fine to confirm that you lost the pin

, and nice for the one that look for a solution !
In fact, it would be better to know that the drive use an optical sensor or a pin before opening it, and you can tell it even without opening your CPC : just look at the disk slot. Same height as a floppy = pin, twice the height of a floppy = optical

Quote from: Bryce on 21:02, 18 February 14
What a seriously well made page! Thanks. If you need further photos of any versions, I think I have almost all versions here.

It is quite interesting to see how the drive design evolved, mainly to reduce cost. If you have any version not listed yet, feel free to complete the page.

Bryce · 21:40, 18 February 14

My thread was for those (the majority) that try it without looking for a page to identify a problem that they obviously aren't aware of

I'll check which versions I have. I've 7 or 8 of them including the Spectrum +3.

Bryce.

pacomix · 16:41, 05 March 14

In the wiki it says the driver spins at 300 or 360 rpms. Which ones spins at 360 rpms? I have a disc drive mounted on a 6128 that was spinning way too fast and I though it has the motor broken... (I didn't throw it to the bin so don't panic!)

gerald · 17:03, 05 March 14

Quote from: pacomix on 16:41, 05 March 14
In the wiki it says the driver spins at 300 or 360 rpms. Which ones spins at 360 rpms? I have a disc drive mounted on a 6128 that was spinning way too fast and I though it has the motor broken... (I didn't throw it to the bin so don't panic!)

To my knowledge 3" drive rotate at 300 rpm.
Last page of DDI1 service manual say :
Spindle Motor, vi) Adjust VR201 so index frequency is 200 +/- 2ms

360 rpm is found on 5 1/4 HD drives.

Bryce · 09:19, 06 March 14

Quote from: pacomix on 16:41, 05 March 14
In the wiki it says the driver spins at 300 or 360 rpms. Which ones spins at 360 rpms? I have a disc drive mounted on a 6128 that was spinning way too fast and I though it has the motor broken... (I didn't throw it to the bin so don't panic!)

You can adjust the speed if it's running too fast or too slow.

Bryce.

pacomix · 12:37, 06 March 14

Quote from: gerald on 17:03, 05 March 14
To my knowledge 3" drive rotate at 300 rpm.
Last page of DDI1 service manual say :
Spindle Motor, vi) Adjust VR201 so index frequency is 200 +/- 2ms

360 rpm is found on 5 1/4 HD drives.

And what is the VR201? I don't see it in the manual...

gerald · 13:14, 06 March 14

Quote from: pacomix on 12:37, 06 March 14
And what is the VR201? I don't see it in the manual...

VR201 on the drive schematic at page 12 top. This is a variable resistor.
However, that schematic is only valid for the EME-150A drive.

On other model (155/156/156V/157), the motor itself has a adjustment 'screw' on its top.

Note that on EME-155 / EME-156, there is a VR1 variable resistor, but not having a schematic, I cannot tell if it related to drive speed.

gerald · 17:52, 06 March 14

Updated wiki page with some pictures : Amstrad FDD part - CPCWiki

Bryce · 09:09, 07 March 14

Really nice pics gerald. First time I've seen the inside of the motor too

Bryce.

Gryzor · 12:47, 29 April 14

Took me a while, but I moved the Amstrad Disk Drive page to Amstrad External Disk Drive

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Amstrad FDD part