Jeff_Birt Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 (edited) In the 1980s the Alps 4-pen printer/plotter mechanism was used by almost every home computer manufacturer, for portable computer printers as well as a number of pieces of medical equipment. While they were not fast, they were compact, and did allow for 4 color printing/plotting at an affordable price. Over the years they all develop the same problem however, the pinion gears on the stepper motors crack. Plastic shrinks over time and a small plastic gear pressed onto a steel shaft will most likely succumb to age and split. While there have been some 3D printed gears available, they are expensive and not as strong as the original injection molded plastic gears. After searching for a few years now we finally found a manufacturer that could reproduce these gears in a reasonable quantity and reasonable price and out of brass which will last a lifetime. Now it is possible to fix all those old Alps mechanisms and get them printing/plotting again. The gears are sold in a set of 2 which is enough for 1 printer/plotter mechanism. They must be pressed into place, but you can make a simple tool to do so form a 2”/50mm C-clamp. See the link to the installation video which also shows how to make the tool to press the gears on. They are available on my website and also on eBay. Links below. What’s included 1 set of two brass gears, 0.25M, 13 Teeth Pricing: $6 for 1 set of 2 new brass pinion gears $5.50 for 2+ sets $5 for 4+ sets Shipping: The gears are small and light so many of them will fit in a padded envelope. This is an estimate of the lowest cost shipping method. You can use the shipping calculator on the website to check for your specific location and choice of shipping method. USA: starting at $3 for First Class Mail shipping International: starting at $6 for First Class Mail International shipping My website: https://www.soigeneris.com/alps-prin...m-pinion-gears Also on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/133559488667 Installation video: https://youtu.be/mZAMPPSQpqo This is a partial list of equipment which we believe uses the Alps printer/plotter mechanism. Personal Computer Printers/Plotter: *please check your equipment before ordering ALPS DPG-1302 Astron MCP-40X Atari 1020 Canon X-710 Casio FA-10 Casio FA-11 Commodore 1520 Mattel Aquarius 4615 MCP-40 (not the Oric one) Olivetti PL 10 Oric MCP-40 Sega SP-400 Sharp CE-150 Sharp CE-515P * Sharp CE-516P * Sharp CE-1600P Sharp MZ-1P01 Sharp MZ-1P16 Silver Reed EB50 Sony PRN-C41 * Tandy 26-3605 Tandy CGP-115 Texas Instruments HX-1000 Vtech Laser PP-40I Medial Equipment: *please check your equipment before ordering Gravenstein GAT * Heinemann AT22, HMT 23, GSI 27, GSI 27A, GSI 28, GSI28A * Homoth Combi 2000, Tymp 2000 * Homoth Diagnostic-Center * Homoth Rhino 2000 / Rhino 2002 / 4000 * Homoth Tymp-Rhino-Combi * Hörniß&Zeisberg IMP 88 / 89 * Hortmann Ultrascan * Interacoustics AT22 * Otopront Digitale * Steinmeier AUDIOmed SAT10, SAT20, SAM2000 * Edited October 28, 2020 by Jeff_Birt 8 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Starwander Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Well done indeed. I compliment you are getting these made. Great idea to go with brass. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-4665103 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_Birt Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 10 hours ago, Starwander said: Well done indeed. I compliment you are getting these made. Great idea to go with brass. Thanks. It makes me happy to know that folks, like me, who had printers that were just sitting due to broken gears can now fix them. Being able to get them made in brass was a bonus, the pinions will outlast all of us Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-4665316 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Excellent news! I own two Atari 1020 printers, so I'm looking forward to trying these! (Now all we need is a source of fresh plotter pens ...) Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-4665346 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_Birt Posted October 30, 2020 Author Share Posted October 30, 2020 22 hours ago, jaybird3rd said: Excellent news! I own two Atari 1020 printers, so I'm looking forward to trying these! (Now all we need is a source of fresh plotter pens ...) Found some NOS pens for Alps plotter mech! Best Electronics - bestelec@bestelec.digitalspacemail8.net Atari 1020 Color pen sets (1e) and black pen sets (4) $9.95/set. Loads of Atari stuff very dated website: http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/ Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-4666094 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_Birt Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 I do still have some pinion gears available, details in first post... Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-4688369 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Jeff_Birt said: I do still have some pinion gears available, details in first post... sent an order for 4 sets and some rubber feet Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-4688406 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_Birt Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 9 hours ago, orpheuswaking said: sent an order for 4 sets and some rubber feet Thanks, going out in tomorrow's mail. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-4688878 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_Birt Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 Happy 2021! I still have the brass pinion gears available. 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-4713510 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmy Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Hi, do you still have pinion gears available? I'd like to reactivate my 1020 and since it hasn't been touched for three decades I'm sure I'll need one. Thank you! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/312908-alps-printerplotter-mech-new-brass-pinion-gears/#findComment-5392225 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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